In a twist of events I didn't see coming when I started watching Stranger Things [1] season one just recently (I know, I'm behind the times), I can now firmly say that Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) is the best part of this entire show. This is saying a lot considering all I wanted to do during the first few episodes [2] of the series was shave his head and smash his face in some mud. How dare he be so mean to sweet Jonathan?
Over the course of three seasons, Steve has gone from boring boyfriend to badass best friend [3] to the kids in Hawkins, and before you think that makes him lame, let me tell you why it's not. Steve's character could easily have fallen flat, but thankfully creators the Duffer Brothers [4] brought him to life in the second and third seasons. For a brief glimpse at just why I'm so happy to call Steve my favourite character of this show, keep reading, but be warned, there are spoilers for the third season ahead!
Steve Starts Off as Your Stereotypical Popular Guy
I can see how Nancy was swayed by Steve's gorgeous hair and attractive face. Truly I can. But in the beginning, that's all Steve really had going for him. He wasn't very nice — even going as far as breaking Jonathan's camera when he got too close to Nancy. His idea of fun was shotgunning a beer in his backyard and generally being an assh*ole.
My fear about Steve during the first season was that his character was going to be nothing more than that. He'd just be Nancy's crappy boyfriend who contributed nothing to the show. Thankfully I was wrong. He hit a turning point toward the end of the season, when he helped Jonathan and Nancy fight the Demogorgon, and that really started to paint him in a new light.
He Became More Involved in Season 2
Steve became a part of the crew in the second season. Even though he and Nancy were destined to break up (because she obviously belongs with Jonathan), Steve's character grew to become much more humourous and likable when he and Dustin teamed up to deal with Dustin's demo-dog Dart.
Season 2 Birthed Steve's Friendship With Dustin
The best part of season two, especially when it comes to Steve, is his budding friendship with Dustin [6]. After finding out Dustin has a crush on Max, Steve gives him some pointers on landing girls, even telling him how to get his hair just right. It's an unlikely friendship between two teenagers who are seemingly on opposite ends of both the high school age range and the popularity spectrum.
And It's That Friendship That Really Sold Me on Steve
In season three, Steve takes a tumble from Grace, and he inevitably becomes more human. After graduating high school, he's working in an ice cream shop with no plans on going to college and spending all his free time falling for his mouthy coworker Robin [7] and solving mysteries with Dustin yet again.
In the end, the entire Hawkins crew has to come together to basically save the world, and now Steve is firmly part of this crew, even saving Nancy's life when the Flayed Billy was about to run her over [8] with his car in the end. (It doesn't matter that Steve was drugged and probably did it on accident, the fact of the matter is that he did it.)
I love nothing more than Steve's little friendship with Dustin, and I think I can thank Dustin for bringing Steve down to a likable level. Long gone are the days of Nancy's douchebag boyfriend. He's still Steve "The Hair" Harrington, but at least now he's far less annoying.