The first volume of Stranger Things season 4 will come out on May 27 and the trailer already set a nightmarish tone for the upcoming episodes. But hopefully, an imminent war against dark forces won't prevent the show from adding a hint of humor like it always did. With a diverse main cast that includes teenagers and grown-ups, the relationship between the characters often delivers some hilarious moments in contrast with the sinister events of the show.
Things are getting more and more unsettling as the seasons go by, but some characters like to address the problems with a comical approach, while others are simply so awkward and clumsy in everything they do that they deliver some of the funniest scenes. Naturally, each character has a different sense of humor, but some are simply funnier than others.
Nancy Wheeler
While Nancy does her best to balance saving the world from alien forces and having a regular steady life, she never fails to protect those she loves with ruthless motivation.
Nancy can be whatever people need her to be: a detective, a shooter, a planner, or a fighter. In every role she is given, she never loses her sense of humor, especially when it comes to messing with her brother and his friends. It's always good for fans to see her onscreen, but she can be too grounded sometimes, which prevents her from enjoying the moment. Nancy is usually too focused on other things to make funny remarks, and her companion, Jonathan, is also not necessarily the life of the party.
Eleven
Definitely not the first character that comes to mind when one thinks of a funny character, Eleven went through a lot of pain and suffering in her life, but she is also undeniably the character that changed the most along the seasons. While she still figuring out exactly what it means to be a teenager, her awkward efforts tend to be as cute as they are funny.
Eleven evolved from a powerful destructive force to a casual teen that uses her powers to spy on her boyfriend. Her sense of humor is still as mysterious as her, but when she is willing to show it up she carries out hilarious moments.
Mike Wheeler
Mike is a character that appears to be unintentionally funny and that is what makes him even funnier. He is always annoyed by everything and sometimes acts like a machine of complaints with his non-stop grumbling, which usually ends up being quite comical. There are moments he doesn't even need to say anything, a quick look at him and one can easily tell a disgusted expression plastered on his face.
Mike is also not the best person when it comes to expressing feelings, and his awkward attempts of doing so with Eleven can easily bring about a few laughs. However, his spoiled behavior can be a bit too much to handle sometimes, and apart from his little freak-outs, there's not much particularly funny about him.
Joyce Byers
Joyce can switch from the sweetest and most generous person in the world to an explosive and unstoppable force in a matter of seconds if her loved ones are put in danger. Her impetuous actions to protect her children and their friends are impeccable, but her shifts in character and hysterical confrontations usually tend to be hilarious and really stand out, especially when she is with Hopper.
Joyce is not only a badass mother but also someone fun to hang out with, but considering the show as a whole, she did not have too many funny moments onscreen because she spent most of the time worried about her missing and then possessed son. Not the funniest of times, indeed.
Lucas Sinclair
Lucas is the big brain of the party, always trying to solve the most bizarre and out-of-this-world situations with logical thinking (assuming that blowing up a massive alien creature with fireworks is logical). His confidence is contagious and he stands out as the personification of "do you have a better idea?"
His miraculous plans often turn some of the most intense moments of the show into something hilarious, which is extremely amusing. Additionally, the scenes where Lucas and Mike try to understand the "female species" are easily among the funniest. He can handle alien forces, but maybe figuring out girls are just too much for him.
Max Mayfield
Max is easily the sassiest character of the main cast and it's always delightful to see everyone's dumbfounded face at her clever witticisms. No one can win an argument against her, period. She is full of spirit and willing to take risks simply because why not?
Max has different chemistry with each person of the party, but her moments with Eleven really stand out. Their coming-of-age plot is hilarious as Max teaches her new best friend how to be a witty teenager like her, delivering quite a few laughable reactions from the boys. A bit of girl talk was just what the show needed. With the recent loss of her brother, however, it's expected that a bit of her gleefulness might fade away.
Robin Buckley
The latest addition to the main cast delivered the funniest moments of season 3, alongside Steve and Dustin. Robin was introduced as Steve's coworker and turned into a vital part of the party, committed to combating evil forces. What makes her one of the funniest characters on the show is her hilarious chemistry with other main characters and how she always has a sarcastic comment at the tip of her tongue.
She had enough screen time to considerably develop her arc, but there is still a lot that fans can expect to see from Robin in Stranger Things season 4, as she gets to strengthen her relationship with the other members of the gang. Robin hasn't seen half of the dark events portrayed in the show, so she will presumably remain a joyful figure and a comic relief among the group.
Jim Hopper
The best way to describe Hopper is "brutally funny". He is the grumpy and short-tempered chief of police in Hawkins and went through hard times after the loss of his daughter. But as he starts to get along with the other characters, a new side of Hopper is revealed, especially in his moments with Eleven.
He is the certified tough guy of the show and the master of irony, being able to address everyone in an impertinent tone without sounding arrogant. That's maybe because they all know he's actually a nice guy with a soft heart, and his ill-mannered way is just part of an act ... a quite comedic act. In season 4 of Stranger Things, it's expected that Hopper will have a totally different arc, that hopefully won't ruin his sense of humor.
Dustin Henderson
Dustin is the underdog of his group of friends, and also the funniest. Even though his pet animal ended up becoming a bloodthirsty creature and alien forces are trying to destroy his world, he can't help thinking it's all a little awesome.
He is inherently funny and his sarcastic and self-deprecating jokes are often just enough comic relief in moments of high tension. While he can easily get a little too carried away by his humor, it's safe to say that the group would be way too serious without his presence. Additionally, his friendship with Steve is something no one saw coming and delivered many hilarious moments.
Steve Harrington
Who could've imagined that the most annoying character of season 1 would end up becoming everyone's favorite and funniest babysitter? Steve always has a plan, and well ... that's the problem. He really tries his best to help his friends, but whenever he tries to act tough, it backfires. The funniest thing is that in his head, he clearly thinks he's nailing it, and at this point, it almost feels like a running gag in the show.
Steve is one of these characters that are often painfully relatable and intentionally funny overall: the way he talks and stumbles upon his own thoughts, his relationships with other characters, especially Dustin and Robin, and of course, that haircut. His constant failures in action and in love are funny but also an important part of his arc because Steve takes it all with his head up. Everything contributes to him being the funniest character.