Stranger Things' Max Mayfield is an outspoken and confident tomboy who becomes a pivotal character in season 3. She changes the whole dynamic of the group and becomes the best friend that Eleven needed to feel normal. Max came to Hawkins through terrible circumstances and has many stories that make you feel bad for her, however, she does some things that just make you hate her.
Max is great, she's confident and independent but flawed and vulnerable. She helps El feel normal, teaches her all about boys, and helps her to understand what it means to be a teenager, although she is particularly controversial between many fans. While some argue that she is manipulative and negative, others propose that she was key for the development of El and the rest of the group.
Needless to say, Max is a character who comes with a tragic background that seems to follow her throughout season 2 and 3. It influences her decisions and contributes to her making some questionable calls that don't sit well with any of the group or the people watching. Without further ado, let's see just what she did that made people hate her so much, as well as what she went through that made everyone feel so bad for her.
Felt Bad: Her Parents' Divorce
It is slowly revealed throughout the show that Max moved from California to Hawkins after her parents got a divorce. Sadly, Max was much closer to her father so you only felt worse for her when she was forced to leave him and the place she called home to move in with her new stepdad and stepbrother, with whom she certainly didn't have a great relationship.
The group and the audience mainly feel bad for the fact that she had no choice in the matter and seems to get blamed for the move and the marriage on multiple occasions, something which clearly causes her a considerable amount of pain.
Hated Her: Being Rude To The Group
Although understandable, she is consistently hostile towards them. One thing that divided the fans' opinion on her was when she befriended El and convinced her that Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin were liars and she shouldn't hang out with them. This causes a huge rift between the group, resulting in arguments and problems for most of seasons two and three.
Firstly, when Lucas trusts her with the group's secret, she instantly dismisses them and calls him a liar. Obviously, it's what anyone would do if someone came up to them and told them there was a different dimension. However, it's frustrating to hear her dismiss it and shut them all down. Overall, she just rarely feels like a true part of the group.
Felt Bad: Billy's Treatment Of Her
This is certainly one of the most prominent factors when it comes to feeling sympathy for Max. Her step-brother Billy is portrayed as a horrible bully throughout season 2 and the beginning of season 3, so when he treats Max the way he does it's all the more heartbreaking.
Him forcing Max to accept that moving to Hawkins was her fault and terrifying her by driving so fast that he nearly runs over her new friends basically says it all. The whole scene just proves how horribly he treats her and showcases the sort of hostility she experiences at home.
Hated Her: Breaking Up El And Mike
Eleven and Mike were the couple everyone wanted to happen as soon as they met, so when they finally got together it was fantastic. As soon as Mike and El finally got to see each other after El disappeared it was bliss for both of them.
Then Max came in. She took this blossoming relationship and convinced El that Mike was a liar, coaxing her to break up with him after such a small thing just to teach him a lesson. For most fans, this was a particularly manipulative move and one that made many hate Max for what she did.
Felt Bad: Max Fearing She'll Be Like Billy
When she finally opens up to Lucas about being scared that she'll end up being just like Billy when she grows up, it is a great, heartfelt character moment. It is one of the first times she really shows vulnerability and true fear of her future.
What makes most people feel sympathy for her in this situation is that it seems to be her owning up to her previous actions. She's aware that she is not the nicest girl but is trying hard to not be like her step-brother. The whole scene is a display of her innocence and vulnerability, things we rarely see with Max Mayfield.
Hated Her: 'Flirting' With Mike
Although she wasn't particularly flirting with Mike, El seemed to think so and got particularly jealous, leading to a rather funny scene where she pushes Max off her skateboard with her telekinesis.
Most viewers already had an aversion to Max, so when she speaks to Mike and confronts him about "not letting her into the group," it sort of deepens the growing rift between them. Understandably, Mike has an issue with Max because he misses El and doesn't want her being replaced. This is the case with the viewers too, no one wants El being replaced and most felt her position in the group was threatened with the introduction of Max.
Felt Bad: Mike Being So Unwelcoming
There are many instances in which Mike postures himself as the leader of the group. This is definitely one of them. Lucas and Dustin are very happy to see a different girl in school who seems to share in their interests. So understandably they are desperate to bring her in.
As previously mentioned, Mike and the audience feel like she will take the spot that El had before she disappeared. Nevertheless, it is hard to not feel sorry for the girl who has come into an unknown town, has no friends, and struggles with a troubled home life as she gets rejected rather obviously by Mike.
Hated Her: Manipulative
The reason a lot of fans hate this character is that she is a particularly manipulative friend towards Eleven.
Firstly, she takes El, a girl who is definitely not socially adept, and convinces her that all boys lie. Although the two become best friends, Max never teaches El to be herself. She fails to show Eleven what it means to be independent and to stand up for herself, two traits that are particularly important in her realizing when she is being taken advantage of. Moreover, she does seem to use El for her powers on multiple occasions.
Felt Bad: Billy's Death
Even though Billy is essentially a villain, spending most of his time being a bully and taking advantage of women, his death is still heartbreaking.
Both Billy and Max show brand new emotions as this scene unfolds, and you can't help but feel intensely for both of them. Needless to say, Max is losing a family member. For practically anyone that is one of the worst things that can happen. Even if Billy was a horrible guy, no one deserves what he got. Max is understandably distraught, and most viewers are right there with her.
Hated Her: Breaking Up With Lucas
Here we have another portrayal of a manipulative Max. She seems to break up with Lucas on multiple occasions over trivial issues just so she can get what she wants.
She explains to El that she does it to teach him a lesson, but it honestly seems like she actually enjoys breaking up with Lucas every week or so. Although it doesn't seem to cause Lucas that much pain or bother after a while, it still angers viewers as they watch Max step all over him.