Stranger Things: Ranking Every Main Character Introduced After Season 1
Stranger Things took the world by storm in the summer of 2016. The show became a wild success for a wide variety of reasons, including its Spielbergian tropes and storyline, the '80s nostalgia, and the stellar list of characters. A story is nothing without a solid list of likable, or at least interesting, characters, and Stranger Things certainly delivered.
Like most other shows, Stranger Things looked to expand after its debut season. This didn't just mean an increased budget and a larger scope, but new characters, as well. Some of these characters worked extraordinarily well. Others were duds.
10 Larry Kline
Fans were understandably excited after learning that Cary Elwes would star in season three. A major star who has appeared in some of the funniest movies ever made, Elwes was starring as the town's corrupt mayor, Larry Kline. And, aside from his wonderful hair, Elwes' character was completely unmemorable.
It's not his fault. Larry barely appears in the season, and his character is woefully underdeveloped. He's little more than a storytelling vessel used to explain the origins of Starcourt, and it's a darn shame given the talent and name recognition of Elwes.
9 Kali/Eight
It's no secret that Stranger Things stumbled in its second season. The seventh episode, titled "The Lost Sister," is widely regarded as the show's worst hour, as it's filled with horrible acting, bland characters, and a hated Stranger Things storyline that was horribly ill-timed. The ideas behind the episode and Eight were somewhat interesting, as they promised to expand the series' lore.
But Eight and her band of punk misfits landed with a thud, and fans quickly wrote them off. Perhaps Eight can show up at a later time, as her character actually does some promise some potential. She should leave her friends behind, though.
8 Erica Sinclair
Despite being Lucas' sister, Erica wasn't introduced until the second season premiere. The first time that fans see her, she's making fun of Lucas for dressing like a Ghostbuster. She would appear sporadically throughout the second season. and her snarky attitude made her an instant fan favorite.
However, this also works to her detriment. The showrunners have a penchant for driving popular things into the ground, and that's exactly what happened to Erica. She was brought back as a major character in season three and it just didn't work. Instead of being funny, Erica just came across as one-dimensional and horribly annoying.
7 Murray Bauman
Murray Bauman is another character who suffers from both one-dimensionality and over-exposure. Still, there's no denying that Murray is a lot of fun sometimes too.
Introduced in season two, Murray hilariously inhabited the "kooky conspiracy theorist" trope, and Brett Gelman played him with just the right balance of eccentricity and sincerity. But like Erica, his popularity led to an increased presence in season three, and Murray is the type of character who works better in small doses.
6 Alexei
Alexei was introduced in the third season, being one of the Russian scientists working below Starcourt. Alexei was certainly a hit with the fans, providing some heartwarming Stranger Things scenes and a lot of memes. If nothing else, Alexei will forever be remembered for slurping a slushie and bonding with Murray Bauman.
While his character was somewhat one-dimensional, he was both adorable and a lot of fun. Best of all, he never wore out his welcome. It's more than some returning characters can say.
5 Billy Hargrove
The case of Billy Hargrove is difficult to assess. He's certainly not an enjoyable character, as he's horribly mean, abusive, and possibly racist. But as a villain, Billy makes for a fascinating character.
His storyline really kicks into high gear in season three - he becomes the primary villain after getting possessed by the Mind Flayer, he is finally given some depth, and he even experiences a bit of a redemption arc. Some people sympathized with Billy, and others didn't. Such is the complexity of his writing and Dacre Montgomery's excellent performance.
4 Bob Newby
Being honest, the character of Bob Newby was entirely saved by the presence of Sean Astin. Not only did Astin add to the show's '80s theme and nostalgia (being a former child star of the time), but his performance was both charming and lovable.
But Bob himself was a bit of a lame character. He was written rather flatly, as he didn't have much dimension and his dorky kindness sometimes proved a little irritating. In fact, some people suspected Bob of darker ulterior motives, as he was just too nice. But Astin helped make him adorable, and he proved heroic in the end. There's just no hating Bob Newby.
3 Sam Owens
Sam Owens is actually a fascinating character who added a lot of charm to the second season. Like Sean Astin, the presence of Paul Reiser undoubtedly helped set the show's '80s atmosphere. But Owens proved very interesting for breaking some long-established tropes.
Fans expected Owens to be the type of villain who appears friendly and helpful before proving his allegiance to the dark side. But Owens was actually helpful, and he always had the best interests of the group at heart. He even allowed Hopper to adopt Eleven, and with that, he proved everyone wrong.
2 Max Mayfield
The showrunners took an enormous risk by introducing Max Mayfield to the cast. Unlike other characters introduced after season one, Max was directly ingratiated within Mike's friend group. Not only that, but her cold and somewhat off-putting personality may have proven divisive.
But against all odds, everything worked. Max's cold exterior hides her more authentic and tender side, and she shares some great chemistry with Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven. Her sarcastic personality is also great for some much-needed levity. Max should be here to stay.
1 Robin Buckley
Robin Buckley could very well be the greatest addition to Stranger Things. Maya Hawke brought some solid star power to the show, being the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.
Robin displayed the perfect mix of dorky, playful, and warmhearted. She was a welcomed LGBT+ addition to the show. And she fit in perfectly with fan favorites Steve and Dustin, with Maya Hawke sharing some electric chemistry with Joe Keery. Going forward, there should be no Stranger Things without Robin Buckley.