Nearly a decade since its premiere, Stranger Things is finally coming to a close. Season 5 is hitting Netflix in three chunks this fall, making the hit TV show appointment viewing on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The main ensemble has come a long way since the series premiered in 2016 – insert joke about cast members’ ages here. But they have become icons nonetheless, inspiring countless Halloween costumes and brand tie-ins along the way. And on a deeper level, some characters’ emotional arcs have been among television’s best in recent years.
So without further ado, here are my rankings of the top 10 characters in Stranger Things history:
#10: Eddie Munson
It’s pretty remarkable that, despite only showing up in season 4, Eddie still found his way onto this list. And unlike some other later arrivals, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be getting any more run in season 5 – barring flashbacks or time travel, I guess. Joseph Quinn became a true Hollywood star based off this one supporting character, spinning it into roles in A Quiet Place: Day One, Gladiator II, Warfare, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday and the upcoming quartet of Beatles biopics.
Admittedly, Eddie came off a little annoying and one-note when he first appeared as the leader of the Hellfire Club. But once he got roped into the main plot and witnessed one of the show’s most horrific deaths at the end of the season 4 premiere, it became clear just how important he really was to the story and tone at hand. Eddie’s relationship with Dustin, plus his incredible send-off to Metallica’s “Master of Puppets,” ultimately made him one of the most effective one-and-done characters in TV history.
#9: Robin Buckley
By the time season 3 got underway, Steve was no longer in high school and he was no longer dating Nancy. He wasn’t the popular kid or a lady’s man anymore, instead working at Scoops Ahoy in a goofy uniform over the summer. Enter Robin, who immediately put Steve in his place and understandably mocked him for being washed up and not having any friends his own age. Naturally, Robin became a key player in the secret Soviet mall plot line that season, eventually providing one of the show’s most heartfelt twists. Her and Steve’s friendships became one of the best new additions to the show, and she fit right in with Nancy and Eddie when the group grew in season 4.
Robin exists outside of her relationship with Steve, though. Her personality and deadpan comedic timing have made her a fan favorite, as has Maya Hawke’s signature charm.
#8: Vecna
For as many memorable characters that Stranger Things boasted through three seasons, the show had a bit of a villain problem. The imagery of the Upside Down was great, but it wasn’t like the Demogorgon or Mind Flayer were particularly interesting characters. That all changed in season 4, when the mysterious Vecna appeared and began to curse certain Hawkins residents.
Learning Henry Creel’s backstory, as well as his ties to Eleven, made for some of the most engaging parts of season 4. It also doesn’t hurt that the creature design, visual effects and makeup on Vecna are top-notch, or that his methods of torture are the perfect blend of original, cinematic and terrifying. If Vecna lives up to his amazing introduction and goes out with a bang in season 5, he could very well earn a higher ranking in the future.
#7: Max Mayfield
It’s always difficult to add fresh blood into an established group of TV characters, but Max joining the cast in season 2 was done seamlessly. By the time season 3 rolled around and she got to spend time with Eleven, it felt like she had been there the whole time. On top of her sympathetic and layered dynamic with her step-brother, Billy, Max’s connection with Lucas and her rebellious personality made her one of the show’s surprise favorites. There’s a reason why Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” became such a massive hit in 2022. That iconic scene of Max running through Vecna’s mindscape wouldn’t have worked nearly as well as it did if it was centered around a less important or beloved character.
Max ended season 4 in a coma after the plan to use her as bait for Vecna failed. While she will be back in some capacity for season 5, how Max plays into the story’s endgame could take her stock even higher.
#6: Dustin Henderson
Out of all the kids on Stranger Things, Dustin was immediately the most endearing. Gaten Matarazzo brought so much charm and life to what could have been a generic comic relief character, not to mention how well he played the emotional moments as the series progressed.
Dustin always seems to be at the center of the show’s best character combinations. He helped take Steve to the next level, then brought Eddie up to a similar tier. Even his dynamic with D’Artagnan the Demodog, which turned out to be ill-advised, was sweet. The core group of Mike, Lucas, Will and Dustin started to crumble when Dustin was away at summer camp in season 3, proving just how critical he is to keeping the show balanced both in-universe and on-screen.
#5: Joyce Byers
Season 1 simply does not work if Winona Ryder doesn’t hit it out of the park as Joyce Byers. Casting Ryder – who starred in Beetlejuice, Heathers and Edward Scissorhands – was genius on a metatextual level, but her performance was Emmy-worthy in its own right. Will’s disappearance could have sent Joyce into a spiral, especially when she was at odds with Jonathan and Hopper. She was resourceful, though, and displayed just how far a desperate parent would be willing to go to keep their family safe.
In some ways, Joyce stayed in the concerned mother role a little too long. She started to break out of that a bit when she dove head-first into the action in season 4, which gave her character new life. Her and Bob were sweet in season 2, but fans really bought into in Joyce’s romantic connection with Hopper. While I’m personally not all-in on their chemistry, Joyce and Hopper not being separated in season 5 could change that.
#4: Mike Wheeler
Dating back to season 1, Mike was effectively the show’s main character. As the cast grew and certain side characters took on larger roles, however, Mike more or less became part of the ensemble. Still, his relationship with Eleven has been a core aspect of the show from the very beginning. And while Will himself has been hit-or-miss on a season-to-season basis, Mike’s evolving friendship with him has been one of the show’s more relatable developments.
Mike is hardly ever the funniest, the most powerful, the smartest or even the nicest character in any given group. He is flawed, sometimes stubborn and stuck between growing up and staying true to himself. All of that makes Mike the perfect central character for Stranger Things, even if he has ceded the spotlight to some of the others over time.
#3: Jim Hopper
Hopper isn’t doesn’t seem to be anything special when we meet him, presenting as just another out of touch adult who won’t listen to a group of plucky kids. As it turns out, the local sheriff is drowning his sorrows after the loss of his daughter, who died after a battle with cancer. That isn’t a main plot line in season 1, but it stays relevant as his relationships with Joyce, Will and Eleven grow over the course of the show.
Like so many great characters in fiction, Hopper is multi-faceted and full of intriguing contradictions. He has anger issues, but can be incredibly wise, earnest and sweet in the right moments. He tries to play it cool, but under the surface he is simply struggling to cope with his trauma. A lot of those buzzwords are all over the place in media nowadays, but Hopper feels a little ahead of his time in that regard.
#2: Steve Harrington
The Duffer Brothers’ originally planned to kill off Steve Harrington all the way back season 1 of Stranger Things. Good thing we don’t live in that alternate timeline.
Steve “The Hair” Harrington started out as the classic popular bully that felt right at home in an homage to 80s genre movies. It didn’t take long for him to break out of that archetype, genuinely making an effort to grow as a person. He was loyal, willing to own up to his mistakes and more brave than he had any right to be. Even when his romance with Nancy hit a dead-end, Steve remained a critical member of the cast. He became like an older brother to Dustin, especially, and his friendship with Robin opened the door for more personal growth. A lot of characters can overstay their welcome when the writers save from the grave, but Steve has always had an engaging arc in spite of that trend.
Oh, and Joe Keery can at least partially thank Stranger Things for burgeoning music career as Djo, too.
#1: Eleven
From the very beginning, Eleven was the most iconic character in all of Stranger Things. Think of all the Halloween costumes, parodies and knockoffs that came from the mute girl with a shaved head wearing a hospital gown, holding her hand out while her nose bleeds. Toss in a box of waffles, for good measure. Eleven’s psychic abilities and connection to the Upside Down are also central to the genesis of the whole story, both in season 1 and the season 4 flashbacks.
Eleven is more than just a superhero with cool powers, however. She is a scared, vulnerable child who is a victim for most of her life, until she meets Mike, Dustin and Lucas. She grows into a rebellious, confident badass, ready to save the world on a moment’s notice. And still, she isn’t immune to bullies, relationship drama or human error, sometimes creating problems that she can’t use her powers to solve. Mike and Eleven’s romantic connection is constantly tenuous, as is her makeshift father-daughter dynamic with Hopper. So while Eleven is tied to most of the show’s science fiction and horror-based lore, her relationships with the other main characters make her more than just a Netflix mascot.
