Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4, vol. 1 & 2.

As Stranger Things season 4 is concluded with vol.2, Steve Harrington survives another season, but did the writers make the right call? Babysitter Steve came closer than ever to death in season 4, narrowly escaping a dark ending twice. The newest monsters in Stranger Things, Demobats, took some chunks out of him in vol.1. Then, in vol.2, he, along with Nancy and Robin, were nearly strangled to death by vines in the Upside Down Creel house. Miraculously, though, Steve got out of both situations alive.

Along with Eddie Munson (who fell victim to the Stranger Things tradition of killing off the lovable newbie,) Steve's death in Stranger Things season 4 was set up in such a way audiences genuinely feared for his safety. His previous close calls - being beaten up by a possessed Billy, and being tortured by Russians - had viewers suspecting his luck might finally run out towards the end of the show. More than this, his naturally heroic character means he'd likely lay down his life to protect anyone. Thankfully, he survived Stranger Things season 4 - but with some viewers questioning whether the stakes of the penultimate season were fully utilized, should Steve Harrington have died in Stranger Things season 4, when his demise would have garnered perhaps its strongest response?

Related: Jonathon Or Steve: Did Nancy Just Make Her Choice In Stranger Things 4?

Ultimately, it was the right call to keep Steve alive throughout season 4, and there are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, Steve is the only person Robin is out to, and pulling this support system away from her would've been horrible to see and bad for her arc, especially as he helped Robin gain the confidence to talk to Vickie. More than this, it would have been downright cruel to have Dustin lose both his big brother figure Eddie and the father figure he sees in Steve in vol.2. It's evident that Dustin holds a lot of love and admiration for both of the older male figures in his life, and after how heartbroken he was witnessing Eddie's death, piling Steve's death on top would have been a step too far. There was enough devastation at the end of Stranger Things season 4 without killing off Steve, too.

Will Steve Harrington Die in Stranger Things Season 5 (& Should He)?

Steve Harrington In Stranger Things 4

If it was likely that Steve could die in season 4, then it might be near guaranteed that he will die in Stranger Things season 5. The show has gone four seasons without killing off a single main character, and the final season can stand to sacrifice a few of them. Stranger Things killing off main characters in season 5 will, of course, be devastating, but there will be no real consequence in the sense that they will be missing from the next season, as Stranger Things season 5 is the final installment. The show is overdue a main character death, with only Max and Hopper coming the closest so far, yet only to be resurrected or revealed to have magically dodged death.

Though well-loved due to how much he's grown in Stranger Things, this begs the question of where Steve's arc can go from here. Steve Harrington has had one of the most endearing character arcs in the whole show, and his progression from self-centered jock bully to a heroic babysitter has made him a fan favorite. That Stranger Things character arc is near complete, and can only really be concluded by ending with his own sacrifice. Out of all the characters, Steve is the most likely to die saving someone else. He'd sacrifice himself for Robin, his best friend, for Nancy, his love interest, and probably even for Jonathan, because he wouldn't want to see Nancy have to grieve him. More than anyone else, he would also sacrifice himself for any of the kids, because he's been their affectionate babysitter for 3 seasons now, and clearly has a lot of love for them.

Steve Harrington has had many close calls, and been beaten to a pulp in many instances in the show. It's almost as if, by including these close calls, the Duffer Brothers are working up to a more permanent ending for Steve by showing how much he's willing to take to protect the people he loves. Though his likely death will be a gut-wrenching thing to witness, it would be the best way to conclude his arc, as well as show how high the stakes are in Stranger Things season 5.

Next: Everyone Who Dies In Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 (Including The Finale)

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