As Stranger Things concludes its epic journey with Season 5, the show’s biggest star just dropped a ranking that has fans debating across social media. Millie Bobby Brown, who has portrayed the telekinetic Eleven since 2016, revealed her personal rankings of all five seasons during a Vanity Fair interview—and her choices might surprise you. From nostalgic beginnings to the controversial Season 2 placement, here’s how the actress who brought Eleven to life ranks the cultural phenomenon that defined a generation.
Table of Contents
Millie Bobby Brown’s Stranger Things Complete Ranking
| Rank | Season | Brown’s Reasoning | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 1 | “Nostalgia-wise, most exciting time of my life” | Introduction to Hawkins, the Upside Down, Demogorgon |
| #2 | Season 5 | “The way it looks, feels, the plot—all of it” | Final battle, highest-rated episode (9.8 IMDb) |
| #3 | Season 3 | “Fun but didn’t carry the same weight” | Summer 1985, Mind Flayer, Starcourt Mall |
| #4 | Season 4 | Intense but lacked emotional impact for her | Vecna introduction, Russia storyline |
| #5 | Season 2 | “Don’t really remember it, everyone hates Episode 7” | Mind Flayer possession, controversial Episode 7 |
#1: Season 1 (2016) – The Nostalgic Champion
Millie Bobby Brown’s top pick is the season that started it all. She describes Season 1 as her favorite primarily due to nostalgia, calling it the most exciting time in her life. This makes perfect sense—at just 12 years old, Brown went from relative unknown to international superstar overnight when Stranger Things debuted in July 2016.
Why Season 1 Deserves the Top Spot:
Season 1 introduced us to the mysterious town of Hawkins, Indiana, where young Will Byers vanishes without a trace. The search for Will brings together a group of misfit kids—Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair—with a strange girl who has psychokinetic abilities and only knows herself as “Eleven.”
The first season masterfully blended ’80s nostalgia with supernatural horror, drawing inspiration from Steven Spielberg’s E.T., Stephen King novels, and John Carpenter films. The 8-episode structure felt perfectly paced, building tension methodically while developing characters audiences immediately connected with. The Demogorgon served as a terrifying yet mysterious threat, while the secret government laboratory added layers of conspiracy and intrigue.
For Brown personally, this season represented her breakthrough. Her performance as the vulnerable yet powerful Eleven earned critical acclaim and established her as one of Hollywood’s most promising young talents. The show’s unexpected success transformed not just her career but her entire life, making Season 1 impossible to separate from deeply personal memories.
The season concluded with Eleven seemingly sacrificing herself to destroy the Demogorgon—a moment that left audiences devastated and desperate for Season 2.
For more about Stranger Things’ cultural impact, explore our Netflix original series guide.
#2: Season 5 (2025) – The Epic Finale
In her ranking, Millie Bobby Brown places Stranger Things Season 5 in second spot, praising how it looks, feels, and its plot. This is significant because it suggests the Duffer Brothers stuck the landing with their series finale—no small feat for a show with such passionate fans.
The Final Chapter’s Strengths:
Season 5 is being released in three volumes: Volume 1 premiered November 26, 2025, Volume 2 arrives December 25, and the grand finale drops December 31, 2025. This release strategy builds anticipation while giving fans time to process the emotional journey.
The final season brings back Kali/Eight (Linnea Berthelsen) from the infamous Season 2 Episode 7, providing narrative redemption for that controversial storyline. Episode 4, “Sorcerer,” became the highest-rated single episode of the series with a 9.8/10 on IMDb, demonstrating that the Duffers saved some of their best work for last.
Brown’s enthusiasm for Season 5 likely stems from Eleven’s character arc reaching its natural conclusion. Throughout the series, Eleven has evolved from a frightened lab experiment to a powerful hero grappling with identity, belonging, and sacrifice. Season 5 reportedly gives Eleven her most physically demanding sequences yet, with Brown stating she channeled her “inner Tom Cruise” for the action scenes.
The production values reached new heights, with the Duffer Brothers confirming they approached certain sequences with the scale and ambition of a series finale that honors the show’s legacy. The visual effects, particularly the Upside Down sequences, represent the show’s most ambitious work.
While Season 5 Volume 1 is the worst-rated season on Rotten Tomatoes, critical scores don’t always reflect audience connection—and Brown’s personal ranking suggests fans who’ve followed Eleven’s journey will find satisfaction in how it concludes.
#3: Season 3 (2019) – Summer Fun in Hawkins
For Millie Bobby Brown, Season 3 lands in the middle of her ranking, describing it as fun but feeling it didn’t carry the same weight as others. Season 3 took place during the summer of 1985, shifting the show’s atmosphere from dark autumn mystery to vibrant summer adventure.
The Starcourt Mall Era:
Season 3 leaned heavily into ’80s excess, centering much of the action around the newly opened Starcourt Mall—a glowing monument to American consumerism that served as the Mind Flayer’s base of operations. The season embraced a lighter tone with more humor, romance, and colorful set pieces, particularly the neon-soaked mall battles.
Character relationships evolved significantly. Eleven and Mike’s relationship faced typical teenage challenges, while Hopper struggled with his parental role. The season introduced Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), who quickly became a fan favorite, and the Scoops Troop storyline with Steve and Dustin provided comedic relief that balanced the supernatural horror.
The Mind Flayer returned as the primary antagonist, possessing Billy Hargrove and creating a massive flesh monster from melted humans—one of the show’s most disturbing concepts. The finale’s Battle of Starcourt delivered spectacular action, though it ended with Hopper’s apparent death, a moment that devastated fans (until his return was revealed in Season 4).
Brown’s mixed feelings likely stem from the season’s tonal shift. While entertaining and visually spectacular, Season 3 prioritized spectacle over the intimate character work and horror atmosphere that defined earlier seasons. The increased budget showed on screen, but some fans felt it lost the scrappy, mysterious charm of Seasons 1 and 2.
For insights into how Season 3 changed the series, check our Stranger Things evolution analysis.
#4: Season 4 (2022) – The Darkest Chapter
Season 4 falls just above Season 2 in Brown’s ranking. Though Millie doesn’t express strong dislike for Season 4, it falls short of her personal favorites despite delivering some of the show’s most intense moments, including the introduction of terrifying villain Vecna.
A Longer, Darker Journey:
Season 4 was released in two volumes in summer 2022 after a nearly three-year wait. The season expanded dramatically in scope and runtime, with the finale clocking in at nearly two and a half hours—essentially a feature film. This represented the series’ most ambitious storytelling yet, splitting the cast across multiple locations: Hawkins, California, Russia, and the Upside Down.
The introduction of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) provided the series’ most terrifying and complex villain. Unlike the Demogorgon or Mind Flayer, Vecna possessed human intelligence and psychological manipulation abilities. His curse trapped victims in their traumatic memories before brutally killing them—the season’s horror reached new heights with graphic deaths that pushed the show’s PG-13 boundaries.
Max Mayfield’s (Sadie Sink) storyline became the emotional center, dealing with grief and depression following Billy’s death. Her Vecna possession and the iconic “Running Up That Hill” escape sequence became one of television’s most talked-about moments of 2022, catapulting Kate Bush’s 1985 song back to the top of charts worldwide.
The season also revealed Eleven’s origin story, including her connection to Vecna/Henry Creel/One and the true creation of the Upside Down. These revelations fundamentally recontextualized the entire series.
However, the season’s 13-hour runtime and complex plotting may explain Brown’s lukewarm response. While critically acclaimed and massively popular, Season 4’s density and darker tone made it less rewatchable than the tighter earlier seasons. The Russian subplot with Hopper, while eventually satisfying, felt disconnected from Hawkins for much of the season.
#5: Season 2 (2017) – The Controversial Bottom Pick
Millie Bobby Brown says Season 2 is at the very bottom of her list, stating she doesn’t really remember it and acknowledging that everyone hates Episode 7. This placement sparked immediate debate, with co-stars Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo defending Season 2 as underrated.
The Will Byers Possession Season:
Season 2 picked up approximately one year after Will’s rescue from the Upside Down. However, his ordeal wasn’t over—Will began experiencing visions of a massive shadow creature called the Mind Flayer, which eventually possessed him, using the boy as a spy to infiltrate Hawkins.
The season expanded the mythology while introducing key characters like Max Mayfield and Billy Hargrove. Bob Newby (Sean Astin) became Hawkins’ unlikely hero, with his death providing one of the series’ most heartbreaking moments. The season finale brought the entire cast together to close the gate to the Upside Down, with Eleven returning to save the day.
The Episode 7 Problem:
Brown specifically references the controversial standalone episode where Eleven meets a group of outcast characters, suggesting this episode’s departure from the main storyline didn’t sit well with many. “The Lost Sister” (Episode 7) remains the series’ lowest-rated episode, currently holding a 4.8/10 on IMDb.
The episode followed Eleven to Chicago, where she found Kali/Eight, another escaped test subject with illusion powers. Kali led a gang of misfits seeking revenge against the people who harmed them at Hawkins Lab. The episode aimed to explore Eleven’s identity crisis and her choice between revenge and family.
However, fans criticized the episode for its tonal whiplash, coming just as Season 2’s main plot reached peak tension. The side characters felt like ’80s punk stereotypes, the dialogue came across as forced, and pulling away from Hawkins mid-climax disrupted narrative momentum. Many viewers recommend skipping it entirely on rewatches.
Despite the Episode 7 controversy, Season 2 has defenders. The Mind Flayer represented a more cosmic threat, Bob’s heroism resonated emotionally, and the Snow Ball finale provided heartwarming closure. Will’s possession allowed Noah Schnapp to showcase serious acting range, and the season’s exploration of PTSD through Will’s experiences added psychological depth.
Brown’s difficulty remembering Season 2 might simply reflect the passage of time and the dramatic experiences of filming subsequent seasons overshadowing these earlier memories.
For official Stranger Things updates and content, visit Netflix’s Stranger Things page.
Cast Reactions and Fan Debate
Brown’s ranking didn’t go unchallenged by her co-stars. During the Vanity Fair interview, Noah Schnapp defended Season 2, arguing it receives unfair criticism and is actually underrated. Gaten Matarazzo agreed, suggesting the season deserves more appreciation for its character development and story contributions.
This disagreement reflects the broader fan debate. While Episode 7 remains almost universally disliked, Season 2 as a whole has passionate defenders who appreciate its darker tone, Will-focused storyline, and expansion of the Upside Down mythology.
Social media erupted with reactions to Brown’s ranking, with fans sharing their own season hierarchies. Many agreed with Season 1’s top placement and Season 2’s bottom position, though Season 3 and 4’s middle rankings sparked significant debate. Some fans place Season 4 higher for its ambition and Vecna storyline, while others prefer Season 3’s summer adventure vibes.
The controversy demonstrates Stranger Things’ remarkable achievement—creating five distinct seasons that resonate differently with various audience segments while maintaining the core elements that made the show special.
The Broader Context: Stranger Things’ Cultural Legacy
Stranger Things has generated over $1 billion in revenue for Netflix and consistently trends on the platform with each new release. The series is constantly trending on the streaming service, and when the new season began, it actually crashed the whole site—a testament to its massive global fanbase.
The show revitalized interest in ’80s culture, launched the careers of its young cast, and proved that nostalgic genre storytelling could become appointment television in the streaming era. From Kate Bush’s chart resurgence to Eggo waffle sales spikes, Stranger Things’ cultural impact extends far beyond television.
Brown’s ranking offers insight into how someone at the center of this phenomenon experiences it differently than viewers. For her, Season 1 represents personal transformation and career-defining opportunity, while Season 5 demonstrates professional growth and artistic satisfaction. The middle seasons blend together as part of an intense, years-long journey rather than discrete viewing experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Millie Bobby Brown rank Season 2 last despite it introducing important characters and mythology?
Brown’s placement of Season 2 at the bottom stems primarily from two factors: she genuinely doesn’t remember it as vividly as other seasons, and she acknowledges the widespread fan criticism of Episode 7 (“The Lost Sister”). The episode’s controversial Chicago detour with Kali/Eight disrupted the season’s momentum and featured cringey dialogue that made it the lowest-rated episode in the series with a 4.8/10 on IMDb. However, co-stars Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo defended Season 2 as “underrated,” arguing it deserves more appreciation for Will’s possession storyline, Bob Newby’s heroism, and the Mind Flayer introduction. The season’s defenders point to its emotional depth, darker tone, and mythological expansion as strengths that Episode 7’s problems overshadow. Interestingly, Season 5 has redeemed the Kali storyline by bringing her back, showing that the Duffer Brothers had long-term plans for that controversial character. Brown’s ranking reflects her personal experience rather than an objective quality assessment—what resonates with viewers may differ significantly from how it felt to film as a young teenager navigating sudden fame.
Is Season 5 really the second-best season, or is Millie Bobby Brown biased because it’s the finale?
While some might suspect recency bias or emotional attachment to the finale influences Brown’s high placement of Season 5, there’s substantial evidence supporting its quality. Episode 4, “Sorcerer,” achieved a 9.8/10 rating on IMDb—the highest-rated single episode in the entire series, surpassing classic episodes like Season 1’s finale. Brown specifically praised not just the plot but “the way it looks, the way it feels,” suggesting genuine appreciation for the production values and storytelling rather than mere sentimentality. The season benefits from the Duffer Brothers knowing it’s their final chapter, allowing them to take creative risks and provide closure without worrying about setting up future seasons. However, it’s worth noting that Season 5 Volume 1 received the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the series, indicating critics were more divided than fans. This discrepancy between critical reception and Brown’s personal ranking (plus the stellar individual episode ratings) suggests Season 5 succeeds most for those emotionally invested in the characters’ journeys—precisely the audience most likely to have followed the show since 2016. Brown’s ranking likely reflects how satisfying she found Eleven’s character arc conclusion and the culmination of storylines she’s lived with for nearly a decade. For casual viewers or critics approaching it more objectively, the season may not reach the same heights, but for someone who IS Eleven, seeing that journey completed with blockbuster production values and emotional payoff naturally elevates Season 5’s significance.
