Why Eleven Should Break Up With Mike After Stranger Things Season 4
Ethan Hayes
Published Mar 30, 2026
Stranger Things season 4 has put Mike and Eleven through a tough time - but, in truth, Eleven needs to stop defining herself by her relationship.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4, volume 1.
Eleven should break up with Mike after Stranger Things season 4. The relationship between Eleven and Mike is one of the sweetest in Stranger Things. Mike was the first to believe in Eleven, insisting she was good even when his friends thought she may be dangerous, and his faith helped transform Eleven into the hero Hawkins needs.
Stranger Things season 4 revealed the two have struggled to maintain a long-distance relationship. Mike had always hero-worshiped Eleven because of her powers, and Eleven clearly felt the weight of living up to his expectations. This led her to lie to Mike in her letters, pretending she was fitting in at school in California and had made lots of friends. Unfortunately, when Mike finally arrived he soon learned she wasn't being honest, because he discovered just how bad Angela and the Californian bullies really were.
Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 points to the flaws in Eleven and Mike's relationship. The core problem is that Eleven has come to define herself by two things; her powers, and Mike. The two became inextricably linked in her mind, so the loss of her powers meant Eleven felt she was unworthy of Mike. He unwittingly encouraged this by referring to Eleven as a "superhero," when in truth she felt like anything but a superhero. This, more than anything else, motivated Eleven to go with Dr. Brenner to the Nina Project to regain her powers. Eleven was continuing to define herself by the expectations of others.
The hit Netflix series stars a group of teenagers, which means romances and breakups are central to Stranger Things. The relationship between Mike and Eleven has endured - in spite of one memorable occasion when Eleven dumped Mike - but it is time for Eleven to discover who she is without Mike and his expectations. In truth, Eleven already carries far too much weight upon her shoulders already; she doesn't need Mike's hero-worship as well. It is only when she has faced her own insecurities, and come to accept herself as a person, that she can find relationships fulfilling.
Stranger Things season 4 has put Eleven through the wringer, forcing her to confront her past - and discover the true origin of the Upside Down. Although she has been warned there are parts of the U.S. government who believe her the true threat, she has no idea how close they are to discovering where she is - and it's likely her friends from Hawkins will be the ones who help her escape in the end. But, even though Mike is coming for her, Eleven needs to take their reunion as a moment to redefine their relationship and allow her to continue her journey of self-discovery. Stranger Things season 4 needs to show her deciding to stand on her own two feet.
