Stranger Things is an ongoing 2016 sci-fi horror Netflix series created by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, commonly known as the Duffer Brothers. Upon its premiere, the show became an instant hit and pop sensation and has retained that reputation since.
The show revolves around the lives of a group of teenagers and their families living in rural Hawkins, Indiana as they tussle with supernatural threats from the Upside-Down with the help of a girl with telekinetic powers—Eleven (Milly Bobbie Brown).
Volume 1 of Season 4 was released on May 27, 2022, and the second volume is set for release on July 1, 2022.
As characters in the show grow, develop, and learn, their character arcs have also changed and evolved over the seasons.
Steve Harrington’s unexpected but very appreciated redemption arc transformed him from being the school bully to the much-adored designated babysitter of the group.
The Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, have now revealed that Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) was originally intended to be killed off in Season 1.
Steve is a high school bully who primarily targets Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) in Season 1. While dating Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Steve shows signs of being extremely shallow and selfish. At one point, he seems to care more about not getting into trouble himself than Nancy’s missing best friend, Barbara.
However, Nancy’s connection to him leads to him helping Jonathan and Nancy fight off a Demogorgon.
As the show’s second season unfolds, Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) is forced to enlist Steve’s help when he unknowingly adopts a baby Demogorgon as his pet. This strikes an unexpected but adorable friendship between Steve and Dustin, and Harrington becomes the designated babysitter for the group.
During Geeked Week, the Duffer brothers admitted that Steve was originally supposed to die in the first season. They say they can’t recall when Steve was meant to die, but they knew it was coming. Originally, Jonathan’s dad was supposed to fight the Demogorgon instead of Steve.
They attribute Keery’s influence on Stranger Things’ narrative trajectory to his character setting a new direction.
Here’s what Matt had to say about Steve:
When he comes back and fights the Demogorgon, that was supposed to be Jonathan’s dad… You’re learning what works and what doesn’t work. The cast is impacting where you take the narrative, the other writers and directors … it’s this living thing
Matt
Imagining Steve dying in Season 1 is very difficult because since then, he has become an integral part of the series. Despite his early reputation as an expendable and unlikable character, he has grown into a beloved character.
It’s clear he still loves Nancy, but he has quieted himself enough to let her be with Jonathan instead. Throughout this time, he learns to accept Robin’s (Maya Hawke) homosexuality and becomes a close friend and confidant of her.
He also became best friends with Henderson, causing him to remain immersed in the supernatural events in Hawkins. He ensures that the kids always stay safe, protecting them like a babysitter and acting like their chauffeur.
Almost killing off Steve in Season 1 only demonstrates how different things were than they are now. They admit that back then, they didn’t plan out the whole series and it was just something they came up with as they went along.
It is very easy for them to have accidentally killed off characters with incredible potential without a concrete plan. Although there wasn’t a plan, they were able to consider their castmates’ potential and were willing to change the storyline for a good reason.
Additionally, despite the fact that planning is more advanced today, they still give the cast, directors, and other writers the opportunity to weigh in on the story.
The decision to keep Steve alive led to one of the best character arcs in the show.
Watch Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 as it drops on July 1, 2022.
About Stranger Things
Stranger Things is an American sci-fi horror TV series created by The Duffer Brothers for Netflix.
Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the show follows the story of a young girl called Eleven, who has superpowers and her adventures with her group of friends. These dangerous adventurers include surviving in and saving a town that has an evil parallel universe attached to it called the Upside Down.
It stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke. The show has been renewed for a fifth and final season.
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