The entire cast of Stranger Things is brilliant, but Eleven is one of the most complex and interesting characters written for a TV show in a long time. The telekinetic tween blends Charlie of Stephen King's Firestarter with X-Men's Phoenix in a way that makes '80s fans delirious with joy. But Eleven hasn't always been as welcomed by the people of Hawkins...including her own friends.
While it's normal to be skeptical of someone new joining our group of friends, and even fearful of things we don't understand, sometimes the Stranger Things gang really hurt Eleven for no good reason.
10 Lucas Openly Despised Her
While El received much worse treatment at the hands of her lab technicians and Dr. Brenner during most of her life than she did from any other humans in Hawkins, not all of the gang welcomed her with open arms. Lucas Sinclair openly despised her, ridiculing her in front of her face and treating her like she wasn't even human. Some of the ways he treated "the weirdo" resonated with people with disabilities and how they are often treated poorly for being different.
Lucas is young and jealous of his best friend having a new friend, but his behavior was still rude at best.
9 They Made Her First Kiss On Screen
A teen's first kiss is a big deal. While Eleven's first kiss with Mike was naturally her first, the Duffer Brothers still worked it into the plot knowing it would also be Millie Bobby Brown's first kiss. While she and Finn Wolfhard were professional about it and have had nothing but praise for their adult directors, the adults fully held the power in this situation and it's somewhat questionable that Brown's first kiss was a fictional one.
8 They Used Her To Find Will And Barb
While we can't blame the Hawkins gang for using El's powers to locate both Will and Barb in the Upside Down since there were no other options, it's also horrifying to watch them all put this young girl in harm's way again and again, watching her become week and even bleed while she just tries to be a good friend.
Joyce's motherly treatment of Eleven after one of these sessions is likely the biggest kindness anyone has ever given Eleven, and while it was heartwarming to witness, it was also terrible because of what the child had to endure beforehand.
7 Hopper Kept Her Locked Up
We love Hop for becoming the father that Eleven needed. He left food out for her just in case, then took her in and parented her as best as he knew how, having never been a father to a tween before. The problem was that he needed to keep her safe, which is why he forbade her from leaving their cabin together for months.
This is cruel treatment for anyone, but especially for a tween during the age when friends become so important to a child's life. Even though she was fed and kept warm, Eleven languished without the social interaction she desperately needed.
6 Hopper Sold Her Out
In order to rescue Will from the Upside Down, Hopper agreed to make a deal with the devil, or in this case, Dr. Brenner. He sold out Eleven's location to the very bad men she had escaped from in order to obtain access to their facility and Will's location even after she had just ventured into the Upside Down herself to help them locate both Will and Barb.
The deal was so terrible that Joyce didn't even know about it. Even though she'd do anything for Will, this kind of double-cross probably wouldn't have occurred to her. What if Eleven ever found out?
5 They Didn't Believe Her About Will And Treated Her Terribly
During the first season of Stranger Things when Eleven tried to explain that Will was still near his home, but only in the Upside Down, the gang became furious with her for what they believed to be a waste of their time. After humoring them with her powers, straining herself to try to make contact with efforts that obviously were uncomfortable, and trying so hard to be a good friend, Eleven was treated badly and left on her own again, only to live off frozen waffles pilfered from the store.
Confused kids can't be expected to act as competent adults, especially during a crisis, but the boys definitely could've been kinder.
4 Mike Denied Her Agency
Eleven and Max's friendship was one of the best things to emerge from the third season of the show, especially after Eleven callously pushed Max off her skateboard with her telekinesis the previous season in a petty move. One of the most beautiful moments occurred when Max demanded that Eleven be allowed to make her own choices for once and to trust in what she thought she could handle rather than what everyone told her to do.
Mike argued against this, believing himself to know what was better for his girlfriend. For better or worse, it only spoke to his cluelessness regarding Eleven's agency.
3 Hopper Sabotaged Her Relationship With Mike
Hopper had grown as a character and a father so much during the two previous seasons that his devolution into an overprotective father trope was difficult to witness, especially given how much freedom he'd already limited in the previous season in the interest of El's safety.
Joyce gave him spectacular advice about setting boundaries between Mike and Eleven, but instead of following it, Jim went with his hurt pride and used threats to get what he wanted instead of respecting his daughter and her boyfriend. While it technically worked, it also really harmed the relationship as well as Eleven's happiness.
2 They Used Her To Save The Town
As with their search for Will and Barb, the gang really had no choice in relying on El to save the town and likely the world with her Phoenix-like abilities multiple times. We've witnessed just how strong they are without her, and they certainly didn't stand a chance, especially during the first two seasons.
As powerful as she is, Eleven is still a child. Relying on a girl who isn't even old enough to drive, not to mention one who suffers from terrible childhood trauma, for the survival of the human race really isn't fair, even though is pretty much had to be done.
1 Mike Lied To Her
After being so adamant about how friends don't lie during the first season, Mike Wheeler had no trouble lying to his Eleven after Hopper put fear into the boy. Season 3 was Hopper's worst season in several ways, and intimidating a teen boy was one of the worst things he did, but Mike could have chosen to tell El the truth rather than lie to her and break her heart.
Eleven's "I dump your ass" moment and bonding time with Max as a result may have been one of the season's highlights, particularly with girls who feel underrepresented in this genre, but it's too bad Mike's inconsiderate behavior was the catalyst.
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