Who’s who in Stranger Things?

Ash Walker • 22 Dec 2025 Features

Everything you need to know about every major character

Since its debut way back in 2016, Stranger Things has captivated audiences with its potent blend of ‘80s nostalgia, supernatural mystery and unforgettable characters. And with the long, long, long-awaited final season now upon us, it’s the perfect time to look back at everything that came before.

Whether you’re diving in for the first time or revisiting the Upside Down for the thousandth, this guide breaks down all of the key characters, how they connect and why each one matters to the show’s ever-expanding universe.

Here’s your essential look at who’s who in Stranger Things.

Eleven

Eleven is the emotional core of Stranger Things, and the closest thing to a main character that you’ll find in the ensemble cast.

Introduced in Season 1 as a mysterious girl with a shaved head, limited speech and extraordinary psychic abilities, it’s eventually revealed that Eleven - named for the numerical tattoo on her wrist - spent her childhood locked away and experimented on by the scientists in Hawkins Lab.

Despite her traumatic past, Eleven has found her first real family in the form of her friends and her adoptive father, Sheriff Jim Hopper, and has evolved over the seasons from a frightened runaway into a powerful, determined, superpowered hero.

She has a deeply personal history with big bad Henry Creel, aka Vecna, and their interdimensional conflict will be at the core of the final season.

Mike Wheeler

Mike Wheeler is the emotional anchor of the party, often acting as its fiercely beating heart and moral compass. Introduced in Season 1 as an intelligent, sensitive, and fiercely loyal kid from Hawkins, Mike is the first to offer Eleven kindness and protection, forming a bond that becomes central to the show’s story.

From the very beginning, Mike’s defining trait has been his unwavering loyalty - to his friends, his family and especially to Eleven. As the series has progressed, he’s struggled with self-doubt and the challenges of growing up, but he’s never let them get in the way of his courage and compassion.

While he isn’t the strongest or most fearless member of the group, his empathy, leadership and unwavering commitment to doing the right thing always pushes the others forward when hope seems lost - something that’ll be essential in the epic showdown to come.

Dustin Henderson

Dustin is the group’s charismatic problem-solver, endlessly curious, funny and optimistic. He loves science, can usually be relied upon to invent a useful gadget or two, and his adorable bromance with Steve Harrington is always a joy to watch.

His wit, charm and ability to connect with just about anyone - human or otherwise - makes him one of the show’s most endearing characters.

Going into Season 5, Dustin is struggling to cope with the death of his friend (and former Dungeon Master) Eddie Munson. Not to mention the fact that everyone in town mistakenly thinks that Eddie was a monstrous serial killer.

Lucas Sinclair

Lucas is perhaps the most pragmatic and grounded member of the original group, often serving as the realist and voice of caution. He’s sharp, sceptical and quick to question anything that doesn’t make sense - Lucas is a much-needed balance to the gang’s endless optimism.

While his caution can sometimes put him at odds with his friends, it comes from a place of protectiveness rather than distrust. Lucas is fiercely loyal, and he repeatedly proves his bravery by standing his ground.

Over the course of the series, Lucas has matured into a confident and emotionally complex character, navigating friendships, first loves and the pressure to fit in while staying true to himself, putting him at the heart of Stranger Things’s most human battles.

Will Byers

Will Byers is the emotional soul of Stranger Things, a sensitive and creative boy whose life is forever altered by his connection to the Upside Down. Will’s disappearance in the very first episode sets the entire story in motion and establishes the deadly supernatural threat lurking beneath Hawkins.

Will’s struggles are often internal, dealing with trauma, lost innocence and, in the most recent few series, coming to grips with his own sexuality. But he’s also a focal point for the more real-world horrors faced by our heroes.

After surviving the Upside Down, Will is left with a lingering bond to its hive mind, giving him an insight into dangers that others can’t sense - and a unique connection to the evil Vecna. As revealed in the first batch of Season 5 episodes, it may have given him a little something extra, too…

Max Mayfield

Max is one of Stranger Things’s most complex and compelling additions. Introduced in Season 2 as a sharp-witted, confident but troubled newcomer to Hawkins, Max quickly makes her mark on the group with her fearlessness and refusal to be intimidated by anyone.

And her sick skateboarding skills, of course.

Beneath her bold exterior, Max is dealing with a troubled home life and a growing sense of isolation, which makes her bonds with Eleven and Lucas especially meaningful. And as the seasons progress, Max’s story only gets darker.

Her brother, Billy, is killed by the Mind Flayer and her trauma becomes a magnet for the attentions of Vecna. As a result of that confrontation, she begins Season 5 physically broken and in a coma, and only time will tell if Kate Bush will get her out of this one.

Nancy Wheeler

Nancy - Mike’s older sister - is one of Hawkins’s most determined and fearless characters, evolving from a conscientious (if a little naive) highschooler to a relentless, shotgun-wielding truth-seeker over the course of five seasons.

Initially driven by the disappearance of her best friend Barb - side note: justice for Barb - Nancy dives headlong into the horrors unfolding in Hawkins, constantly questioning authority and uncovering secrets.

Coming into Season 5, Nancy’s confidence and independence are continuing to grow, even as she deals with relationship struggles and some lingering feelings for heartthrob Steve Harrington. But really, who can blame her?

She’s also a crack shot, which will surely come in handy when facing off against an interdimensional army of demogorgons.

Jonathan Byers

Jonathan is Will’s protective older brother, and the introspective heart of the Byers family. He has a deep sense of responsibility, and feels a constant need to hold his family together in the absence of a stable father figure.

Or, at least, that was the case until recent seasons.

More recently, Jonathan has begun to struggle under the weight of expectation, leading to strain in his relationships with Will and Nancy, and some… herbal self-medication.

Going into Season 5, Jonathan (and family) has returned to Hawkins, determined to face the darkness growing beneath the town and to, maybe, pop the question to Nancy. If only that pesky Steve Harrington wasn’t in the way… 

Steve Harrington

Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington is one of the show’s most enduring and surprising success stories. Introduced as Nancy Wheeler’s self-centred boyfriend, Steve has quickly evolved from stereotypical high school bully to charismatic, beloved action hero.

Often armed with nothing more than a quick wit and a baseball bat full of nails, Steve always steps up when he’s needed, and has become the party’s unofficial babysitter/big brother. His bickering relationship with Dustin, in particular, is one of the show’s highlights.

Steve is cool, hilarious and always dependable. One of the show’s true MVPs.

Robin Buckley

Though a relatively new character, Robin has quickly become a vital part of the team, and her emotional honesty and weird sense of humour have made her a firm fan favourite.

She started out as Steve’s quirky Scoops Ahoy coworker, and their friendship is as strong as ever going into Season 5. As her role has expanded over the seasons, she’s proven herself to be much more than a sidekick, though - Robin is exceptionally clever and observant and played a key part in cracking Russian codes and uncovering the mystery of Vecna.

Brave, loyal, and refreshingly honest, Rockin’ Robin is an invaluable member of the group.

Sheriff Jim Hopper

Jim Hopper started out as the gruff, world-weary sheriff of Hawkins. He’s everything you’d expect a small-town cop to be - cynical, hard-drinking, apathetic, but not entirely without investigative talent.

He’s also got a gooey centre beneath that tough exterior, as shown by his adoption of Eleven, and his fierce devotion to protecting the kids and his town.

Over the course of the series, Hopper has had easily the wackiest character arc, going from investigating a missing kid to fist-fighting Russian terminators and escaping a Siberian gulag while flamethrowering interdimensional monsters. It’s been a hell of a ride.

He’s also ‘died’ at least once already. Will Hopper sacrifice himself to save his adopted daughter once again in Season 5? And will it stick this time? We’ll have to wait and see…

Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers has come a long way since her role as the wild-eyed, paranoid, chainsmoking mother-on-the-edge in Season 1. She’s still obsessed with protecting her children, but has also started to reclaim some of her own identity - culminating in a tumultuous relationship with Hopper.

There are no more Christmas lights or fridge magnets, but Joyce still trusts her instincts, even when everyone around her thinks she’s crazy. She’s resilient, compassionate and courageous, and a constant, reliable presence for the group.

Demogorgon

Easily the most iconic creature to come out of the Upside Down, Demogorgons - named after a creature from Dungeons & Dragons, naturally - are tall, thin, eyeless monstrosities with mouths like a flower full of teeth.

They’re vicious, super strong and nearly indestructible, and - in Season 1 at least - able to move between dimensions at will, dragging their victims into the Upside Down to serve as incubators for their offspring. Gross.

They’ve been seen in various forms since Season 1, most notably the savage Demodogs from Season 2 (RIP Bob Newby), and now seem to serve as the footsoldiers of interdimensional bad ‘un Vecna.

Vecna

Making his debut in Season 4 as a creepy, Freddy Krueger-like killer, Vecna - named after a dark wizard from the kids’ favourite tabletop RPG - has quickly become the series’ Big Bad. He’s a monstrous presence, all claws and pulsating tentacles, and has psychic power to rival Eleven’s.

As revealed throughout the season - and in the stage show Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Vecna is actually Henry Creel, a psychic kid who was subjected to the same experiments as Eleven. In fact, he was Dr Brenner’s first test subject, earning him a 001 tattoo, and was blasted into the Upside Down by Eleven herself after he went all Anakin Skywalker and murdered all of his fellow test subjects.

Unless there’s a last-minute twist reveal, you can expect Vecna to be the main antagonist in Season 5, as he seeks to break down the barrier between dimensions and unleash an army of monsters on Hawkins and the wider world.

Stranger Things Season 5, Vol 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Vol 2 is due on Boxing Day, while the epic grand series finale will tear its way into our dimension on New Year's Day.