One ‘Stranger Things’ Character Is Still Better Than the Rest
There are a lot of opinions out there about Stranger Things‘ final season. But one character’s character arc from season 1 until their final scene is still the best.
From the start of the show, I put my love and faith behind Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). Even when he was a “jerk,” I could tell there was more to him as a character than I was led to believe. Luckily, I was rewarded for my dedication to the character. In the final season, Steve came out the clear winner of Stranger Things.
Steve started the series as Nancy Wheeler’s (Natalie Dyer) out of the loop boyfriend. He was mean to Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) and he was known as “The Hair” but for the most part, he was just the cool guy in school. But when he ended up makeshift adopting Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) and all of his friends, Steve became an important part of the team.
Each season, he was trying to find his purpose. He might have gone through a lot of jobs to get there but he always knew what he wanted: A big family in Hawkins. Nancy even brings it up in season 5. Steve wanted 6 kids and to see the United States with them by going on road trips. It might not have been for her but it was what Steve wanted and ultimately, he’s on the way to achieving that goal.
The featured length season finale gave me one fright with Steve. When they’re in the Upside Down, a surge has Steve almost falling off the radio tower to his death. Luckily, Jonathan steps in and saves him and the rest is history. But it all led to Steve’s dream life.
Steve Harrington is starting to get the life he wanted
When the finale flashes forward to a year and a half later, we get to see Steve in his new job. He no longer works for the video store but instead is working for Hawkins High as their baseball coach. Steve tells Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin (Maya Hawke) all about his new girlfriend and it seems like he’s on the right path.
Given how everyone else is still dealing with the aftermath of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) or trying to figure out what they want with their life, I’d say that Steve is pretty much the winner. Everyone is trying to move on but he’s set up and doing the best that he can. It is kind of why I loved Steve so much throughout the show. Even when he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his life, he’d find a way to be happy about it.
I was worried that Steve would end up being the sacrificial lamb. As a fan favorite, he was the character that made the most sense to “sacrifice” himself to Vecna. I was lucky in that I didn’t have to watch my guy die. Instead, he’s the cool coach everyone probably wants as their teacher and that rules.
(featured image: Netflix)
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