Steve Harrington is one cool dude. Whether you watch Stranger Things or not, there's no point in denying this, as this hotheaded jock turned pretty damn good babysitter has become so well-known that it's pretty much impossible to not be aware of him (and love him).
The popularity of this character is very justified, though. It's become a rarity for a show to present a captivating evolution of a character, so when one as beautiful as Steve Harrington's comes along, it's not something you want to overlook.
The first season of the hit Netflix 80s nostalgia-laden drama presents Steve Harrington to be little more than an arrogant high school kid who had a lot of popularity but not a lot of potential. Turns out, there was much more depth to this character than what first met the eye. Steve is now one of the most beloved characters on the entire show, so let's delve into this awesome jock/babysitter, and take a look at some of his best quotes.
"I LOVE KFC... IT'S FINGER-LICKIN' GOOD."
Despite his hot-headed exterior, Steve really has proven to be a great guy at heart. He may not have been a very good boyfriend to Nancy, but he did try his best, and it's the thought that counts. Early in season 2, following Barb's death/disappearance, Steve accompanies Nancy to dinner at Barb's parents' house.
What makes the scene in which Steve and Nancy sit there before Barb's folks, who are in the process of selling their house after having hired a private investigator to look into the status of Barb's fate, Steve tries to break the tension by commenting on their dinner: "I love KFC... it's finger-lickin' good".
"SHE'S ONLY GONNA BREAK YOUR HEART, AND YOU'RE WAY TOO YOUNG FOR THAT."
The beginning of Steve's transition from the stereotypical jock to one of the most beloved characters on the show, began when he unwittingly took on the role of the kids' temporary guardian and designated babysitter. This was obviously not Steve's chosen occupation at first, but once he realized how much danger the kids were in, the urge to protect them came naturally.
Steve began to form friendships with the kids, particularly Dustin, who he frequently is giving brotherly advice to, on topics ranging from both love lives and hair care.
"YEAH, FARRAH FAWCETT. YOU TELL ANYONE I JUST TOLD YOU THAT AND YOUR ASS IS GRASS."
Not only is this quote a subtle but comedic Stand By Me homage, but it is also yet another line that highlights the endearing brotherhood that formed between Dustin and Steve. During season 2, the show really delved in to fleshing out the dynamic between these two, and everybody loved it.
Since the rest of his friends all have at least one sibling, Dustin is kind of the odd-man-out since he's an only child who lives with his single mother. So when Steve takes on the role of Dustin's surrogate older brother, it's a very satisfying and adorable arc for both of them.
"HELLO, LADIES..."
There's no denying that Steve Harrington is a very charming guy. With his boyish good looks, crooked smile, and awesome hair, he has a smooth intrigue about him that made him a very popular guy in school. This was pretty much Steve's entire character arc in the first season of Stranger Things.
Since Steve has always been such a hit with audience, the brief scene where he opens his door to Barb and Nancy, saying, "hello, ladies", has become quite well-known, circulating the Internet for quite some time, because who could resist Steve Harrington's charm?
"I SAID DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT?!"
Steve got the hang of babysitting five kids pretty quickly, which was impressive since the kids definitely were not keen on listening to him. Steve put a lot of dedication into the responsibilities of watching over the moody pre-teens, and he even put his own life on the line to save them from the monsters. Babysitting the strong-willed band of misfits took a firm hand, so Steve was constantly having to keep the kids in line, and that's where the above quote comes in. The fact that Steve said this while a dishtowel was slung over his shoulder, made this moment all the more hilarious.
"YEAH, THAT'S A NO."
With the kids being desperate to save Eleven from the Upside Down, they came up with some pretty ridiculous and extremely risky ideas. Left to their own devices, they definitely would have gotten themselves into some dangerous situations, so they were all very lucky to have Steve to stop them from doing anything stupid. Steve watched as the kids pitched plans to each other, moderating like the skilled babysitter he is. When Mike suggested setting something on fire, Steve immediately stepped in, quickly replying, "yeah, that's a no".
"MAN, KIDS ARE THE WORST! WHO NEEDS 'EM, ANYWAY?"
True to his former reputation of a being a shallow bad-boy who didn't care about anything besides girls, sports, and his hair, this quote highlights just how brilliant and compelling Steve's evolution is. Becoming a babysitter truly changed this character for the better.
Steve used to regard kids as pesky nuisances, and even pitied Nancy since she had a younger brother. With this knowledge, Steve's cynical line regarding his opinion on children is so hilariously ironic, because of his now very close friendships with Dustin and the others.
"IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?"
Dart, Dustin's pet Demogorgon (or "Demodog", as he called it), definitely caused a lot of trouble for the Stranger Things gang. The creature was completely adorable at first, being a tiny lizard-like being that Dustin kept in a terrarium in hopes that this seemingly innocent "animal" would be his new pet.
But things went south quickly when Dart began to grow at a rapid pace, became very dangerous, and even killed Dustin's mom's cat. Ultimately, after Dart's demise, Dustin convinces Steve that they need to stick the Demodog's body in the freezer, because it's a "scientific discovery". To this, Steve rolls his eyes and replies, "is this really necessary?", but of course, he helps his friend anyway.
"YOU LOOK GREAT, AND YOU'RE GONNA SLAY 'EM DEAD."
As a beautiful season bookend for Steve and Dustin's iconic friendship, Steve chauffeured Dustin to the Hawkins Middle Snowball Winter Dance. Dustin was nervous about going to the dance, and Steve was there for him in a brotherly, supportive way.
The moment between them in the car was completely heartwarming; Steve had helped Dustin get ready, helped him get his hair up to the elusive Steve Standard, and then proceeded to give Dustin a pep talk that melted the hearts out viewers everywhere.
"TURNS OUT I'M A PRETTY DAMN GOOD BABYSITTER."
By the end of season 2, Steve had completely embraced his babysitter status, and was even proud of it. He admitted that he was not the best boyfriend to Nancy, but the fact that he considers himself a "pretty damn good babysitter" seemed to comfort and please him.
From what we've seen of Stranger Things 3 so far, Steve's relationship with the kids - mainly Dustin - will remain a canon thing. This is a very exciting aspect about the new season, and seeing more of Babysitter Steve is something pretty much everyone is looking forward to.