Stranger Things was an instant hit when the sci-hi/horror series launched on Netflix back in 2016. Now three seasons in, fans are still anxiously binging each season when it’s released and eagerly anticipating the next.
Among the ensemble cast of mainly teenage boys are a number of other supporting characters that make the series, set in the ‘80s, as compelling as it is. And one such character is Steve Harrington.
Played by Joe Keery, Steve is the popular boy in high school who gets (then loses) the girl and ends up becoming a great support system for the younger kids. From his perfectly coiffed hair from season one and beyond to his adorable ice cream shop outfit in season three, it’s no surprise that there are tons of Steve memes circling the Internet. Many of them focus on his odd but super sweet relationship with the kids, but all are sure to make you LOL.
The Babysitters Club
The Babysitters Club was, and remains, one of the most popular novel series for teenage girls. In this spoof cover, Steve is featured as the babysitter with the hilarious tagline “he’s in no way equipped to handle this!” and a book title Steve’s Scary Situation.
Of course in the series, Steve often finds himself hanging with some of the kids and having to bravely protect them from harm. If he were an actual babysitter, he’d be pretty darn good at it!
In Combat
Steve is the pretty boy in school. He might be athletic, but he isn’t the guy who is going to get into a brawl. God forbid he ruin his gorgeous hair! He’s more interested in looking great and dating girls – or at least one girl.
So when Steve finds himself in a fight with another human, it’s a sure bet that he’ll lose, though, to his credit, he’ll try valiantly to fight back. Yet interestingly, when it comes to fighting supernatural creatures, Steve has a certain set of skills and a knack for it.
All About the Hair
There’s one defining characteristic about Steve’s physical appearance, and that’s his hair. We just can’t get enough of it! With elements of ‘50s heartthrob combined with a sort-of mullet and a look reminiscent of Harry Styles, it’s shiny, luxurious, and the envy of any man or woman!
The hair has its own area code. Steve revealed the secret that gives it the incredible body and sheen to Dustin but swore him to secrecy. But seriously, how does he manage to keep his hair looking so great under any situation? So, as this person says in the meme, you could trust his hair with your life.
I Hate My Job
In the third season, Steve takes a job at an ice cream shop in the mall. Called Scoops Ahoy, the shop has a sailor theme with a cheesy uniform to go along with it. Yet Steve rocks the costume with lots of confidence, despite how awkward he looks in it. Who would ever want to wear that silly hat over such gorgeous hair?
The most hilarious part of the meme, however, is the suggestion that Steve has to suffer with that job in order to raise his children. The long-running joke about the character is that he finds himself in parental situations all the time, having to care for the younger kids while they are out and about on their own, their parents blissfully unaware of what they’re up to.
Feel Bad, Look So Good
Just like Blanche from The Golden Girls, Steve is very focused on his looks. He’s a pretty boy. But in season 2, he lost his girlfriend when Nancy decided to date the odd kid Jonathan Byers instead.
It was a big blow to his ego, yet even during his time of immense sadness for having lost his high school sweetheart, to the weird loner, no less, Steve still had his confidence. And, of course, that great hair. Just like Blanche.
Mom Of The Year
OK, so a lot of the funniest memes about Steve Harrington have to do with his great relationship with the kids and his desire and ability to protect them, even if he only randomly keeps finding himself in situations where he has to.
One of the cutest relationships is the one he has with Dustin. And that scene where he walks along the train tracks giving Dustin advice about girls and hair care was a speech that any parent would be proud of. Joyce Byers went to the ends of the earth to save her son, making her a prime candidate for mom of the year. But boy, does Steve give her a run for her money!
Single Mom
Another meme comparing Steve to a mom, Steve is just a young man himself yet him took on caring for the kids, especially Dustin, as if he were a big brother. But it’s more than that. He gives advice like a parent and protects them from evil beings from the Upside Down as if they are his own children.
This meme takes a humorous look at that and how despite just being a teenager himself who should be worrying about college and a career and school work and girls, Steve often ends up alone with the kids having to take care of them.
Steve and Nancy
In season one of the series, Steve came across as the egotistical, arrogant popular kid in high school who somehow earned the affections of the sweet, nice girl Nancy Wheeler. Viewers declared that he didn’t deserve her.
But by the second season, Steve totally redeemed himself. And it was Nancy who came across as undeserving of his love. Not only does he make a great pseudo-dad to the kids, including Nancy’s own younger brother, but he was so hurt by her infidelity and desire to date someone else that you couldn’t help but feel bad for him. Everyone joined Team Steve by season 2.
Steve’s Search History
This meme is super hilarious, providing a mock look into Steve’s search history. As a teenage boy, he found himself in positions again and again where he had to fend off enemies trying to hurt young kids. But he also did more for them, including giving them advice and acting like a big brother.
So the search history items reflect things he did throughout the series, and questions he might have had if Google existed back then, including how to win back a girlfriend and dealing with annoying yet impressionable kids.
Mr. Steal Your Kids
This meme puts each of the main male adult characters into a labeled box. Jonathan is Mr. Steal Your Girl because he ended up winning the heart of Nancy Wheeler, who was dating Steve Harrington at the time. Meanwhile, the charming yet troubled bad boy Billy is Mr. Steal Your Wife because he tempted and flirted with bored housewives.
Steve? Well, he’s Mr. Steal Your Kids because when the parents can’t help their kids, whether it’s against a ravenous Mind Flayer or for advice on how to date a girl, Steve is always there.