Steve is quite relaxed about showcasing his true self.
Since the debut of *Stranger Things* in 2016, Steve “The Hare” Harrington has turned into quite a beloved character.
Initially, he was that popular guy dating Nancy (Natalia Dyer) in season one, but he later transformed into the kids’ favorite babysitter and Robin’s (Maya Hawke) close friend—essentially, he’s become a good-hearted go-getter.
There’s a saying among fans: “If Steve dies, there will be chaos.”
There’s even a Twitter account dedicated to this sentiment.
Now that *Stranger Things* has concluded with its fifth-season finale, the big question arises: Is Steve dead?
The following contains spoilers for the final episode of the *Stranger Things* series.
The Duffer Brothers, who created the series, clearly understand the attachment viewers have for Steve. They played with everyone’s emotions during the blockbuster two-hour finale, titled “Rightside Up,” which is the eighth and final episode of the series.
In a tense moment while exploring the dangerous Upside Down, Steve is left hanging from a high tower, risking a fatal fall. Just as he slips, the scene cuts to black while Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) screams, “Steve!”
When the scene resumes, it’s revealed that Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) has caught Steve’s hand and saved him.
Feeling relieved, Dustin embraces Steve and quips, “I honestly thought you were toast.”
Steve goes on to tell Jonathan, “Back then, I thought I was worthless. I owe you something.” To which Jonathan responds, “Just because I don’t like you doesn’t mean I want you dead.”
In the end, Steve realizes he doesn’t want to date Nancy since he’s looking for a family and she values her independence.
At the series close, he finds himself as the children’s baseball coach and a sex education teacher. He and Dustin maintain their friendship, even with Steve visiting Dustin in college. Though he, Robin, Nancy, and Jonathan may end up living far apart, they plan to meet monthly in Philadelphia.
Steve also goes on dates, facing playful teasing from friends about who might be “the one.” He mentions several names of recent girlfriends, like Julie, Dawn, and Margaret.
In November, the Duffer Brothers revealed to *Entertainment Weekly* that they nearly eliminated Steve in season one.
“It was a close decision,” Matt shared. “We just really liked Joe Keery, but if we hadn’t, Steve would probably be gone.”
The show has seen many supporting characters come and go, but it has been cautious with main characters.
Matt noted that while major deaths have been avoided, they carry serious implications.
He further explained, “This is a hypothetical. If you were to kill Mike, it would shift the show into a much darker tone. Even the supporting characters like Eddie and Bob have lasting impacts on our main cast.”
