Mike Wheeler is shown to be optimistic, morally compassionate, and highly committed to his friends, usually going to great lengths to help them. He has a crush on Will. Mike has a high level of selflessness. Mike is quite the comedian when he wants to be.
Dustin Henderson was somewhat of a typical "nerd", and had a rare genetic disorder (cleidocranial dysplasia) that prevented his teeth from developing properly, making him a prime target for bullies Dustin is an observer and a protector of the unity within the friend group. He frequently resolved the conflicts.
Despite sometimes putting on a defensive and reactionary shell, Lucas was ultimately sweet-natured and had good interests at heart. He is in love with Max.
Max is a tomboy, having many interests that some wouldn't consider "conventional" for a girl during the time period. She can be quite hotheaded, snappy, snarky, but shes also the most fun-loving.
. As she grows older, El never loses her compassion, but begins to be careful on who to extend that compassion to. El's friends and family are her upmost priority, willing to do anything and everything for them even if it threatens her life. She used to date Mike before he came out to her, they remain best friends.
Nancy Wheeler is hyper-intelligent and studious, having a high GPA and studying vigorously for tests. She was also shown to have a tremendous amount of bravery, resolve, and conviction, going to great lengths for those she cared for.
Robin buckley is closest to Steve, being his council in almost everything, especially with him dating Jonathan. Robin is more realistic and speaks the truth Robin is also talented in music, soccer, and fluency in multiple languages
Joyce Byers. Joyce is highly generous, amicable, and a tremendously benevolent mother who would do almost anything to keep her sons safe. She works hard and is loved by the community.
aside from his sarcasm and recklessness, a lot of the traits Steve displayed in his high school years have disappeared. He was incredibly awkward. He starts dating Jonathan and he feels more able to be himself. He puts his friendships above everything, and then when Jonathan goes to college he has to learn how to be without him, relying on Nancy and Robin. Hes the "babysitter" or the dad of the group of non-adults.
Jonathan byers has a deep sense of responsibility. During his high school years he worked 7 jobs to provide for Will and Joyce. He then met and dated Steve after the two had a huge fight over Nancy. He is currently going to school to become a photo-journalist in new york.
1987 The group was dispersing. It had been a year since the upside down had officially been destroyed. Dustin was preparing to go off to college in Georgia to do something with robotics. Lucas and Max were going up to New York with Erica to live with Lucas' aging grandmother. Jonathan and Steve had a huge argument over Jonathan wanting to go to New York City and study photo-journalism. Jonathan won that one and went off and their relationship has been 87% argument than anything else, all via phone. Hopper was also trying to move Joyce, El and Will up to New York as well, he got a high paying job out there too. Big precinct. Steve was close to leaving to new York as well just to argue more with Jonathan. He was only held back because he refused to leave without Robin and Nancy. Nancy was going to go to a Upstate New York school, Robin hadn't decided yet. And Then that left nobody in Hawkins. And that was hard on everybody. Especially Mike who was finally realizing his feelings for Will. He had broken up with El shortly after destroying the Upside Down. He hadn't loved her anymore, and she knew that, and it was mutual, and they were happy for each other. But, Mike hadn't had enough time to come out to Will, and tell him how pretty he found him. He had told Lucas and Dustin about it a lot over the year. They had a nickname for Will within their circle; "Bunny". That was his nickname because he was soft and pretty. Lucas and Dustin had heard plenty about Mike's feelings, ones he refused to acknowledge meant love.
By time the dispersing was complete, Mike and Will were living together on campus at NYU. Mike was going in for writing, Will for art. They had everything, everything and of course Will having unlimited gossip about Steve and Jonathan fighting. All. The. Time. Mike and Will went at it like rabbits. Mike just had this...drive, that he only got after writing. But recently, they had an argument. Mike was hanging around party people, his best friends truly. And he tried to pressure Will into drinking with them. So now Will was ignoring him. And on top of that, Will had a friend named Chance who Mike was SURE had a crush on Will. And now they were going on 2 days no talking.
Release Date 2026.04.20 / Last Updated 2026.05.25