Top Ten Stranger Things Season 1 Characters

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Following the review of each season each week leading up to season five, I will be having character rankings based only on the season that I'm covering. So this ranking only takes into account season one. Anything after is not applicable for this ranking. That said, this was a tough list to narrow down. Season one is the first time we are introduced to all of these incredible characters, so cutting it down to ten meant making some really tough choices. In the end, I am pleased with this list and the amazing characters that we do get in season one.

10. Scott Clarke

The best teacher in the history of television

It is a crime that we haven't gotten more Mr. Clarke, because he is the best. The nerdy teacher is just a really fun addition to this season. He is really supportive of the boys in their adventures as well as when they are struggling with Will's disappearance. I love how willing he is to help in every single situation. Honest to God, if he was in more of this season, I'd probably put him higher, because every time he's on screen, I'm just smiling. I love his rapport with the kids, especially Dustin. He's just the frickin' best. If I could go back and change one thing in my life, it'd be to get a teacher like Mr. Clarke in middle school, because he's awesome.

9. Martin Brenner

The sinister scientist behind the events of the season

One of the things I love about Matthew Modine's mad scientist is his constant calm demeanor that somehow makes him scarier. The name "Papa" isn't just something that he makes his experiments call him. He truly comes off as paternal towards everyone. He is so disarming with his creepily polite and calm presence. The best example of this juxtaposition is when, in the finale, Hawkins Lab is torturing Hopper. After he's been tased and beaten, Brenner walks in and tries to talk to him. Before talking, however, he gives him a cigarette first. He is really good at manipulating people into doing what he wants them to do by just being friendly and paternal, and that makes him really, really scary.

8. Jonathan Byers

The grieving but stable brother that serves as a rock for his mother

I can't believe that Jonathan is this low, because he's great in this season. That just goes to show you how fantastic the first season of Stranger Things is in regards to characters. They do a great job of showing Jonathan as a supportive rock for Joyce while also showing his inner frustrations and turmoil as he deals with his own problems. I love that he's also a great brother. One of the best moments in this season is the flashback where Jonathan introduces Will to The Clash to distract him from their absent father. Jonathan is a great example of a multi-layered character who slowly unfolds and gets better as the season goes along. He becomes more complex as his relationship with Nancy progresses and you see the inner strength he got from Joyce shine. He's so great in this season, and I wish they would've kept his character this consistent in the rest of the show.

7. Dustin Henderson

The comedic relief of the party that also has his fair share of emotional moments

Dustin is pretty much the universal favorite of the main four boys, and that all goes back to how incredible his character is in season one. Gaten Matarazzo injects so much of his personality and obvious nerdiness into this character and it just makes him so funny and lovable. What makes him standout immediately is that he isn't just resorted to being the comedic relief. He actually contributes to a lot of the show's heart. He is the one who gets his friends back together after Mike and Lucas fight. He's the one always giving the D&D ideas to save Will. He's both so funny and so endearing at the same time, and that automatically makes him one of the highlights of this season.

6. Nancy Wheeler

The typical 80s girl-turned-badass

One of the things that Stranger Things does so well is setting up a major cliche from 80s movies and turning it on its head. One of the best examples of this is Nancy Wheeler in season one. Nancy starts off as your typical naive 80s girl who is being peer pressured by her new cool boyfriend and his friends. After Barb's disappearance, however, this strong, determined side of Nancy emerges as she scours Hawkins to find her best friend. She's the first of our main characters to willingly enter the Upside Down, which just goes to show how strong-willed and awesome she is. I love how she so naturally turns into the badass that we all know and love her to be in this season. It is awesome.

5. Steve Harrington

The beginning of one of the best redemptions in television history

Speaking of 80s cliches...Steve Harrington might be the best example of the classic Stranger Things reversal. He starts off as the classic douchebag boyfriend/bully, but you can see that there's a bit more to him throughout the season. He's really just a bully because he has jerk friends, and once he abandons them, we see the beginning of the best redemptive arc in TV history. Steve coming back into the Byers's house and fighting the Demogorgon will never not be satisfying. I love how much you hate Steve at the beginning of this season, because he is probably now the most universally loved character in Stranger Things. It's awesome. and he only gets better as the show goes along.

4. Mike Wheeler

The beating heart of the party

Mike Wheeler may fall off in later seasons, so it's easy to forget how great he is in season one. Finn Wolfhard's heroic leader of the party is one of the most endearing and easily lovable protagonists in TV. He is loyal to everyone, and that's what causes a lot of conflict throughout the season. Off the bat, he's loyal to Will. Then he becomes loyal to Eleven, which causes the entire fallout with Lucas. Even through that, however, he tries to reconcile with Lucas, understanding that the friendship that the party has is what's going to help them get Will back. His relationship with everyone is the beating heart of this season. Half of us caring about finding Will is Joyce, and the other half is Mike. And, of course, his relationship with Eleven is another part of the emotional journey of the season. He is so good to her and it's so endearing to watch him interact with a girl for the first time and watch her interact with a good human being for the first time. Sure, it's disappointing that Mike isn't as good in the later seasons, but he really is one of the standouts of the first season.

3. Joyce Byers

The emotional, powerful mother at the core of this story

The fact that Winona Ryder wasn't nominated for this season is crazy to me, because she does a fantastic job of embodying so many emotions and layers in Joyce. She is this anxious, frantic mother that is desperately trying to find her son, but you also see this really powerful strong side to her that emerges when she really needs it to. Her kicking Lonnie out of her house is one of the best moments of the entire season, and it shows how explosive and how powerful Joyce can be despite her being in a constant state of anxiety and grief. Because Will is gone throughout the season and we don't know him that well, it is so important for us to connect to Joyce's emotional journey so that we can care about finding Will. And, let me tell you, we care about finding Will, and much of that is due to Joyce.

2. Eleven

The mysterious little girl that gets her first glimpse of good people this season

There's a reason Eleven is so iconic, and much of it comes from the first season. Millie Bobby Brown absolutely nailed everything, from her iconic stare to her quiet way of talking to her small mannerisms that make her El. I love how much weight this little girl carries throughout the entire season. Eleven is a really hard character to write, because she barely talks. All of our understanding of who she is and her arc has to come from Millie's facial expressions and the surroundings that we see her in. And the show is really good at giving us that. We see her adapt to the real world and understand what it's like to have actual friends and meaningful relationships. All of this leads to her final "sacrifice" where she takes out the Demogorgon to save her friends that have helped her understand there are good people in this world. That's a powerful, powerful arc. Beyond just her character arc, she gets some of the coolest moments in the show. Her powers feel as awe-inspiring and scary as they are supposed to, and anytime she uses them, it just makes your jaw drop with wonder and excitement. She's incredible. On basically any other list, she'd be number one.

1. Jim Hopper

A broken man uncovering his greatness through a tragic situation

But how can you not have Hopper at the top spot? This character embodies everything great about Stranger Things. He's this broken, checked-out police chief that has just been beaten by life. When Will goes missing, however, he has a chance at redemption. He has a chance to save Joyce's son when he couldn't save his daughter. From this deadbeat police chief emerges an incredibly smart, caring, and cool cop who is desperately trying to find this kid. They never explicitly tell us that finding Will will feel like redemption for Hopper, but you can tell in the way that the show is edited and written that that's what he's feeling. That's perfect, subtle writing. Beyond that, David Harbour just carries this tremendous weight as a performer. You can see that this guy is just fed up with life, but he finds a reason to keep going when Will goes missing. He needs to find this kid and give his life purpose. There's so much powerful messaging in his arc and the way that his character is executed. Watching this broken man with great potential embrace his potential after life has kicked his ass is just so