Fans of the show Stranger Things are well aware of the significant role played by Mike Wheeler. He welcomed, led, and rallied his friends to battle the Demogorgon and never gave up on Will’s survival. In recent seasons, though, his leadership qualities have taken a backseat. However, it is time that the show finally acknowledges the leadership skills of the character.

In the first two seasons of Stranger Things, it was evident that Mike played the role of the leader within their group. He took charge of formulating plans to save Will and conquer the Demogorgon. Moreover, Mike acted as the glue that held their party together, despite Lucas initially being skeptical of Millie Bobby Brown‘s Eleven’s presence and Dustin having reservations about their mission. Throughout these seasons, Mike consistently demonstrated bravery, loyalty, intelligence, and empathy, qualities that garnered both his friends’ and viewers’ admiration and respect.

However, over the last couple of seasons, his role as a leader hasn’t been as prominent or impactful. In Season 3, he seemed to prioritize his relationship with Eleven over his friendship with the rest of the group. He disrespected Hopper a bit when he tried to establish some boundaries for him and Eleven. Additionally, Mike didn’t play a part in the battle against the Mind Flayer. Instead, he mainly followed Eleven’s lead and focused on keeping her safe from any harm.

Nonetheless, with Season 4 over and the fifth and final season about to go filming, Mike Wheeler should be back in charge. Fans would love closure and a character arc to do Mike justice. A lot is at stake in the final season and Mike Wheeler seems like the perfect candidate to lead the pack out of harm’s way one last time.

However, there are bumpy roads ahead for the Season 5 of Stranger Things.

Stranger Things season 5 production delayed due to WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes

Fans of Stranger Things will have to wait for an unprecedented time as the anticipated fifth and final season of the popular sci-fi horror series on Netflix has run into delays. The production of Season 5 was supposed to start in early 2023. However, it had to stop immediately owing to the WGA strike. In May 2023, the show’s writers had to halt their work on the scripts and storylines due to the strike initiated by the writers’ union, which shared concerns with the actors’ union. Unfortunately, further complications arose when the SAG-AFTRA strike occurred in tandem on July 14, 2023.

Season 5 of Stranger Things is set to conclude for Eleven, Mike, and their group of friends. However, they won’t have it easy as they face dangers from the Upside Down, along with returning foes who still crave Eleven’s extraordinary abilities. Moreover, this season will provide answers to standing questions surrounding the origins and nature of the mysterious dimension while also addressing what might have happened to certain characters believed to be dead. Exploring Mike’s leadership would serve as a fitting finale, whatever the case may be.

What do you think of Mike Wheeler leading the team again one last time? Let us know your expectations and thoughts in the comments below.