Top 10 Best Stranger Things Characters

I like Steve, but he is kind of bossy towards the kids, Robin, and Nancy. But I know he loves them all and wants to protect them. After all, he is older than them. I hope he and Nancy get back together in Season 5. Jonathon is not right for poor Nancy. Always yells at her and makes her cry. I like Steve because I see a part of Billy in him. I liked him for the most part in season 1, found him boring in season 2, and liked him again in Season 3. Hilarious.

Though Steve was a bit of a jerk to Nancy and Johnathan in the beginning, his redemption ark has been amazing. I honestly get goosebumps every time he twirls the bat, or the phone, haha. The way he protects the kids, especially Dustin is heartwarming. The way he pictures his future with Nancy makes you love him even more. I really thought he was going to be a goner in season 4. I'm hoping he makes it through season 5!

I'm so happy Steve is at the top of the list. His character development is one of the best in the show, as he went from your typical popular jerk to a caring, supportive, and badass babysitter/mother to all of the kids. He's funny, he's brave, he's got great hair, and he's really hot to boot. What more could you want?

He's so cool, his hair is pristine, his relaionship with dustin is awesome, and he cares so much for people. I loved his redemption arc.

Hopper is the real mvp of ST, and he's also had great development. Starting off, he just seemed like a lazy, small-town cop, and he turned into such a caring father to El, and a hero to pretty much everyone. He's tough (seriously, this dude survives everything) brave, badass, selfless, and just all around an incredible guy. Lets not forget all of the pain he went through after losing his daughter Sarah to cancer, and being tortured and beaten by the Russians for almost an entire year. And guess what? He still made it out, and is kicking everyone's ass. Good for him!

Far and away the best character. Introduced as a lazy alcoholic cop. Receives the best character development on the show. He is a genius bare-bone detective that stops at nothing to protect the people in his town. Whether its finding who killed your pumpkins, or traveling to an alternate dimension to find your long lost son and save him from a rampaging bloodthirsty inter-dimensional demogorgon, Hopper is the detective for you. Seriously though he's one of the best characters I've ever had the pleasure of following in a series. The fact he's not number one is a crime.

I LOVE Hopper. He's my second favorite character in Stranger Things and he is a great cop. I thought it was devastating how his daughter died but only motivated him more to help Joyce find Will. He's a hero and I respect him a lot

The ideal police officer. Nothing stops him from helping his friends and family. Kind-hearted, tough, perfectly flawed, absolutely lovable. Wouldn't trade him for the world.

Eleven was really adorable in season 1. And I still love her for the most part. I loved how she helped Billy and felt sorry for him. Holding his hand and touching his cheek was both heartwarming. She and Billy in almost every scene together were on the verge of tears. I think El had a crush on him. Mike would have definitely been jealous of Billy because of the scenes he and El had together. El is girl power, but apparently people have been saying that Max, Robin, and Nancy all took her place as the awesome girl and I agree for Nancy and Robin, but not Max. I prefer Eleven, Nancy, and Robin over Max. The only thing I didn't like about Eleven was that in season 4, she hit poor Angela in the face with the roller skate. I know Angela was mean, but seeing her cry and her nose bleeding was sad and horrifying. Mike and Will were shocked, and Angela's friends were very worried about her. I never hated Angela, and ever since I saw what happened, I stopped disliking Angela. But I still love ...more

I love Eleven, especially in season one. I found her to be such an interesting character, a quiet and mysterious but powerful young girl (who was also just adorable) Its interesting to see how she's grown over the series. She annoyed me slightly in the second season, what with her complaining all the time, but I also understand why she was upset with being cooped up for over a year. Plus, her punk look was cool. Her friendship with Max in the third season was very fun to watch, and she was so strong in the fourth season when she battled Vecna. Lets not forget when she hit Angela in the face with the roller-skate (I was cheering for her) Here's another thing that I like about El: she's very powerful, but she also has many flaws. I dislike characters that lack flaws, because they aren't relatable. El has flaws, such as being naive at times, letting her emotions get the better of her, and she often is weakened after using too much of her power. It makes her more human, and a more ...more

Obviously, Eleven should make number one. She is such a lovable unique freak in the first season, the girl with the shaved head and Powers who doesn't speak very much. She was robbed of her childhood, and is quite the memorable character due to it. In the second season, she kind of finds her parent, or at least a mentor to her, and starts looking into her past. In the third, she starts making friends and begins to get normalized and starts to fit in with society. She's quite the great character, with some great development that's only rivaled by the one and only Steve.

Eleven has grown so much. Her powers in season 4 are mind blowing. Bringing Max back the way she did… probably won't end well, but it was still cool.

Ok, can we be honest? Dustin is genuinely the best character in this show, hands down. The only other people who have a chance are Steve and Eddie. We've only seen one season of Eddie, and we will only see one season of Eddie. Steve is very close to Dustin, neither of them would be as good without each other.

Dustin just has a great personality. He has a great sense of humor and is also super kind/caring. Dustin just get's me laughing and having a great time. Dustin would be a perfect best friend.

How could you not love Dusty-Bun? He's adorable, funny, smart, and caring. He's proud to be a nerd, and his friendship with Steve is so enjoyable to watch.

OH DUSTIN. He's got so much personality! He's the smartest (he's booksmart but he knows how to apply his knowledge), and the funniest by far. I just love his little rivalry with Mike's dad.
His friendship with Steve is so wholesome, and with Eddie. I ugly cried when he talks to Eddie's uncle and reassures him Eddie died a hero, even if the whole town believes completely otherwise.
He had my heart from the get-go.
YOU ARE A LEGEND DUSTY BUN

Oh Mike, he's been getting a lot of hate lately with how he's been written in the fourth season. I agree that seasons 3 and 4 Mike do not live up to seasons 1 and 2 Mike. Before people say "Mike is a bad friend," lets look back at the first two seasons, shall we? In season 1, Mike jumped off a CLIFF for Dustin. He was willing to DIE for him. Is that a bad friend? In the second season, while I don't like how he treated Max, he was incredibly caring towards Will and was always there for him, no matter what. Though Mike seemed more insensitive in the later seasons, lets look at it this way: he's a teenager. Teenagers have obnoxious phases. All the characters have their moments like this. But people don't seem to realize that even though he makes mistakes, that caring person he was in the first two seasons is still in there. He apologizes to Will after how he treated him at the skating rink, and his pep talk to El is what motivated her to fight back against Vecna. Bottom line, everyone's ...more

He's so hot. I don't understand why he likes El, she's so ugly. I mean did you see her hair at the end of season 2? She looked like a criminal mastermind with slicked back hair

A very nice guy. He might not have played a major role in Season 4, but his motivational speech for El in the final episode is truly amazing. A direct, genuine declaration of love that gave her the strength she needed in an extremely difficult moment. "You're my superhero"... such a powerful and standout scene. Well done, Mike.

Mike is honestly so loyal. He LOVES El. He would jump off the cliff for Dustin. He was constantly with Will when he needed him. He had a fallout with Lucas but was noble enough to accept his mistake and shake his hand. He was undyingly failthful to El when she was gone. He honestly isn't good only to El because he did lash out at her when they discovered Will's fake body and also when she flung Lucas in the junkyard. He is so hopeful and believes in people when nobody else does. I hope season 3 gives him more screen time and that his relationship with El gets stronger and deeper.

Joyce is the best mother ever. She never gave up hope on Will, even when everyone else was convinced he died. She traveled into the Upside Down to save him, and brought him back safely. She never gave up hope on Hopper either, even when all evidence said he was dead. Her relationship with Hopper is also one of the best in the show. Plus, she's badass, and a good mother figure to El as well as her own sons.

Joyce is the heart and soul of ST. If it wasn't for her fierce determination to get back her son, her intuition and trust in her gut feelings, the chief wouldn't have gotten involved and Will would've died in the upside down.
She's also really caring of El and all the kids.

This series needs Joyce Byers. Period. The woman is batting 1000 when it comes to her instincts. She knew in season one that Will wasn't dead, that he was "somewhere else" and it was her conviction that eventually led Hopper to team up with her to get him back (uncovering a government conspiracy and an alternate dimension in the process). She knew in season two that there was something much more sinister going on with Will's "episodes" than just PTSD, and it turned out the kid was possessed by the Mind Flayer (which she promptly exorcised from his body like a boss). And in season three: MAGNETS. I rest my case.

She's also the sweet, maternal figure we all need in our lives and I want her to hug me like all the time.

Her anxiety and her fear made the whole Will thing and Demegorgon thing 20 times scarier. I love being scared or creeped out so I loved Joyce. She risked herself trying to find her son Will with Hopper in the Upside Down. She's so brave and is a great mother and would risk her soul for her kids, Jonathan and Will

I adore Will, and he's one of the most sympathetic characters in my opinion. He's gone through so much throughout the course of the series. Starting in the first season, he was taken by the demogorgon and was forced to stay in the Upside Down for an entire week. Even after being rescued, he was still plagued by nightmares, flashbacks, and visions for all of the time afterwards. In season 2, he was literally POSSESSED by the Mind Flayer. In season three, he felt ignored by his friends, as none of them were interested in spending time with him. In season four, it is confirmed that he is gay and that he is in love with Mike, who he is forced to watch fall in love with El and grow distant from him. Lets remember that the show takes place in the 80s, where being gay wasn't accepted the way it is nowadays. Will deserves better, and I truly hope he ends up happy at the end of the series (fingers crossed)

He's alright, but in seasons 3 and 4, he's really jealous of the people who spend time with his brother and his friends. He's jealous of Jonathan spending time with his girlfriend Nancy, He's jealous that Mike and Lucas have Eleven and Max as girlfriends, and he's jealous that Dustin hangs out with Robin and Steve. Also Jonathan made a new friend in season 4. I really get it, Will.

The best acted character on the show. Hands down! Will in season 2 was really moving. I think we're in for a surprise with him in season 5 with his connection to the upside down.

He is so sweet and vulnerable and didn't deserve anything bad that happened either if it's his fathers abuse or the body swap no kid should ever be that broken! ):

Lucas, the most underrated of the main group. I didn't like him much in the first season because of how he treated El, but I loved him for the remainder of the series. He's like the lighthearted one, always cracking jokes and making me smile. His relationship with Max is adorable, as well. Lucas deserves more appreciation, because he's always there for his friends, no matter what.

He is WAY too underrated when he is the best. Best is Lucas, then Dustin, then Will and Mike are tied for last. Wait, do Max and El count as members as the group? Anyway, just of these dudes. Lucas is AMAZING. <3 He is such a cool guy and maybe he treated El wrong is season 1, but he made up for it. Didn't you guys see his badass door kick in season 2? Best moment in the whole show.

Lucas is actually the most normal person out here lol. But that just makes him more relatable. He's got understandable concerns about El at first, but he ends up being a great friend to her. He's Persistent when looking for Will, showing how loyal he is, even if he gets a little sidetracked in s5 because for once in his lifetime he'd like to experience school without bullying

Overlooked and underrated. Genuinely complex character development, relatable high school struggle.

I love Max. I wasn't a huge fan of her when she was first introduced, because she just seemed kind of rude and aloof. However, as the second season continued, I grew to like her and her fierce attitude. Major props to her for standing up to Billy like that. I loved her friendship with El in the third season, and the fourth season really solidified what a good character she was (and how amazing of an actress Sadie Sink is) She feels guilty for Billy's death, and has been cursed by Vecna. She narrowly escapes death in "Dear Billy," but isn't so lucky in "The Piggyback." Luckily, El manages to restart her heart, but she's now in a coma. Mad Max, I really hope you return in season five.

I loved Max in seasons 2 and 3. She, Nancy, Robin, and Eleven are girl power. But in Season 4, I learned that she wanted Billy to die, not cool! It's going to take me time to process this and love her again. And I prefer Nancy and Robin over her.

Max has always been one of my favorites. It wasn't until recently when I decided I'd place her in my number 2 spot. Such a great character

Literally the best character in the show and no one can change my mind, Season 4 just solidified her #1 status for me. She's gone through more character growth than most characters in the series, and hers was definitely the most emotionally moving and I seriously cried watching it. No doubt she's #1

Jonathan is a boring character and I don't really like him. He's a very kind brother, but he's not very interesting. I prefer characters like Billy, Nancy, Robin, and Steve. They are very interesting characters and are some of my favorite characters. Also, I hate how he yelled at poor Nancy and made her cry in season 3. I very much disapprove of him and Nancy being together. Nancy should be with Steve again, focus on her new close friendship with Robin, and find a interesting career in season 5. And she better not die, and neither should Robin, Max, Eleven, or Steve either. I also hated how he spied on Nancy, Steve, and their friends in season 1. I laughed when Steve broke his camera.

Jonathan might not be magnetic and charming like Steve. But that's because he's a different person with a different upbringing. He's an introvert, and he dislikes most people -but, tbh, people aren't exactly nice to him either-. He didn't get to enjoy his teens because he had to step up to help his family, work and take care of Will, which he did without complaining because he loves them. He's an amazing big brother to Will, he's caring, empathetic, accepting and just so wholesome.
He has his flaws, but that just makes him a more realistic character. He's just a young man who's had to grow up too fast and who doesn't fit in. But he doesn't care about fitting in and that's also cool (:

He is a brave guy.

I think we really should understand his background when judging him, like, when he is unsure about supporting Nancy's Mrs. Driscoll story, he doesn't want to get fired and it's understandable the job is more important to him than it is to Nancy (he even tells her, she doesn't have to worry about mortgage lol).

I think that also comes into play when he decides to go to Lenora community college and not with Nancy, first he feels so responsible over his family and wants to take care of them because he's the father figure from a young age, and also maybe it's because the Byers don't have money? College is expensive.

Lying to Nancy, and taking pictures of her in S1 doesn't have an excuse really tbh that was creepy, but anyway stop comparing him to Steve, they probably already left their rivalry behind and you're still not over it.

He is brave, and a fighter. He seems to lack the combative streak Nancy has, but he's still a protector and will get up, again and again, and he will throw punches. Even when he doesn't have any particular outstanding fighting skill, he will fight -unhesitating- for others

Robin is so cool and I love her and Nancy equally. I'm glad they became close friends in Season 4. I never want either of them to be killed off. The only problems I have with Robin are that she was rude to Steve and Dustin and that she along with Steve ran over Billy and almost killed him.

Robin's just great, and very entertaining to watch. Her and Steve's banter is one of the best parts of the third season. She's witty, she's funny, she's smart, and she's also relatable with her clumsiness and sometimes awkwardness. Go Robin!

Robin is such a fascinating character. Her mouth works faster than her brain, yet her brain is always so active. She's curious, and has an approach to things that is unusual, but very creative.
I think she is more aware than the others (specially nancy sometimes) give her credit for. She's just probably neurodivergent?
Her speech when trying to get to see Victor was just amazing. She was lying lol but at the same time, she wasn't. Petey McHew would've had it easier, indeed!

Robin is just so fantastic.
Neurodivergent-coded, a lesbian, "poor" as she says herself. She's my favourite female character and I feel like she's so relatable even with her idiosyncrasies.
She's a great friend to Steve and a good protector to the kids.
She's very funny, brave, and smart in her own way (different from Nancy's book smart)

Billy is my first favorite character and always will be. He's cute and cool at the same time. Every time I look at him in the show I tear up, especially the scenes where his father was very cruel to him and where he sacrificed himself to save Max, El, and their friends. He only had a few people that cared about him. Tommy H, Carol, their friends, Ms. Wheeler, Heather, Eleven, and I guess Max. I hated it when I learned that in season 4 that Max wanted him to die. He may have been kind of mean, but seriously he was just a kid and he missed his Mom and he had no good role models. How can someone say it's not an excuse for what he did, if he never knew it wasn't okay.

His character was definitely an a$$, but it was quite entertaining, especially with Mrs Wheeler. He was a great "bad guy" as one of the original flayed, and very intimidating. After the scene showing his father his behaviour was understandable (but not excusable). His final scene was amazing, and he had a good final redemption with Max.

I feel like the only reason he was all negative was because he really missed his mum. And he basically saved the main character of the show by sacrificing himself. He deserves a round of applause. And he is super hot

He is the BEST, he is H O T, he is also pretty much the main character in season 3, it was heart breaking when he died, why do the bad things always happen to the good people, I mean give me 3 reasons why he had to die, I just hope he comes back in season 4, max and I were heart broken!

Best character in the entire show! he is awesome and funny and sarcastic and I think he needs more time on the screen than he gets. I hope they continue to put him into the next season! I have a very similar personality to him so it is fun for me to watch. I like when he shouts at Joyce and Hopper in the car with Alexei and Alexei askes what he said and he simply goes, "I told them they should have s3x."

Murray is a very funny character and has helped progress the storyline.

Ninja man! He is a sweet guy that can be weird we all need that right?

Always has something funny to say. Great guy overall!

Okay, Eddie. I have some problems with you. 1) You stole Dustin from Steve. 2) You got right up in Dustin's and Mike's faces at one point. 3) You flipped the middle finger at someone in a school, and worst of all, 4) You tried to replace Billy Hargrove, my first favorite character. Even though he died, no one replaces Billy in any way on my watch. But I did like your guitar solo of Master of Puppets and I approve of you saying that Steve and Nancy should get back together.

SO sweet and kind but has some flaws. He genuinely loves Chrissy and sad at her death. All time saddest death

He was such a great character. RIP or hopefully not, hope to see him again in season 5!

I am sad he died, and I wish he could have been around for another season.

I absolutely love this character. He had a lot of personality despite his short screen time and the fact that he didn't speak a word of English. That's a sign of great writing.

Alexei was hands down my favorite character in Season 3. He was like a teddy bear.

Poor dude was just playing a carnival game and was going to eat a hot dog. RIP.

Poor Alexei got shot. I was crying. He was the reason I watched it.

Bob was extremely kind and loving of everyone around him. Although he had not grown a close connection with Will and Johnathan, he was still very protective of them.

Most traumatic character death in my opinion. He brought stability to the Byers household and brought joy to everyone he knew. Some probably think he's boring, but in my opinion, his character was very refreshing.

It was incredibly heart breaking when Bob met his death. I personally thought that Bob was one of the most realistic and relatable characters throughout Stranger Things. He just wants to be a good stepdad and role model and is loving and protective. I love his dorky personality and his references to nerdy subjects. Even though he is somewhat clueless, and has character flaws, he's cool and my third favorite character.

Only character other than Eleven to sacrifice everything to save the rest. But Eleven felt guilty for starting it, Bob just wanted to protect Joyce.

"Can't spell america without erica." she is hilarious and enjoyable to watch! I liked the scene where she and dustin argue about my little pony.

Erica is honestly the best character. She makes fun of Lucas for having a crush on Max and honestly she needs way more recognition.

Erica brings the joy to the series that we all wanted to see!

Erica is so funny and relatable. She always has funny commentary

I like this lady. She and Nancy had a heartwarming conversation in season 3, she loves her, Mike, and Holly very much. She's one of the few people that cared about Billy, and she's kind of cool. I hate that she has a very boring husband. She, Mike, Nancy, and Holly should get away from him.

Karen took the kids

This guy and his other lab workers are pretty much responsible for all the deaths of all the people the Demogorgon/Mind Flayed killed basically. We don't even know what happened to this guy after Season 1.

The Mindflayer is the villan in season 2 and 3. The first appearance he made he was almost like a shadow haunting Will and dragging him to the upside down. In season 3 it was much more exciting I even made a cake of the blood red monster made out of flesh.

The amount of power this thing possesses as an antagonist is truly fascinating. I cannot wait until they flesh out this character further.

He is awesome