Steve Harrington is back in Stranger Things.
The Stranger Things franchise returned in 2026 with a new batch of episodes, and this exciting release ended up marking the start of an unexpected era for Steve Harrington.
Most of the cast of Netflix's Stranger Things started the show at a really young age. Now, those actors are going on to lead major projects and appear in other franchises after Stranger Things ended.
For instance, Sadie Sink will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in July's Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That said, what made Stranger Things work was how the Netflix sci-fi series managed to strike a balance between young stars who were finding their footing in Hollywood and both slightly older actors and industry veterans to help create a lived-in world with multi-layered characters.
While Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven, Finn Wolfhard's Mike, and so on would be popular throughout the whole series, there is no doubt that another character not in the core young cast was the one to become Stranger Things' fan-favorite. That would be, of course, Joe Keery's Steve Harrington. After being a complicated person in season 1, Steve's charisma and redemption arc made him a core part of the show.
ScreenRant.com | UD Upside Down Files Personality Quiz ScreenRant/ TV/ Stranger Things/ Personality Quiz Hawkins, Indiana · 1986 Which Stranger Things Character Are You?
“Friends don’t lie. ” 🧠 Eleven The Protector 📡 Mike The Leader 🤓 Dustin The Brain 🏂 Max The Fighter 🪧 Steve The Babysitter ENTER THE UPSIDE DOWN → 12345678 QUESTION 1 / 8LIFESTYLE 01 It’s Friday night in Hawkins. What are you doing?
ASetting up a radio tower in my room to pick up distant signals BRunning a D&D campaign in my basement — it’s been planned for weeks CWatching TV alone, eating Eggos — quiet is good DDriving the kids somewhere and pretending I don’t care ESkating at the rink with my headphones on, blocking out the world ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 2 / 8INSTINCTS 02 The lights start flickering and something growls in the dark. What’s your first instinct?
AStand my ground — I’ve faced worse than this BGrab a weapon and put myself between the danger and the kids CStay cool, assess the situation, figure out an escape route DStart theorizing what it could be while everyone else panics ERally the group — we’re stronger together, we need a plan NOW ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 3 / 8LOYALTY 03 Your best friend is missing and nobody believes you. What do you do?
AComfort the group, keep morale up, and make sure nobody does anything stupid BGo looking alone — I don’t need anyone else to believe me CResearch everything — maps, records, science — find the pattern DChannel the anger into action — someone is going to answer for this EOrganize a search party, assign roles, lead from the front ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 4 / 8IDENTITY 04 How would people at Hawkins High describe you? AIntense and passionate — once I care about something, I go all in BThe funny one who’s smarter than people think CSurprisingly dependable — like, when did THAT happen?
DQuiet, misunderstood — I don’t let many people in ETough as nails on the outside, but dealing with a lot underneath ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 5 / 8CONFLICT 05 Someone at school is being bullied right in front of you. What do you do?
AGet in the bully’s face — I know what it’s like to feel powerless BStand up and say something, even if my voice shakes CStep in silently and stare them down — no words needed DBreak it up, tell the bully to grow up, and walk the kid to class EDefuse it with humor so nobody has to throw a punch ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 6 / 8TRUST 06 You discover something impossible — a secret that could change everything. Who do you tell?
AEveryone. Immediately. This is too big to keep to myself!
BNobody — I handle things on my own until I know who I can trust CMy inner circle only — the people who’ve proven themselves DWhoever needs to know to keep people safe — I’m practical about it EI’d keep it inside — I’m used to carrying things alone ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 7 / 8EMOTIONS 07 When things feel overwhelming and the world seems dark, how do you cope? ATake care of other people — helping them helps me forget my own stuff BShut down, go quiet — retreat into myself until I’m ready CMusic.
Loud music. It’s the only thing that drowns it out DWrite it down, talk it out — I need to process with people I trust EThrow myself into a project or problem — keep my brain busy ← BACKNEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8VALUES 08 When the Upside Down is finally closed and Hawkins is safe, what matters most to you?
ABelonging — finally having a place and people to call home BFreedom — being able to just be a normal kid for once CKnowing I kept everyone safe — even when I doubted myself DThe adventure — I mean, it was terrifying, but also kind of awesome? EThe bonds we made — nothing brings people together like fighting monsters REVEAL MY CHARACTER → Hawkins Lab Report Complete Your Stranger Things Alter Ego 🧠 Eleven “I can save them.
I’m the only one who can. ” You’re quiet but powerful — and people underestimate you at their own risk. You didn’t have the easiest start in life, but that’s made you fiercely protective of the people you love. You don’t always have the words, but your actions speak volumes.
When everyone else is running away from danger, you’re walking straight toward it. You carry more than anyone should, and you rarely ask for help — but you’re learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness. Powerful Protective Resilient Empathetic 📡 Mike Wheeler “We never would have upset you if we knew you had superpowers. ” You’re the natural leader of your group — not because you’re the loudest or the strongest, but because you genuinely care.
You’re passionate, sometimes to a fault, and when you believe in something , you go all in. You hold your friends to high standards because you hold yourself to the same. People might see you as intense, but that intensity is born from love. You’d go to the Upside Down and back for the people in your life.
Passionate Loyal Determined Emotional 🤓 Dustin Henderson “I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel. ” You’re the glue that holds everything together, even if nobody realizes it. Your brain never stops working — you see connections other people miss, and you’re not afraid to geek out about it. Sure, people might laugh at your enthusiasm, but you don’t care because you know who you are.
You bring heart and humor to every situation, and when things get dark, you’re the one who reminds everyone that there’s still something worth fighting for. Brilliant Optimistic Authentic Heart 🏂 Max Mayfield “I’m not afraid of you. ” You’re tough — not because you want to be, but because life made you that way. You’ve built walls higher than Castle Byers, and you don’t let just anyone past them.
But beneath that armor is someone who feels everything deeply and fights harder than anyone for the people she loves. You cope through independence and sometimes push people away when you need them most. But when you finally let someone in? That bond is unbreakable.
Fierce Independent Brave Complex 🪧 Steve Harrington “How many times do I have to save you people? ” You’re the unlikely hero — the person nobody expected to step up, least of all yourself. You started out focused on your hair and your reputation, but when it mattered, you discovered something more important: protecting the people who need you. You’re brave, selfless, and way more capable than you give yourself credit for.
You might downplay your role with a joke, but everyone knows: when the Demogorgon shows up, you’re the one grabbing the nail bat. Selfless Brave Loyal Underestimated ↻ PLAY AGAIN With new actors in the roles, Steve and other characters returned in Stranger Things: Tales from '85 season 1. The Netflix spinoff series was released on April 23, with ten episodes filled with brand-new monsters, interesting pairings, a new key character, and more.
The animated series also marked the start of a new era for Steve. Steve Harrington's Role Is Very Different In Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Initially, the Duffer Brothers, who created Stranger Things, were going to kill Steve. That is widely known, with the creators deciding not to do it due to Keery's charming performance in the role. After that, Steve only grew in importance with every new season of the Netflix sci-fi series.
Fans were able to follow him becoming a protector for the kids, as well as a solid friend to Robin, and a complicated romantic interest for Nancy. Steve was firmly one of the main characters of the live-action Stranger Things series, but Tales from '85 changes the game entirely. In Netflix's Stranger Things, it would be hard to imagine a single episode without Steve, let alone an entire season.
Well, the latter is pretty much true to the size of his role in Stranger Things: Tales from '85. Steve is entirely absent from the spinoff's first three episodes, finally returning in episode 4,"Chapter Four: The Confession," where he teams up with Dustin, and fans can get a healthy dose of that beloved duo's chemistry as they fight Upside Down monsters. After that, Steve is briefly seen at the start of episode 5 at Hopper's cabin.
However, that is the entirety of Steve's role in Stranger Things: Tales from '85 season 1. Instead of being a main part of the cast, like was the case in the original series, Netflix's Stranger Things spinoff sidelines Steve. The animated series focuses on the franchise's young characters, which fits the medium and lighter tone of the spinoff.
That said, for Steve Harrington fans, this new era comes across as somewhat frustrating, especially since Jeremy Jordan does a solid job in the role. Netflix's New Stranger Things Series Can Still Make Up For Steve's Small Role In 2026 While season 1 notably gave Steve a small role, the character could be back to his usual standing in the franchise before the year is over.
Now that the young cast of the Stranger Things spinoff has been re-established alongside new character Nikki Baxter in season 1, Steve, Nancy, Hoppey, Joyce, Jonathan, and others could be given more to do, falling in line with the live-action series, when the Stranger Things franchise returns in 2026. Subscribe for in-depth Stranger Things coverage and insight Join the newsletter for authoritative Stranger Things coverage — from Steve Harrington's changing role and casting updates to spinoff developments and episode analysis, all tied into wider franchise context.
Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. After all, Stranger Things: Tales from '85 season 2 will be released in the fall, marking a fast turnaround for the animated spinoff. If Steve appears in multiple episodes of the show's second season, that could be enough to make up for the Steve-light season 1.
Given how the animated series could go on for a long time, the more Steve in Stranger Things: Tales from '85, the better. 8.7/10 Stranger Things: Tales from '85 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Action Adventure Animation Sci-Fi Release Date April 23, 2026 Network Netflix Showrunner Eric Robles Directors Phil Allora Writers Jennifer Muro Cast See All Franchise Stranger Things Creator Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Eric Robles Powered by Expand Collapse
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Netflix's Grown-Up Sci-Fi 'Stranger Things' Replacement Officially Arrives Next WeekNetflix is releasing a new series on May 21 that Stranger Things fans should watch, as it's quite similar. Get all the details here.
Read more »
Chase Stokes' Stranger Things Role Explained (& Who He Almost Played Instead)Stokes almost went to the Upside Down?
Read more »
Stranger Things: Duffer Brothers Are Making The Right Decision With Netflix Spin-off TV ShowThe Stranger Things spin-off TV show on Netflix is currently in the works, and the Duffer Brothers taking their time is the right decision.
Read more »
Netflix's 4-Part 'Stranger Things Meets The Boys' Is One Of Its Best Fantasy ShowsOne of the best superhero shows.
Read more »