Sign in

Does Steve Harrington die in Stranger Things Season 5? Fate of Joe Keery's character in Volume 1 revealed

Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery, is a fan favourite character in Stranger Things, with many fans worried about his fate in the final season.

Updated on: Nov 27, 2025, 15:48:09 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

The beginning of the end is here. Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 dropped on Netflix on Thursday morning (Indian time) and Wednesday night in the US. The four new episodes of the popular show are set in 1987 as the heroes of Hawkins battle Vecna to foil his plans to take over the world. But amid the excitement, fans are worried about the fate of their favourite characters. Over the years, Stranger Things has become notorious for killing off fan-favourite characters in gruesome and unexpected fashion. And while most characters have fans, Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery, clearly has more people rooting for him. We take a look at whether Steve is surviving Vecna’s onslaught on Hawkins this season.

Joe Keery plays fan favourite Steve Harrington in Stranger Things.
Joe Keery plays fan favourite Steve Harrington in Stranger Things.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR STRANGER THINGS SEASON 5 AHEAD!

What happens in Stranger Things season 5?

Season 5 opens with demogorgons abducting more kids from Hawkins, even as the city has turned into a garrison controlled by the military. As Holly Wheeler goes missing, James Hopper goes to search for her in the Upside Down, and Eleven soon follows suit. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang, including Steve, are trying to find out who Vecna and his minions are targeting next, so that they can prevent those abductions. As a demigorgon shows up to abduct one such kid, Steve, Dustin, Jonathan, and Robin find themselves in Steve’s car, chasing it through a breach and ending up in the Upside Down.

Steve Harrington in Stranger Things. (Netflix)
Steve Harrington in Stranger Things. (Netflix)

Is Steve Harrington alive in Stranger Things?

Yes, at the end of Season 5 Episode 4 of Stranger Things, Steve Harrington is very much alive. However, he is trapped in the Upside Down, with his car having slammed into a wall. He and the others have discovered that the old Hawkins Lab may be at the centre of Vecna’s plan, and decide to investigate it. But that is for Season 5 Volume 2, it seems.

Steve, played by Joe Keery, has been one of the lead cast members since season 1. Originally a jock, the character has undergone a major arc of redemption, eventually becoming a fan favourite. There have been countless memes and social media messages for the show’s creators - The Duffer Brothers - warning them not to kill Steve in the final season. In the past, popular characters like Bob (Sean Astin), Billy (Dacre Montgomery), and Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) have met their demise on screen.

All about the Stranger Things finale

The first four episodes of Season 5 are already streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 of Season 5 drops on 25 December. It comprises episodes 5, 6, and 7. The show will conclude with a 2-hour-long series finale that will release on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.

  • Abhimanyu Mathur
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Abhimanyu Mathur

    Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More

Get World Cup ready with Crick-it! From live scores to match stats, catch all the action here. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.