The cutest couple in Hawkins — some of the time. Stranger Things characters Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) first connected as kids, but their relationship has only gotten more complicated as they’ve gotten older.
When the mysterious, Eggo-loving Eleven arrived in Hawkins, Indiana, her fast friendship with Mike threatened to derail his relationships with Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). After the boys realize that Eleven only means well, however, they come around, inviting her to become a new member in their party.
Just as Mike and Eleven’s romance started to take off, however, Eleven moved to California with Will (Noah Schnapp), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) after the supposed death of her guardian, Jim Hopper (David Harbour). They tried to make it work via long distance, but Eleven eventually started to worry that Mike didn’t love her anymore.
“There’s an effort there [with] Mike and Eleven, because they’re so in love and they love each other so much, and they’ve gone through so much together,” Wolfhard told Collider in April 2022 of his character’s relationship with Eleven. “They don’t have [a] normal life and this is the way that it is for them, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Despite their physical separation in season 4, however, Brown thinks the pair have a bond that will last forever. “It’s like they’re married and there’s no option of divorce,” the U.K. native told Collider in the same interview. “It’s inevitable. They’ll always be together.”
While they play a couple on TV, Wolfhard and Brown are just friends in real life — albeit very close ones.
“We’ve grown up together. We’ve done this for nearly seven years,” the Enola Holmes actress told Polygon in April 2022. “And it almost is like a relationship that we always come back to after however long we’re filming. And we’re like, ‘OK, this is where the characters are now. We can grow and do the scenes together.’ … It’s been really nice doing it with the same person for that long.”
Their first onscreen kiss was also both of their first times kissing anyone in real life. “My dad watched the whole thing, my whole family was there and it was the most awkward thing in the world,” Brown told the Mirror in June 2019. “We’re 15 years old. It’s not like, ‘Alright, let’s just do it.’ We’re obviously like, ‘OK … what do you wanna do now? Shall we hug?’ No idea what to do!”
Keep scrolling for a look back at Mike and Eleven’s complete relationship timeline.
Mike and Eleven hit it off right away, but after Mike's older sister, Nancy (Natalia Dyer), asks him if he likes his new friend, he quickly denies it. Later, however, Eleven puts her head on Mike's shoulder after coming out of the homemade sensory deprivation tank, indicating that she has some tender feelings for him. He later invites her to move in with him and his family, promising that they won't be like "brother and sister." When he invites her to the upcoming Snow Ball, the two share an innocent kiss. Netflix
While separated for a year, Mike kept trying to contact Eleven to no avail, but he later found out that she was trying to communicate with him. When the pair finally reunite, they share a hug — and would have shared a kiss if they hadn't been interrupted by Hopper. In the season finale, they finally attended the Snow Ball together and shared a smooch while dancing to "Every Breath You Take." Netflix
As Mike and Eleven's romance starts to get a bit more serious, Hopper becomes upset that they're spending so much time together. The sheriff then threatens Mike so that he'll stop spending time with her. After Mike complies and lies to El about why he's avoiding her, she dumps him. They later reconcile after Mike admits that Hopper was behind the split. Before Eleven's move to California, the two embrace before she tells him that she loves him. Netflix
In the second installment, Eleven is saved by Mike and the California crew after escaping Dr. Brenner's lab. Mike supports his girlfriend while she tries to help their friends in Hawkins, almost risking her own life in the process. Eleven gains the upper hand with Vecna thanks in part to Mike's reassuring reminders that he truly loves her. At the end of the season, the couple return to Hawkins to face the next battle for their town. Netflix
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