14 Side-By-Side Pictures Of The "Stranger Things" Cast In Their Very First Episode Vs. Season 3

My how they've grown!

Hi there! Just a quick warning: The captions for this piece contain spoilers for Season 3, so best avoid reading if you haven't yet finished!

1. Eleven

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

We first see Eleven during her escape from the compound that held her captive in Season 1, and she goes on to steal some French fries, 'cause GIRL IS HUNGRY. She's seen again in Season 3, Episode 1 lockin' lips with Mike and then scaring poor Dustin with her powers, because that's what teens with superpowers DO.

2. Mike Wheeler

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

We first spot Mike when he's playing Dungeons & Dragons in his basement with his ride-or-die crew, except his mom breaks it up when she says that it's a school night. Ah, parents. What fun-ruiners. He appears again in Season 3, Episode 1 kissing Eleven in her bedroom before ANOTHER parent — Hopper! — comes to spoil the fun.

3. Will Byers

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Will is first seen in Mike's basement playing Dungeons & Dragons before biking home — where SHIT GOES DOWN. He appears again in Season 3, Episode 1 at the movies with all his friends, except he can FEEL that something is off. I mean, he spends a good amount of time in this particular pose this season.

4. Lucas Sinclair

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

We first see Lucas in Mike's basement along with everyone else playing a heated game of D&D. We see him again when he sneaks into the movie theater in the Starcourt Mall with Will, Mike, and Max — all thanks to Steve!

5. Erica Sinclair

Netflix

First appearance: Season 2, Episode 2

The creators reveal that Lucas actually has a younger sister in Season 2, and to be quite honest, we could have used her a lot sooner. Erica first appears in the Halloween episode, where she calls Lucas a nerd for dressing up in a Ghostbusters costume for school. It's only fitting that she appears again in Season 3, Episode 1 calling Lucas a nerd as she eats ice cream in the Starcourt Mall. And honestly, thank GOD the writers gave her a storyline this season!

6. Dustin Henderson

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Dustin is also first introduced in Mike's basement playing D&D, but LOL remember when he also tried to hit on Nancy? He appears again in the first episode of Season 3 when he returns from camp, where he's caught off guard when he's surprised by his friends in his house.

7. Nancy Wheeler

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Nancy is first introduced in Episode 1 during breakfast with the rest of the Wheelers, but we get a full scene with her and Barb shortly after. (RIP Barb.) She appears again in the first episode of Season 3 in Jonathan's bed at his house, where they've both overslept for their jobs at the local paper, which is run by a bunch of entitled douchebags.

8. Jonathan Byers

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Jonathan appears in Episode 1 when Joyce is like, "Will isn't in his bed. YOU HAD ONE JOB." But of course Jonathan feels like shit because he loves his brother. We see him again Season 3 when he's driving Nancy and himself to work at the local paper and not understanding white male privilege, despite the complaints of his girlfriend.

9. Steve Harrington

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Oh, Steve. This Hair God first appears in Episode 1 when he has a conversation with Nancy at school, then again when he ~sneaks into her bedroom~ to help her study — which of course leads to kissing. Duh. We see him again in Season 3, Episode 1 working at Scoops Ahoy and trying unsuccessfully to flirt with girls who just want to take their ice cream and leave.

10. Joyce Byers

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Joyce appears frantic during Episode 1 when she realizes Will didn't come home from Mike's house the night before. Yikes. She's back again in Season 3, Episode 1 at home eating breakfast with Will, who tells her with certainty that he'll never fall in love like his brother, because EW!

11. Jim Hopper

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

We get our first appearance from Police Chief Jim Hopper when he casually strolls into work in the morning, not realizing that his idea of Hawkins, Indiana, is about to be flipped UPSIDE DOWN (get it?). We see him again in Season 3, Episode 1 when he demands Eleven and Mike keep the door open three inches — a sentence that I never thought would make me cry, but here we are.

12. Karen Wheeler

Netflix

First appearance: Season 1, Episode 1

Karen Wheeler is a buzzkill in her first scene in Episode 1 because she tells Mike that his friends GOTTA GO HOME since it's a school night. We see her again in Season 3, Episode 1 admiring Billy without a shirt, knowing that she'll soon play around with the idea of cheating on her husband. GASP.

13. Max Mayfield

Netflix

First appearance: Season 2, Episode 1

Max first appears in Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will's science class as the ~new kid~, making literally every head turn in her direction. Eesh. She appears in Season 3, Episode 1 when she sneaks into the theater at the Starcourt Mall with Mike, Lucas, and Will.

14. Billy Hargrove

Netflix

First appearance: Season 2, Episode 1

Billy is introduced in Episode 1 when he gives Max a ride to school and clearly isn't bothered by all the heart-eyed looks he gets from the high school ladies. We see him again in Season 3, Episode 1 working as a lifeguard and being casual eye candy at the pool — before shit goes DOWN.

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