The characters of Stranger Things have gone through a lot during the show's three seasons. The kids, in particular, have changed over the years. However, while some of the characters have grown over the years, some characters have only grown taller.
Several characters have really matured since they first encountered the Upside-Down, but others are the same kids they were at the show's start. In fact, a couple of characters are less mature than before. This list examines which characters have changed for the better, and which characters have not.
Nancy (Has)
As one of the oldest kids on the monster-fighting squad, Nancy has become a very strong character. In season one, Nancy spent most of her time shrugging off her younger brother and former best friend Barb. But in Stranger Things 3, Nancy is one of the characters leading the charge. She's more responsible and less self-centered.
Nancy is also one of the few characters who has goals and desires outside of her relationship. She has a new journalism goal she discovered in season two, and she started pursuing in season three. Her first attempt at stopping the body-stealing monster was using her investigative skills. She's grown up a lot from her first season self.
Mike (Hasn't)
Mike is one of the most important characters in Stranger Things. He was the group leader at first, leading the charge to find Will and keep Eleven safe. But since then, Mike has faded further and further into the background. There's nothing wrong with an ensemble cast putting new characters in the forefront as the show goes on. However, even with what screen time he has, his character has shown no growth.
Mike's character in season three is defined by his relationship with Eleven. He's been in love with Eleven since the beginning, but his focus is only on making out. He's okay with lying to Eleven after the first threat from Hopper, and he doesn't pay any attention to Will. Mike has gotten taller, but his personality has shrunk.
Eleven (Has)
While Eleven's boyfriend and father figure have regressed, Eleven has really grown up. When she was first introduced in Stranger Things, she didn't have any idea how to interact with the real world. Now, she's gotten an opportunity to be a real kid, and she's used that freedom to grow up a lot.
Becoming more of a regular child is a positive change that shows growth. Eleven is quick to dump Mike, but it's a far cry from her unbridled fury from season two. And their brief break-up also helped both of them develop some much-needed independence. Eleven has grown up so much.
Lucas (Hasn't)
Lucas is a lot like Mike, focusing so much on his relationship that he hasn't grown beyond it. He also shrugs off Will's emotions and pays very little attention to the evil plaguing Hawkins in season three. Lucas' approach to his relationship with Max is also more juvenile.
Lucas also loses his place in the group as the rational voice of reason. Lucas' biggest contribution this season was suggesting the party hit a monster with a firecracker. Lucas grows up to be the polar opposite of the sensible kid he was at first. Lucas hasn't grown up one bit over the course of Stranger Things.
Dustin (Has)
Dustin is somehow the only main boy character who can focus on monsters and his girlfriend at the same time. He also develops a lot of empathy during the series. He distrusts Eleven when they meet in season one, but the next season, Dustin gives his new pet Demogorgon a chance. He's more trusting and caring, a real sign of growth.
There's a reason Dustin gravitates towards Steve and Robin, the older kids of the group. As the other members of his group split up into couples, Dustin is the only one who can look beyond his own desires.
Will (Hasn't)
To be fair, Will's lack of growth isn't his fault. He hasn't changed much over the course of Stranger Things because of all the trauma he's had to deal with. He spent the first season trapped in an alternate dimension and was possessed by the Mind-Flayer in season two. His time on the show has been spent trapped in a scary world like Eleven was before the series.
Will's arc through Stranger Things is tragic. He's been cheated out of his childhood, and he knows it. His powerful storyline is all about how he hasn't had a chance to grow up. Will isn't an awful character, but he hasn't grown up during the series thus far.
Max (Has)
Much like Eleven, Max has spent her time on Stranger Things learning to trust others. While Max was basically always self-sufficient, she had a lot of trouble getting close to anyone else in the group. But as she gets closer to the group, she learns to trust others and grow socially.
The relationship between Max and Eleven is one of the strongest elements of Stranger Things 3. These two girls grow up alongside each other, learning to work together. Both were strong in different ways from the beginning, but learning to lean on others and work together shows tremendous growth.
Steve (Hasn't)
Steve has definitely gotten nicer, which is a good thing. However, even at his meanest in season one, he still struggled with his conscience, shown by him cleaning up his graffiti. Steve has started following his moral compass more, but overall, Steve is still the same guy.
Despite becoming a sweetheart, he's still a doofus. He fits in too well with these children. He's one of the least mature members of the team, even before comparing him to new addition Robin. Steve is very much the "man-child" trope, which to be clear, doesn't make him bad. It does mean that Steve hasn't grown much over the show.
Erica (Has)
Erica has definitely matured, barely missing a beat as she's cast into this world of monsters. She's a little like the anti-Steve, in some ways. Erica spends most of her time razzing Lucas and his friends, and definitely isn't the most well-liked. But she has grown up a lot in a short amount of time, displayed by how she handles every situation.
Erica's cold-hearted negotiation skills are incredible, as she's able to squeeze free ice cream out of Steve. She handles stumbling upon a secret Russian base calmly and efficiently. She sort of becomes the new Lucas, as she stays rational and realistic in the face of danger. Considering she's still one of the youngest characters on Stranger Things, she's grown up a whole lot.
Billy (Hasn't)
Yes, Billy helped to save the day at the end of season three. That doesn't change the fact that he spent almost his entire time in Stranger Things as a jerk. Aside from getting taken over by the Upside-Down monster, Billy went through very few changes.
It's like Brent Norwalk in The Good Place. In his final moments during the group's experiment, his final words showed he has the capacity to change. But there's a difference between standing up for your fellow human beings in the last second of your life and treating your step-sister like a human being. It's shouldn't take a certain death experience to kickstart any growth.