WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 4, vol. 1!
With the long-awaited Stranger Things season 4 vol. 1 now available on Netflix, fans are eagerly welcomed back by the friendly faces of Eleven, Joyce, and Hopper, among many others. Not only are there returning characters that were presumed dead, but there is also a plethora of new faces to get used to.
Fans adore the many characters that have appeared in Stranger Things, no matter whose side they were on which remains very true about the bundle of new characters appearing in season 4. Some are hilarious, some did not last long and some are downright nightmare-inducing but all are still brilliantly crafted characters in their own right and all impacted the season's various storylines - both majorly and moderately.
Lt. Colonel Sullivan
Sullivan is a mysterious figure in season 4 who is after Eleven, believing her to be the root of all Hawkins' problems. Arriving swiftly after Chrissy Cunnigham's death, Sullivan is for some reason convinced that Eleven is guilty of these murders because of Brenner's intention to use her as a "remote assassin."
With a clear hatred of psychics, Sullivan orders a siege of the Byers' house and the torture of Agent Wallace. He is a cold, steadfast man who is a big believer in "the good of the many." He will likely return in season 4's vol.2 attempting to capture or even kill Eleven or will finally realize that the monsters in the Upside-Down are real.
Angela and The Bullies
There is always a character that viewers love to hate and that can definitely be said about Angela. She is clearly a rising queen bee and unbelievably mean to poor Eleven - or Jane Hopper as she's known in school. She and her entourage assault and embarrass Eleven at the roller rink in front of Mike and Will for something Eleven didn't even do.
While fans cheered as Eleven stood up to her bully and bludgeoned Angela with a roller-skate, characters were in shock. Likely pressing charges, Angela is the reason Eleven was arrested. Angela has become the Delores Umbridge of Stranger Things and her mundane villainy is equivalent to those of the Upside Down that remind these heroes that humans are monsters too.
Jason Carver And The Popular Kids
Nothing is more dangerous than those who are scared, angry, and grieving. After the death of his girlfriend Chrissy and friend Patrick, Jason and his fellow jocks become vigilantes and call for the death of Eddie Munson - the assumed murderer. He hates what is different and uses Eddie as a scapegoat to rid Hawkins of "freaks."
Jason utilizes words as weapons and rallies the citizens of Hawkins behind him. Though he often doesn't seem to even believe in what he says, he cleverly tells people exactly what they want to hear. While some fans don't want too many new character storylines, Jason's plot might lead to the people of Hawkins learning the truth about their quiet little town, so his addition could be worth it.
Victor Creel
Portrayed by horror icon Robert Englund in one episode and Kevin L. Johnson in flashbacks to the fifties, Victor Creel's terrifying story sticks with fans, particularly in the wake of episode 7's reveal that Victor's son Henry was the cause of all his strife. The patriarch of the Creel family is as much a victim as the rest of Vecna's.
He was a soldier in WWII and accidentally killed innocents, his son used this to torture him. While it is unclear whether he was either left alive to take the blame for the deaths of his wife and daughter or was saved by the angelic voice of Ella Fitzgerald, Victor lived and was sentenced to life in an asylum. Victor Creel is a tortured soul, doomed to a lifetime of guilt and regret, he is truly Vecna's original victim.
Eleven's Siblings
Before season 4 was released, fans had only known of Eleven's sister Eight/Kali but in the first few minutes of volume 1's first episode viewers were introduced to several psychic children Eleven grew up with. Though many of her siblings did not have much dialogue, their impact was felt on the show, particularly as they were all killed off before the opening credits glow red.
Eleven uses the deaths of her siblings as emotional fuel in the battle against One despite often being bullied and treated poorly by them. Prodigious Two in particular had a grudge against his little sister for embarrassing him in front of Papa, and while deserving punishment, he did not deserve torture and death. Hoping to see more of Eleven's siblings, it is speculated that perhaps not all died.
Yuri
Thought to have a screw or two loose, Yuri the smuggler is as wild as he is untrustworthy but became a hilarious addition to Stranger Things. Promised to rescue Hopper from Russia, Yuri decides to deal with Kamchatka prison himself and not only reveals Hopper's help from the inside but drugs Joyce and Murray with plans to take them to Mother Russia.
Fortunately, Murray is as efficient at karate as he promised and Yuri's selfish plans are thwarted but that isn't the end of his story. He so kindly provides Murray and Joyce with transportation to Russia's most heavily guarded prison and a means of getting in. Yuri becomes Murray and plays his part to perfection with increasing annoyance and brilliantly helps rescue everyone's favorite sheriff.
Argyle
Understandably traumatized by everything the Upside-Down has thrown at him, Jonathan Byers finds himself friends with hilarious and relaxed Argyle. Smoking the "Purple Palm Tree Delight" together chills Jonathan out for the first time in the show, and Argyle is the embodiment of '80s California with radically long hair and a pizza van.
Argyle is thrown into the world that these kids live in when his plans to drop off pizza involve becoming a getaway driver, burying "unknown hero agent man," and traveling across states to save Mike's super-powered girlfriend from the government. Argyle might be out of his depth but in his own stoner ways, he often offers sound advice and even accidentally helps find the number to the Nina Project - he is a welcome addition to the cast.
Dmitri "Enzo" Antonov
Beginning as a Russian soldier willing to break Hopper out for material gain he becomes a true ally. Known as "Enzo" as a reference to Joyce and Hop's planned date at the restaurant, Dmitri Antonov is a brilliant and complex character whose desire for monetary gain leads Joyce and Murray on a daring rescue mission to save Hop.
When their plan goes to hell thanks to Yuri's greed, Hopper and Antonov bond in their prison cell as they await death by Demogorgon. Both being fathers and soldiers, their alliance strengthens with Hopper being more honest with Antonov than he's ever been. Only appearing in six of Vol.1's episodes, Antonov goes from a corrupt guard to a brother-in-arms.
Henry Creel/Peter Ballard/001/Vecna
The terrifying Vecna that taunts and tortures haunted teenagers is revealed in the final episode of Vol.1 to be Henry Creel, the son of assumed-murderer Victor Creel, and far more than that, he is also Eleven's sibling 001. The first in Brenner's program of psychic children that took Eleven from her mother and likely even created her. Jamie Campbell Bower's performance as the character is commendable as each of his personas has different personalities.
While Vecna oozed evil from every pore, Creel was a sensitive-turned-sadistic child, and the Friendly Orderly also known as Peter Ballard was almost too kind and comforting to Eleven that it came off as a major red flag. One's origin monologue was well-deserved and a brilliant reveal that shocked fans to their very cores. He is a fascinating and horrifying character that will be a difficult villain for our favorite characters in Hawkins to overcome.
Eddie Munson
D&D loving, musically talented, assumed murderer Eddie Munson has quickly become a fan favorite. Scene-stealer Eddie has incredibly quotable dialogue and flair for theatricality whether he's playing D&D or chatting with Queen Bee Chrissy Cunningham. Like Steve, Eddie finds himself fond of Dustin and the rest of the Hawkins kids as their mentor for everything unconventional.
Seen as a freak by everyone, Eddie is the "satanic panic" incarnate. He revels in being an outcast and happily avoids popularity. This quickly changes when he becomes the town pariah and presumed serial killer as Eddie runs away in the face of danger but is not faulted by fans for this. Instead, viewers cheer him on when he bravely faces his demons and jumps into the unknown to save Steve in the Upside-Down.