Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Will (Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), and Argyle (Eduardo Franco) in Stranger Things Season 4.Image via Netflix
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Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
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After a two-year (!) wait, Netflix's mega-hit Stranger Things is back with the first four episodes of its fifth and final season. The show, which began all the way back in 2016, follows a group of characters in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, who must battle all sorts of creatures and enemies coming from a dark, alternate dimension known as the Upside Down. Stranger Things is one of Netflix's flagship series and, arguably, its biggest success story, the show that cemented the streamer as a bona fide player in the entertainment world.
Over its previous four seasons, the show has juggled an impressive and seemingly ever-expanding ensemble cast of both younger and adult characters. Even more impressive is that each and every one of these key figures gets something meaningful to do in every season. Indeed, perhaps Stranger Things' greatest strength is handling a cast of fifteen or so main characters and making them feel all relevant and impactful to the plot. However, it's also undeniable that some of these main players are better than others, managing to stand out even among all the noise and Demogorgon-ass-kicking action. This list will discuss the best characters in every season of Stranger Things based on their contributions to the show, their impact on the overall story, and the performances of the actors behind them.
Season 1: Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder)
When Stranger Things first debuted in the summer of 2016, few knew what to expect. The premise seemed compelling, and the overall Stephen King/Steven Spielberg-adjacent tone was for sure appealing. However, arguably the biggest selling point for Season 1 was the fact that three-time Oscar nominee Wynona Ryder was leading the cast. The undeniable star of the late '80s and early '90s, Ryder was making a major comeback to television in a meaty role as a desperate mother trying to locate her missing child.
As Joyce Byers, Ryder is simply outstanding. She finds the perfect balance between Joyce's desperation and her willingness to find Will (Noah Schnapp), refusing to believe he's dead. Instead of fully succumbing to paranoia and mental anguish, Ryder keeps Joyce grounded in hope; there's fear and despair in her performance, but there's also resilience and a willingness to battle everything and everyone who stands in her way. Ryder does some of the best work in her career in Season 1 of Stranger Things, receiving a much-deserved Golden Globe nomination for her work; unfairly, the Emmys snubbed her. Season 1 does a great job introducing its many characters, and many, including Hopper (David Harbour) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), get many memorable moments. However, Joyce is the emotional center of the narrative, and Ryder makes a meal out of it.
Season 2: Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in the 'Stranger Things' Season 2 finale.Image via Netflix
Season 2 of Stranger Things sees Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) separate from everyone else in the cast. First, she's locked away in Hopper's secluded cabin before taking a road trip to meet her sister, Kali AKA Eight (Linnea Berthelsen). She eventually returns to Hawkins to save the day and close the gate to the Upside Down that she first opened during her stay at Hawkins Lab. Her arc is all about coming to terms with her power and reclaiming her identity at a time when she's not sure what to think of herself.
Through it all, Millie Bobby Brown remains compelling despite Eleven's near-mute and somewhat distant behavior. The role isn't easy to play — after a lifetime of experimentation and bullying, Eleven interiorizes everything, revealing very little to both other characters and the viewers. Keeping her engaging was a daunting task, and the young actress rose to the challenge, creating one of the best pop culture icons of the streaming age. Her reunion with her mother is particularly emotional, as is her return to Hawkins and her display of power while closing the gate to the Upside Down. Neglected figures like Will take the spotlight, and the lovable Bob Newby (Sean Astin) pretty much steals the entire season. However, it's Eleven who ultimately rises as the most interesting and well-rounded character of Stranger Things' second chapter.
Season 3: Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo)
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin in Stranger Things smilingImage via Netflix
Season 3 of Stranger Things has a ton of standout characters. Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) has one of his best seasons, cementing himself as the story's de facto leading man, and Maya Hawke's Robin instantly became one of the show's best and most dynamic figures. However, let's be honest, Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) had this season in the bag the minute he meekly sang the words, "Turn around, look at what you see." The resident D&D expert and low-key the cleverest and most ingenious member of the core cast, Dustin had been a scene-stealer since Season 1 before finally taking the crown as the best character in Season 3.
The show's third chapter finds Dustin returning to Hawkins after summer camp, where he met his girlfriend, Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo). After intercepting a Russian message, Dustin joins Steve and Robin in trying to decode it, sending him on a wild adventure that leads the group to a top-secret Soviet lab. Dustin's dynamic with Steve is among the show's best, and Season 3 milks it out for all its worth. He also shares some brilliant scenes with Erica (Priah Ferguson), Lucas' (Caleb McLaughlin) sassy and infallible sister. What makes Dustin such an endearing character is how much youthful enthusiasm Matarazzo injects into his performance. Dustin truly enjoys his adventures, not just because he's doing the extraordinary but because he's spending time with those he loves. Dustin is the undeniable standout in Season 3, and by the time he's fully belting out Limahl's "Never Ending Story" alongside Suzie during the climactic showdown, he's already stolen all of our hearts.
Season 4: Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink)
Max (Sadie Sink) listening to music at school in 'Stranger Things' Season 4 premiere.Image via Netflix
Like Season 3, Season 4 of Stranger Things gives many long-standing characters their best chapter yet. Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) becomes a true action heroine in the vein of Ellen Ripley, playing a crucial role in both figuring out Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) true identity and in ultimately defeating him. Speaking of Vecna, the villain is a key figure throughout the season, and the familiar yet still underrated Campbell Bower knocks it out of the park with a chilling portrayal. Lastly, new cast member Joseph Quinn steals every scene he's in as the charming but doomed Eddie Munson, to the point where he might be the season's MVP.
Alas, this season ultimately belongs to Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), whose arc begins with her still grieving the death of her step-brother, Billy (Dacre Montgomery), in Season 3. Her pain and unresolved issues make her a target of Vecna, which she narrowly escapes in what has become Stranger Things' most iconic moment, set to the tune of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill." Max is at the center of the season's narrative, offering herself as bait to lure Vecna during the final act. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say Sadie Sink is the best out of the young cast, and Season 4 proves it. The Tony-nominated actress portrays Max's grief with subtle poignancy, allowing it to hit even harder. Her story also gives McLaughlin's Lucas his best moments on the show so far, as their sweet dynamic takes the spotlight. Max ends the season in a coma following another encounter with Vecna, and Sink's final moments, as she cries out to Lucas that she doesn't want to die, are among the best in Stranger Things as a whole.
Stranger Things
TV-14
Drama
Mystery
Horror
Science Fiction
Release Date
2016 - 2025-00-00
Cast
Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Priah Ferguson, Maya Hawke, Cara Buono, Brett Gelman, Matthew Modine, Paul Reiser, Dacre Montgomery, Jamie Campbell Bower, Nell Fisher, Sean Astin, Christopher Convery, Eduardo Franco, Joseph Quinn
Seasons
5
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Horror, Science Fiction
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