Okay, I need to get this off my chest. I love Stranger Things. I love the characters. I love Will Byers—he’s my favorite—but this isn’t a “Will post,” and I’m not here to bash anyone. I just want to talk about a trend in how the show and fandom treat certain characters.
‼️PLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST, BEFORE COMMENTING AND WISHING ME DEATH!‼️
Let’s be honest: Eleven is everywhere. She’s the face of the show. People cosplay her, post her pictures, reblog every scene she’s in. And yes, I get it—she’s an amazing character with incredible powers. But here’s the thing: most of what people focus on about her is her powers, her nosebleeds, her hand stretched out while using her powers, and her relationship with Mike. That’s it. That’s the character people constantly celebrate. And I love her as a character, but I don’t think that’s the whole story.
Meanwhile, other characters who are just as interesting, complex, or compelling get way less attention, and sometimes even hate:
• Will: the heart of the story, traumatized, nuanced, vulnerable. Yet somehow people act like he’s unimportant.
• Jonathan: protective, complicated, struggling with depression, figuring out his place in the world—so many layers, so few fans celebrate that.
• Lucas, Murray, and others: fascinating storylines, unique personalities, and still mostly overlooked.
I think the problem is that the fandom and even the marketing of the show tend to circle around Eleven. If a scene focuses on anyone else, suddenly it’s “boring” or “less important,” even when these characters are carrying some of the best emotional and narrative weight in the show. And honestly, the Duffer Brothers themselves have said the show is about Will, not about Eleven, not about romance, not about powers, not about Mike. It’s about trauma, nostalgia, friendship, and the weirdos who inhabit Hawkins.
So yes, Eleven is great. She’s compelling. But why is she the only one who seems to matter to fandom attention? Why are her powers and her relationship with Mike treated as her defining traits? Why do other characters with amazing, diverse, and emotional arcs get left behind?
I’m not hating on anyone. I just want the fandom to look beyond the nosebleeds and powers, to give Will, Jonathan, Lucas, Murray, and everyone else their due. They’re rich, interesting, human characters—and the show wouldn’t be what it is without them.
PLEASE don’t Write hating comments!🥹
I don’t want any rage bait, i just have a point. If you disagree, it’s fine, everyone has a different view and i kindly respect that!😘
So PLEASE don’t start a fight! It’s just my vision!