Mike Wheeler

Michael "Mike" Wheeler, portrayed by **Finn Wolfhard**, is a main character in *Stranger Things*. The leader of the Party, he is the boyfriend of **Eleven**, the best friend of **Dustin Henderson**, **Lucas Sinclair**, **Will Byers**, and **Max Mayfield**, and the younger brother of **Nancy Wheeler**.

When Mike's best friend, **Will Byers**, mysteriously went missing, he and his other friends, **Lucas** and **Dustin**, made it their mission to find him. However, while searching for **Will**, they stumbled upon an escaped girl named **Eleven** instead. Mike soon discovered that she knew something about **Will**'s disappearance and enlisted her help in finding him. During their time together, Mike and **Eleven** formed a strong bond and quickly grew to like each other. Once **Will** was found, Mike was happy that he had returned home safely; however, he was greatly devastated by **Eleven**'s sacrifice to defeat the Demogorgon.

Still devastated by **Eleven**'s disappearance one year later, Mike called for her every night while also assisting **Will** with a new supernatural issue. Eventually, he reunited with **Eleven**. He, along with his friends and **Steve**, then worked on burning the sprawling network of another inter-dimensional threat, using it as a distraction for **Eleven** to close the Gate for good. Mike later attended the Snow Ball dance with **Eleven**, which he previously promised her.

During the summer of 1985, Mike and **Eleven** were nearly inseparable, even though **Eleven**'s adoptive father, **Hopper**, disapproved. In an attempt to establish boundaries, **Hopper** scared off Mike and jeopardized the teens' relationship. Reeling from the fallout, Mike sought the comfort of his best friends, **Lucas** and **Will**. Upon learning that the Mind Flayer was still alive and had begun flaying to get revenge on Mike, **Eleven**, and their friends, he joined his friends to defeat it. Three months after **Hopper**'s apparent death, Mike and his friends had to bid farewell to **Eleven**, and the Byers who were moving out of Hawkins. Before leaving, Mike and **Eleven** made plans to visit each other at Thanksgiving while they also professed their love for one another.

By the spring of 1986, Mike was a dedicated member of the Hellfire Club, along with **Dustin** and **Lucas**. He headed to California to spend spring break with his girlfriend, **Eleven**, in her new town. **Eleven** had kept in touch with him through letters after she and the Byers moved away from Hawkins, and had told him that she was adapting to California. However, upon his arrival, Mike realized that **Eleven** had been lying to him and was struggling more than she let on. When **Dr. Owens** whisked her away to work on regaining her powers, as there was a new evil threatening Hawkins, Mike joined **Will**, **Jonathan**, and **Argyle** in searching for **Eleven** while being on the run from **Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan** who believed Eleven to responsible for the murder spree happening in Hawkins. They found her just in time to witness her powers return and Mike reunites with her before they make their escape. Later, Mike encouraged her during her mind battle with **Vecna**, telling her that he loved her and couldn't lose her, giving her the strength to overpower **Vecna** and temporarily defeat him, thus saving their friends.

Two days later, Mike, **Eleven**, **Jonathan**, **Will**, and **Argyle** returned to Hawkins where Mike reunited with his family and friends. He and **Eleven** then visited **Max** in the hospital as she ended up in a coma after clinically dying before being brought back to life by **Eleven** after her fight against **Vecna**. As Mike, **Will**, **Jonathan**, **Argyle**, and **Nancy** worked to rebuild **Hopper**'s abandoned cabin, Mike assured **Will** that they will be able to kill **Vecna** as his friend could sense he was still alive. Mike then reunited with Hopper who has revealed himself to be alive for the past couple of months before witnessing the Upside Down beginning to merge into Hawkins.