Rooting for redemption
All I want for Christmas 2025 is the character of Steve Harrington to survive the final season of Stranger Things. I’m kidding, sort of. What I would really love is for the aura of Steve Harrington to survive in the real world. Harrington’s character arc is one of hard fought and unexpected redemption. In fact, the show creators, Matt and Ross Duffer intended for Steve to be a minor character that got killed off in season one, but they came to love the actor Joe Keery so much, they decided to keep him. What started off as a stereotypical high-school bully that you’d love to see eaten by a monster, became one of the most beloved characters of the highly popular show. When faced with adversity, Steve learns how important authentic relationships are to survival. Fans of the show call him the world’s best babysitter, because he ends up spending a lot of time trying to convince the younger teen characters that their ideas are risky and dangerous, but when they don’t listen to him, he always goes along to try and keep them safe. I just really hope when the final battle of the apocalypse comes to Hawkins, Indiana on New Year’s Eve, Steve is left standing.
The real world could take a lesson or two from Steve, and not just about his great 80’s styled hair (he uses Farah Fawcett hairspray by the way).
First, we don’t need to be bullies to survive! The whole idea that we have to outwit another person with our words or punch out first or we become the ones getting punched is absurd. We don’t need to build ourselves up to be these unflinching people who harden our hearts to block out pain while throwing everyone else to the wolves. Why we think power and cruelty must go together is beyond me. Life is much richer when we open ourselves up to vulnerability, that’s real courage. Steve got the snot beat out of him in season one, and honestly, he deserved it. But this wake-up call took him from bully to protector.
[Think Pharoah, Joseph’s brothers, Hamaan, Jonah, Herod, Saul/Paul]
Second, real strength isn’t found in the individual but in community. Had Steve’s character limped off into the shadows after his embarrassing loss in season one, he would not have survived—but instead, he shed his self-centered, too cool behavior by showing concern for someone he truly cared about and became part of a team. His role became big brother in a way; not always the brightest crayon in the box (he did sleep through algebra one) but a fierce protector, willing to drive his precious beamer full of friends straight into the upside down to defeat evil. He learns that if he is there for his friends, they will also, in turn, be there for him.
[Think Moses, King David, Job, Naomi & Ruth, Jesus’ disciples, the apostles like Paul]
Third, we are our brothers’ keeper—everyone could use a “babysitter” like Steve from time to time. One of the best lines from the show is when another character, Robin, asks Steve, “how many children are you friends with” as the middle school aged kids keep showing up at his place of work. But by season five, Steve is so frustrated by his young friend Dustin’s rebellious behavior, he snaps at him. When Dustin says, “your concern for me is overwhelming,” Steve replies, “My Concern! I have shown nothing but concern for you for forever!” Honestly, as a wife and mother, I’ve never felt so seen.
[Think Cain and Abel, Esther, Daniel, Peter, Lydia, Philemon & Onesimus]
The point is, we need to pay attention to each other, to look out for each other. The world is full of bullies, darkness, and cruelty happening right before our eyes. The best way to fight all that is together, and with the Light of Christ before us. At the end of the day, we are all humans, all children of God. All deserving of respect, love, and a shot at redemption. It’s never too late.