Stranger Things focuses on a dynamic group of kids, teenagers, and even some adults. While it would seem like everyone's favorite character would be the ones in leading roles, that's not always the way it goes. Especially with Stranger Things, when one of the most beloved season one characters was Nancy's best friend Barb.
Many fans held out hope that Barb would come back, but it turned out the character wasn't as important to writers as she was to fans. According to Ranker, Barb isn't the only ing character to win the hearts of fans, as many small characters, and even new characters, have seemed to make it onto their top 10.
Bob Newby
Bob Newby first appeared in season two of Stranger Things as Joyce's new boyfriend. He was a funny guy who wanted to interact with her kids and was one of the few positive aspects of her life. He also conveniently worked at the Hawkins lab.
Despite Bob only appearing in one season, he became a memorable character for fans. It's likely that his heroic actions made him a fan favorite, considering he was attacked by a demodog when he willingly went to turn the power back on in the labs, in order to help the orders. He died a heroic death, which made sense considering he always referred to himself as a superhero.
Lucas Sinclair
Lucas Sinclair is part of the main friend group on Stranger Things, making him an important character since the first season. Lucas always seemed to be the more sensible one on the show, considering he was wary of Eleven and was the slowest to trust her when they first met.
As the show went on, he became good friends with Eleven and started to become less hesitant when things started getting more weird in Hawkins. Lucas matured a lot over the few seasons, developing a relationship with Max and no longer wanting to play childish games. He also has one of the best families on the show, with his little sister being a highlight of season three.
Max Mayfield
Max was a new addition to the group in season two when Lucas and Dustin both had a crush on her and started inviting her to hang out with them. As she gained the trust of the group, they began telling her of the magical things going on in Hawkins and she started to help them out.
Many fans like Max because she's tougher and has more spunk than the rest of the group, which is due to her troubled childhood. Her addition to the show was necessary since El now has a female friend to hang out with. The season 4 trailer teased that Max may become an even more important character, considering she might have powers of her own now.
Dr. Alexei
Dr. Alexei was a recurring character in season three of Stranger Things. He worked under the Starcourt mall as a scientist, and he only speaks Russian. Alexei was working on the "key," which is a way to link different worlds, making him partly responsible for the Demogorgon in Hawkins.
It may be surprising that Dr. Alexei is a fan-favorite character on Stranger Things, considering he's hardly on the show compared to the rest. Even though he was on the opposing side and threatened by Hopper to reveal his Russian operations in Hawkins, Alexei served as comedic relief. His childlike personality made him a likable character, even while being a minor antagonist.
Joyce Byers
Joyce Byers is the mother of Will and Jonathon and is one of the few adults involved in the mysteries of Hawkins. Joyce is a humble woman who is overprotective of her sons and comes off as more humble and less wealthy than many of the other parents in Hawkins.
Joyce is a determined mother that wouldn't give up trying to find her son, even when others thought she was insane. Out of everyone, Joyce is one of the characters who have suffered the most aside from Will himself. She lost her son, and rescued him, all for him to be possessed afterward. She's an incredibly sympathetic character who doesn't deserve the horrors she's endured.
Robin Buckley
Robin worked at Scoops Ahoy at the Starcourt mall alongside Steve Harrington, which is where she assumed Russians were smuggling something and using the mall as their cover. Robin is an intelligent character and was able to quickly figure out what was going on in Hawkins, with some minor assistance from Steve.
Robin is also one of the first major lesbian characters on the show, which is another reason why many fans love her. It was an impressive twist when Stranger Things made it seem as if Robin would end up with Steve, but she ended up revealing to him that she's a lesbian.
Eleven
Eleven was first introduced as the mysterious girl who couldn't speak but had superpowers. She arrived at the time when Will went missing, so Mike and his friends enlisted her to help find their friend. While she was originally the weirdo of the group, she's learned how to be a normal kid from her friends.
Eleven evolved a lot on Stranger Things, going from a shy girl who didn't fit in, to a confident teenager who wears bright colors and hangs out at the mall. She developed a relationship with Mike and recently became good friends with Max. She's one of the characters who have developed the most, which is likely why fans love her.
Jim Hopper
Jim Hopper was an officer in Hawkins who had a crush on Joyce Byers. His feelings for her led to him helping her find herself and uncover the mysteries of the Hawkins lab. He also allowed Eleven to move in with him and took care of her as if she were his daughter.
Hopper's past life was a lot more complex, which is a hidden detail on Stranger Things that fans might not have noticed. He lost a daughter in the past and apparently ed on as well in season 3 of Stranger Things. While his tragic ending hurt the hearts of fans, David Harbour is set to appear in season four, so he might be alive after all.
Dustin Henderson
Dustin Henderson is the nerdiest of the group, and while all of the kids are geeky, Dustin was the only one in the group to be accused of lying about having a girlfriend. In season one, all of the girls at prom rejected him, except Nancy Wheeler, who danced with him to make him happy. By being the geekiest of the group, he's also the most loved out of the kids.
There's no doubting one of the best Stranger Things episodes to watch is "The Spy," which is when Dustin and Steve developed their close friendship that fans love. It's likely his friendship with Steve also boosted the character's popularity, as the duo is hilarious together since they're complete opposites.
Steve Harrington
Steve Harrington was the bully in season one. He was incredibly jealous of Jonathan Byers due to how close he was to Nancy, and also one of the most popular kids at his high school. While he was originally an unlikeable character, he changed his ways as time went on.
Steve had the best character arc on Stranger Things, going from a stuck-up, popular mean boy who once dated Nancy, to a brave and heroic character who stole the hearts of fans. Steve developed a lot after getting wrapped up with the kids. While he still remains full of himself, he's now a lovable character who helps unravel the mysteries of Hawkins.