Every Main Character in Stranger Things Season 5, Ranked

With the recent release of the final season of Stranger Things, fans are still buzzing about it. After nearly ten years of adventures with monsters, mysterious portals, and strong friendships, many are wondering which characters truly made a difference in the last eight episodes. The season abandons the idea of giving everyone equal screen time and makes it clear that the focus has shifted. Instead of relying on familiar humor, beloved characters, or a lighthearted feel, the final season prioritizes moving the plot forward. As Hawkins falls apart and the ultimate battle nears, some characters are central to the story, while others simply react to the events unfolding around them.

We’ve put together a ranking of the main characters from Stranger Things, based on how important they were to the final season and the overall story’s conclusion. We focused on who really drove the plot forward and made key decisions that shaped the ending. While some characters had more screen time or were more visible, that doesn’t necessarily mean they had the biggest impact – and Season 5 really highlights that.

14) Jonathan Byers

Looking back at Season 5, Jonathan doesn’t have a very prominent role. He was more visible in previous seasons, but here his part is much smaller. Despite this, he still has a few important moments, such as being the first to comfort Will when he comes out, and rescuing Steve after he falls in the Upside Down. These scenes are emotionally impactful, but they feel separate from the main storyline.

The main problem is that Jonathan doesn’t really impact how the story unfolds. He doesn’t make key choices, discover important clues, or play a crucial role in the final showdown. To be frank, the last season of Stranger Things would work just as well without him. He feels like he’s only there because the show needs him to be, not because his character is essential to the plot, which is why he ranks so low.

13) Nancy Wheeler

Throughout the series, Nancy becomes increasingly important and takes on a bigger role. By the end, she remains intelligent, courageous, and resourceful, particularly when she drives the plot forward. She’s the one who initiates the plan to defeat the Mind Flayer and leads the charge, and her actions – specifically shooting into the Upside Down’s atmosphere – are what truly highlight the danger of that world and set the stage for the show’s final showdown.

As a huge fan, I’ve noticed something a little disappointing about Nancy in the latest season of Stranger Things. She used to be the one really driving the investigations, a total powerhouse, but it feels like they’ve dialed that back. She’s still part of the team and important, sure, but her role feels less impactful this time around. It’s clear the showrunners wanted to focus on characters with more direct, emotional connections to Vecna, and unfortunately, Nancy got a little lost in the shuffle.

12) Lucas Sinclair

Let’s talk about Lucas in the final season. Honestly, he really stepped up. Compared to previous seasons, he brought so much more emotional weight to the story, and his actions felt directly connected to the fallout from everything they’ve been through. It’s no exaggeration to say he was a key reason Max survived – his bravery and devotion were crucial in protecting her during that intense hospital showdown. Beyond that one moment, Lucas consistently proved himself as the reliable one, always ready to help, take charge, and face whatever horrors came next alongside his friends. He was a true standout this season.

Despite being a key character, Lucas in Stranger Things doesn’t drive the main plot. He primarily exists to support Max’s storyline, acting as a dependable friend who balances action with emotional understanding. While important, his actions mostly respond to events rather than causing them, and the story doesn’t rely on him to resolve itself.

11) Steve Harrington

Steve is a consistently strong presence in Season 5, which makes judging his importance difficult. He’s in many scenes, actively participates in conflicts, and is crucial to the group’s survival, providing important emotional support. For instance, he helps Dustin cope with Eddie’s death. Surprisingly, his initial plan is also key to getting the plot underway, potentially saving the group a lot of time and trouble in figuring out how to fight Vecna.

Just being there isn’t the same as driving the plot forward. Ultimately, Steve doesn’t actively lead the story in the final season. He doesn’t change the central conflict or where it’s going—he helps support what’s already happening. He’s a reliable backup, protector, and strong supporter of the group, and he excels at that role. However, the final season presents him more as someone who keeps things steady than as a key player in how the story ends.

10) Joyce Byers

From the beginning of Stranger Things, Joyce Byers was clearly a vital character. However, as the show went on, her storylines often became separate from the main action, and she wasn’t as central to the core mysteries. This continued in the final season, where she largely played the role of a devoted and fiercely protective mother – a role she’s always naturally gravitated towards, as everything she does is driven by her personal connections.

Honestly, even with everything happening in this season, Joyce really stuck with me. It’s amazing how often her gut instincts ended up being crucial – whether she was truly hearing what Will was trying to tell her, battling a Demogorgon, or even delivering the final blow to Vecna in such a meaningful way. Her impact was huge! But it’s also interesting because the story never really felt like it was about her choices. She was always reacting, protecting her kids, and being there when they needed her, but she wasn’t the one driving the plot forward, you know?

9) Robin Buckley

Robin joined the cast in Season 3 of Stranger Things, but for a while, her role didn’t feel fully integrated into the main storyline. The show struggled to find a meaningful place for her. However, that changes in the final season, where she unexpectedly becomes one of the most helpful characters. Looking at the events, Will wouldn’t have discovered his abilities in the first part of the season without her. This makes her incredibly important to the final battle, as Will is essential for defeating Vecna.

Honestly, I’ve always appreciated Robin’s role in everything. She’s the one who figured out Max wasn’t actually in a coma, but stuck inside Vecna’s head with Holly – that was huge! And she was instrumental in helping Lucas get to Max at the hospital. To me, Robin’s strength is her practicality; she’s always the one who gets things done when everyone else is panicking. She consistently provides the answers or solutions they need. But even with all that, she never really leads the story, you know? She’s a vital support player, making a real difference behind the scenes, but she doesn’t take the reins.

8) Mike Wheeler

Mike is a compelling character, especially in Season 5. While he’s not the one driving the action, he’s the emotional center of the group, which is incredibly important. From the beginning of Stranger Things, everyone looked to Mike as a leader, but his difficulties with Eleven and their relationship caused him to step back. At the same time, his friendship with Will became complicated and fraught with tension.

By the end of the story, Mike had become more grown-up, and it was clear his strength wasn’t in taking action, but in supporting everyone emotionally. He was the first to acknowledge Will’s heroism, and he consistently held the group together during their toughest times. He encouraged Holly to be brave and, in the final scenes, gave both the characters and the viewers a sense of hope.

7) Dustin Henderson

Dustin is essential to everything that happens. Throughout Season 5, he’s consistently a driving force, contributing to plans, solving problems, and keeping the story progressing. He’s the one who gets things done, acting as the group’s strategist and carefully evaluating whether their ideas are sound or flawed.

Beyond the exciting adventures, Stranger Things also challenges Dustin emotionally, as he struggles with the death of Eddie. This makes his character more complex and realistic, showing how dealing with loss changes a person. If Dustin hadn’t been able to cope with this tragedy, the series finale might have turned out very differently, given how crucial he is to saving the day. The stress of this is made even clearer when he has a clumsy, poorly-timed argument with Steve, which emphasizes just how much everyone is counting on him.

6) Jim Hopper

As Stranger Things reaches its final season, Hopper is a seasoned character who truly understands what’s at stake. He’s become a father figure to the group, consistently taking charge, protecting others, and putting himself in harm’s way. His most important role is supporting those directly battling the forces of the Upside Down, allowing them to focus on what they need to do. He’s also Eleven’s steadfast support, and in Season 5, that connection is crucial to the success of their plan. Hopper represents strength, selflessness, and unwavering protection.

Hopper consistently steps up when the military gets in the way, often finding ways around their interference. Removing him from the story would leave a significant gap. While he’s not perfect—he’s made errors like failing to protect Kali and momentarily believing he harmed Eleven—he’s the character who consistently keeps things stable when the situation is at its worst.

4) Holly Wheeler

It was really surprising to see Holly, a character who was previously in the background, become so central to the story. That’s why she’s one of the most compelling additions in Season 5. For the first time, Stranger Things shows us Holly as more than just family context—she represents how the horror is now affecting the most vulnerable kids in Hawkins. And she’s not simply a plot device; we see her throughout the season, both driving the main story forward and developing as a character. She transforms from a frightened, innocent girl into a courageous and capable leader.

Let me tell you, Holly is absolutely vital to understanding Vecna – and not just his present, but how he became the monster we see. Up until the finale, Vecna’s origins were a huge mystery, and it’s Holly who, without even realizing it, pieces a lot of it together. She’s not the one pushing the story forward single-handedly, but her involvement dramatically raises the tension. Honestly, a lot of the final season’s urgency comes directly from her presence. She’s a key to unlocking everything, and it makes the whole thing so much more compelling.

4) Max Mayfield

Many viewers wondered if Max would return in Season 5, considering her condition at the end of Season 4. While she doesn’t have as much screen time or participate in as much action as before, she remains a vital part of the story. What happens to her is a direct result of Vecna’s actions, which makes the villain’s motives feel more personal and disturbing.

Max represents the harsh realities of the ongoing conflict, but she also empowers Holly to discover her own strength and skillfully directs Eleven and Kali. Because she understands the enemy’s perspective from within, she brings a unique ability to the team. While some viewers might not immediately recognize it, Max is a crucial part of the overall strategy, and her importance can be overlooked if you only focus on the surface-level events.

3) Eleven

Okay, let’s talk about Eleven in the final season of Stranger Things. I’ll admit, some fans (and honestly, me too at times) felt like she wasn’t quite as central as she usually is – at least not until the very end. But what the show does really well is explore a fascinating inner conflict for her, especially when she reconnects with Kali. It forces her to grapple with duty versus desire, which adds a lot of depth. Ultimately, though, it’s undeniable that Eleven is still the key to everything. Season five really hammers home the point that the showdown with Vecna, the difficult decisions made, and the entire series coming to a close had to happen through her. She’s the backbone of the resolution, plain and simple.

Even though Eleven wasn’t always the most visible character, the story clearly revolved around her. The narrative starts and finishes with her tackling challenges no one else could, making her one of the three most crucial characters in the series’ conclusion.

2) Will Byers

Throughout the series, it was clear Will had a special link to the Upside Down and Vecna, and that he would ultimately be crucial to the story. For seasons, fans speculated about his character, and he remained a central mystery. However, in the final season, his story takes a surprising turn, going beyond what anyone predicted. While always important, Will’s newfound abilities dramatically raise the stakes of Stranger Things. He essentially becomes an emotional guide for everyone throughout the season.

Will carries the emotional weight of everything that’s happened throughout the series and serves as a vital link to resolving the story. He’s central to everything, and Season 5 really emphasizes that. Even his small moments feel important, as he’s key to Max surviving Vecna and helping the group understand what makes the villain tick. Ultimately, Will is completely indispensable.

1) Vecna/Henry Creel

From the start, Stranger Things has relied on its core characters. However, Vecna is the central figure in Season 5. Everything the group does – their plans, sacrifices, and choices – is a direct reaction to him. While the Mind Flayer has always been a major threat, Vecna is the clear, intentional force of evil behind almost ten years of frightening events – he’s the face and voice of the terror.

Vecna isn’t just another villain vying for the spotlight; he controls the narrative. He dictates how each episode feels, how quickly the story moves, and even influences the series’ ending, famously telling Will there’s no hope for forgiveness. He’s the natural result of everything Stranger Things has been about – the lasting effects of trauma, the pain of being abandoned, the dangers of unchecked rage, and the corrupting influence of power. By fully embracing these dark themes, Season 5 transforms Vecna into more than just the biggest bad guy; he brings the entire series to a satisfying, thematic conclusion.

Who was your favorite character in the final season? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-04 04:13