Steve Harrington

Steve is initially portrayed as a popular, antagonistic, and unlikeable athlete. At the beginning of the series, Steve starts a relationship with Nancy Wheeler, a smart and somewhat wealthy student. Although he shows some compassion upon learning of Will Byers' disappearance, he soon clashes with his brother Jonathan when he discovers he inadvertently spied on a secret party at their house, causing Jonathan to break his camera. Following this incident, and selfishly worried that his party will be revealed to his parents, Nancy grows closer to Jonathan when they help each other search for Will and his best friend, Barbara Holland, who disappeared at the party. Steve, trying to reconcile with Nancy, sees them together through his bedroom window and assumes they are dating. Angered, Steve is pressured by his friends and insults Nancy; he confronts Jonathan, but Jonathan defeats him in a fight, and Steve realizes the error of his ways and ignores his former "friends." Traveling to the Byers' house to apologize, he becomes involved in Nancy and Jonathan's fight against the Demogorgon, which they defeat. At the end of the season, Nancy buys Jonathan a new camera, and Steve continues his relationship with her. By 1984, Steve's relationship with Nancy begins to deteriorate due to the guilt she carries over Barb's death; after Nancy gets drunk at the Halloween party and confesses in her inebriated state that she feels their relationship is fake, he breaks up with her after she hesitates to tell him she loves him. Steve also clashes with Billy Hargrove, a new student at school who seeks to become the tough guy.

By 1984, Steve's relationship with Nancy begins to deteriorate due to Nancy's guilt over Barb's death. After Nancy gets drunk at the Halloween party and confesses in her inebriated state that she feels their relationship is fake, he breaks up with her after she hesitates to tell him she loves him. Steve also clashes with Billy Hargrove, a new student at school who aspires to be the tough guy. Steve becomes involved with Mike Wheeler and his friends after Dustin asks him to help find his "pet," D'Artagnan, unaware that he is a Demodog, another creature from the Upside Down. Steve and Dustin bond when they argue about how to talk to girls, and soon Steve also takes Mike, Lucas, and Max (Billy's stepsister) under his wing. Steve protects the children as the Demodogs begin to invade Hawkins, giving Eleven and Jim Hopper time to close the door to the Upside Down, and Will Byers time to exorcise the Mind Flayer from his body. He also defends the children against Billy and is knocked unconscious before Max can control her brother.