Devoted fans of Netflix's global phenomenon Stranger Things can breathe a collective sigh of relief. It appears that the beloved character Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery, has a powerful shield protecting him: the unwavering affection of the show's creators.
The Duffer Brothers' Change of Heart
In a revealing interview with Entertainment Weekly, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer confessed that Steve Harrington's journey was almost cut brutally short. The original plan for the first season painted Steve as the stereotypical high school bully who breaks Nancy Wheeler's heart. His intended fate was a gruesome death, designed to satisfy audiences.
"We just fell in love with Joe Keery," Matt Duffer stated plainly. "But had we not liked Joe Keery, Steve would've been gone." This pivotal decision, made years ago, has had lasting repercussions. Keery's innate charm transformed Steve from a disposable antagonist into the show's heart, evolving into the unlikely but fiercely protective 'dad' of the younger group.
Why Killing Steve Is So Problematic
The Duffer Brothers explained their careful approach to character deaths, emphasising narrative weight over shock value. Matt Duffer noted that while the writing team "always talk about" killing main characters, they are consistently held back by one key factor: "What often holds us back is you have to talk about the repercussions."
He elaborated, "We try to be careful, if there is a death, that it has real repercussions. So we just wanna be careful about when and how frequently we do it." While Steve's demise would undoubtedly cause an uproar among the show's massive fanbase, the brothers acknowledge it might not significantly alter the core group's ability to defeat Vecna. This lack of pivotal plot impact, coupled with his immense popularity, makes his death a high-risk, low-reward narrative choice.
Fan Theories and the Final Episodes
Speculation about Steve's fate reached a fever pitch after his limited appearance in the final season five trailer. Many fans were convinced that a scene showing Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) in tears was a reaction to Steve's death. However, the Duffer Brothers' recent comments strongly suggest a different outcome.
On platforms like Reddit, the fan consensus mirrors the creators' dilemma. One user argued that a sacrificial death for Steve would be an unsatisfying end to his arc, stating, "The guy who has spent the last three years trying to better himself... should just die at the end, having no meaning to his life beyond sacrificing himself?" Others predict another classic Stranger Things trope for Steve: a narrow escape from a tight spot.
Another fan insightfully compared him to "the Daryl Dixon of Stranger Things," referencing the fan-favourite Walking Dead character who consistently evades death due to audience love.
The final episodes of Stranger Things season 5, volume 2, premiere on Netflix on Christmas Day in the US and Boxing Day (26 December) in the UK. The grand series finale will then air on New Year's Eve in the US and New Year's Day in the UK, where British viewers will finally discover Steve Harrington's ultimate fate.
