I think if you were to ask me who was my favorite Stranger Things character, I'd answer Eleven. For like... billions of reasons.
There is one specific reason I would like to point out, and I don't know if a lot of people think about this or not.
Art and media can be interpreted in many ways, and I choose to interpret El's journey, specifically in Season 1, as an allegory for being trans or nonbinary. YEP.
My memory might be a bit fuzzy with the show, but from El starting as someone who didn't understand themselves or how they were supposed to act, then seeing those pictures of young Nancy and thinking she's pretty, wanting to be pretty herself, she wants to help her new friends with her powers while feeling pretty, she feels pretty wearing Nancy's old dress and a wig, then she takes that wig off and realizes she doesn't have to wear some dress and have pretty hair to be pretty, and she ends the Season by saving her friends, all while finally having a bit of understanding for who they are/want to be. At least, that's how I think of it.
That can be interpreted as a boy not wanting to be a boy anymore, and realizing they don't have to make themselves look like a girl to be a girl. It might be a stretch, but it's MY stretch, and I love it. I hope I don't sound stupid. I'm telling you, my memory is really shoddy at times and I might miss some stuff lol
