Eleven (whose real name is Jane) is a young girl with Will Byers disappeared into the Upside Down, psychic powers. triggering the series' events.

Eleven, or El, escaped from Hawkins Lab after she spent her whole life being studied and used for The first season was centered around rescuing Will government spying. El spends most of the first season from the mysterious hidden dimension, and now he's with her shaved head or blonde wig, though now it's one of the few characters on the show who has an grown out into longer curls. innate connection to the Mind Flayer.

Dr. Martin Brenner used to run the lab where Eleven Mike Wheeler is the de facto leader of his friend was born and experimented upon. group.

Eleven called Brenner her "papa," though we're not From leading his friends in Dungeons and Dragons sure if he's her real biological father. We do know that games to spearheading the hunt for Will, Mike spent he was the man responsible for her mother's the first season of "Stranger Things" juggling his catatonic state and the kidnapping of Eleven. He friendships with his feelings for newcomer Eleven. also may still be alive, though the show has not made his fate clear yet. Lucas Sinclair was the biggest skeptic of Eleven from the get-go. Eleven's mother, Terry Ives, named her Jane.

Lucas was initially resentful of Mike's willingness to She signed up for a secret CIA experiment with LSD trust Eleven. But by the end of the first season, the and sensory deprivation tanks, and then realized she friend group banded together behind the mysterious was pregnant with Eleven. Dr. Brenner and the girl. Hawkins Lab staff took Eleven away from her when Lucas has a little sister named Erica who loves teasing she was a baby and tried to cover up her existence. the boys about being "nerds."

Now Terry is unable to move or speak much, and sits in a halfway conscious state.

Dustin Henderson is usually the mediator of the Barbara Holland was Nancy Wheeler's best friend. friend group, as well as the comic relief.

From the iconic hat to his charming lisp, Dustin quickly Barb was Nancy's best friend and the second person became a fan favorite for his trusting nature and taken by the Demogorgon. She was with Nancy and loyalty to the group. He is also the go-to resource on Steve when the Demogorgon pulled her into the all things Dungeons and Dragons. Upside Down and killed her.

Nancy Wheeler is Mike's older sister who gets pulled Steve Harrington was Nancy's almost-boyfriend and into the drama after her friend Barb goes missing. became an unexpected hero of sorts by the end of season one.

Nancy is in high school, and at the start of the first season she's just beginning to break away from her Steve presents himself as a cliche high school jock bookish habits and explore dating and a more who's insensitive and a bully, but by the end of the adventurous side of herself. first season he had come around. The first season ended with Steve and Nancy dating.

Jonathan Byers is Will's older brother Joyce Byers is Will's frantic mom who never gives up on her boy.

Jonathan sets off to try and find his brother Will on the first season, and winds up with Nancy as she tries to find Barb. The two of them get closer during their Joyce already seemed prone to anxiety and stress, but adventures, and face off with the Demogorgon. the disappearance of her son sends her into a frenzy of cigarettes, paranoia, and determination. She's the first to believe Will is in communication with her from a mysterious (and probably supernatural) place.

Chief Jim Hopper is the head of Hawkins' police department.

Hopper is a no-nonsense cop whose personal life seems to be spiraling at the start of the show. But when the time comes for action, he snaps into focus on rooting out the truth about Will.

He saves Will at the end of the first season.