(Credit: Netflix)

Stranger Things came, conquered, and left Netflix viewers gasping for air in season five.

But while at it, the hit Netflix series doubled down on one important lesson: the most fascinating aspect of Stranger Things is not its gritty worldbuilding or the Upside Down; it’s the characters.

The sci-fi series was always a character-driven drama, but it’s also one of those rare shows where each and every character stands out on their own. In the last four seasons, many characters have come and gone in the Stranger Things universe.

Likewise, the fifth and final season is no exception. While only time will reveal who remains on the battlefield at the end of the day, for now, here are three Stranger Things characters who stole the show in the first volume, regardless.

Three Stranger Things characters who nailed their screen time in season five

Karen Wheeler

The Duffer brothers ensured Stranger Things season five commenced with nothing less than a masterclass on reclamation, and the first candidate in volume one to prove their point is the otherwise sidelined character, Karen Wheeler. Although the creators cut slack, keeping Karen and Mr Wheeler completely oblivious to the Upside Down goings-on and Vecna’s evil schemes, the Duffers went all out to create their heroic moments, especially Karen’s.

Although initially she has a hard time believing Holly that a Demogorgon is tailing her to kidnap her, once she finds blood while cradling her head and witnesses the monster tearing the Wheeler house apart, in the second episode, ‘The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,’ Karen takes charge. She stands between Holly and the Demogorgon, breaking the empty wine bottle into spiked shards, aiming straight for the creature’s flap-like mouth before it slashes its tendrils through her chest.

While she fails to prevent Holly’s abduction, Karen does get her mic-drop moment in the show.

Derek Turnbow

It’s incredibly hard to be the new kid on the block in a show that’s been on for about a decade, but Derek Turnbow? He became a fan favourite in no time. Sure, he came across as one of the biggest jerks Stranger Things has probably seen so far. However, his bullying nature and foul mouth were all excused when he allied with the gang to save the kids of Hawkins from Vecna’s mysterious scheme, which still required the kidnapping of several children like Holly.

While the character arc was undeniably a surprise, what was even more of a shocker was his no-questions-asked transition from “Dipshit Derek” to “Delightful Derek,” for the sake of the mission. Derek may not be the first jerk we fell in love with from the hit Netflix series, but he’s clearly the one the online memes are obsessed with.

Will Byers

When it all started with Will Byers, it only makes sense that the Upside Down saga ends with him as well. Even though the character may have taken a backseat in the last few instalments, the Duffer brothers ensured we get our much-needed reminder that Will is, after all, the central character of the hit Netflix series. And honestly, what better way to show that than bestowing life-saving powers to the kid who once got lost in the Upside Down?

In the final moments of ‘Sorcerer,’ the fourth episode of volume one, Will freezes multiple Demogorgons midair, stretching out his hands and snapping them like Vecna kills his victims. While the revelation completely caught viewers off guard, it was the first time we learned of Will, the warrior.