Summary
Throughout four seasons thus far, the hit Netflix seriesStranger Thingshas captivated fans with its multiversal horror story and the dynamic characters that have evolved and grown over the years. From the missing Will, who has continuously been affected by the Upside Down, to Eleven, the young girl with telekinetic powers who stands between the Hawkins heroes and the monsters of the Upside Down, and so many more, each character has found a solid fan base. Yet,as new photos showthe progress of season 5, the reality of the show’s end proves one point that needs to be considered: one of these beloved characters should die a hero.
Many characters have attempted to do so throughout the series, with Hopper even appearing to die at one point before he was discovered alive in Russia. Yet, to have such a profound impact on fans and serve the story justice, a character who has significantly evolved throughout the series needs to die a hero’s death. Of all the characters still living, that heroic deathin Stranger Things' upcoming seasonfive should belong to Steve Harrington.
Steve Harrington’s Story So Far, EXPLAINED
One of the things that has always madeStranger Thingssuch an iconic show has been its dedication to bringing the classic 80s filmography to life in the series. Motifs to iconic 80s storylines and character developments early on made the big twists in the story feel more impactful. One thing that Steve Harrington did in this regard was embody the typical high school jock and popular kid jerk in the first season. His relationship with Nancy’s reserved yet powerful character was one of the jumping-off points for both characters, as was his rivalry with the quiet and awkward photography student andWill’s big brother, Jonathan.
In the first season, his subsequent troubles with Nancy and his fight with Jonathan lead to his involvement in the big battlewith the Demogorgonat the Byers house, where he helps his girlfriend and his rival injure the monster responsible for Will’s abduction. Yet it wouldn’t be until season two that Steve took on a more prominent role, becoming a guardian for the younger kids, especially Dustin, as they investigated the emergence of the Mind Flayer in the town. After his relationship with Nancy ends, and he feels directionless, he helps the kids in their quest to uncover the truth behind the new threats and his new rivalry with newcomer Billy Hargrove.
His role would increase in season three, with his friendship with Dustin growing and hisnewfound friendship with Robin, a former classmate and employee at his summer job, helping spur his heroism. He would help Dustin infiltrate the underground levels of the mall that the Russian Soviets had established as a base alongside Robin and Lucas’ sister Erica. He also becomes Robin’s best friend, accepting her hidden sexuality and working with her and the other kids to distract the Mindflayer in the final battle. In season four, Steve took a more hands-on approach to helping the heroes, eventually facing Vecna alongside Robin and Nancy in the Upside-Down in the final conflict.
Why Steve Should Die A Hero’s Death
Of all the characters found onStranger Things, none have had more of an intense and evolved journey than Steve Harrington. The character has had the most growth on the show, with the hero growing and evolving naturally with the show’s pace. The emotional chord that he has struck with fans of the show, from his willingness to self-sacrifice constantly when facing peril time and time again to the bonds he has formed with Nancy, Robin, and Dustin through their countless adventures,has allowed Steve as a characterto show a depth of range and heroism among the teenagers that make his connection to the group as a whole vital.
Appearing to the group almost in a den mother, in a way, allows his character the room to make the sacrifice not everyone is prepared to make. His final push at redemption for the years he spent as a jock and bully at school and his carefree attitude early on in the show would make his journey feel genuinely complete. It would also be the emotional lynchpin the heroes need to push themselves in thefinal battle with Vecnaand his creatures from the Upside Down. While his sacrifice and heroic act would be felt no matter the circumstances, having Steve fall protecting Dustin would hit home, especially after Eddie’s heroism in season four of the show.
While many would expect a heroic death from characters like Hopper oreven Eleven in the show’sfinal season, it would have much more of an impact on both the group of heroes and the audience as a whole to see Steve Harrington, everyone’s favorite high school idiot turned self-sacrificing hero, to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the family he made for himself. The shock of his death would deal with the emotional pull such a pivotal story needs and become the necessary charge to propel the heroes into their final fight inStranger Thingsfinal season.
