Steve Harrington

“	So let me get this straight. You've kept something you knew to be dangerous in order to...impress a girl who you just met?
— Steve Harrington, November 5, 1984	”
Steve Harrington, portrayed by Joe Keery, is a main character in Stranger Things, having a recurring role in the first season before being promoted to the main cast from the second season onwards.
A student at Hawkins High School, he was best friends with Tommy Hagan and Carol Perkinsand the boyfriend of Nancy Wheeler. When Nancy's best friend, Barbara Holland, disappeared, she became distant and Steve thought she was cheating with Jonathan Byers. Following a few ignorant actions, Steve had a change of heart, told his friends off, and set out to make things right. By coincidence, he ended up heroically saving the day and reconciled with his girlfriend. 
In 1984, following a falling-out with Nancy, Steve became an ally to the Party , especially Dustin Henderson, with whom he formed an unlikely friendship. He became a sort of authority figure for the party and became a major player in the battle against the Mind Flayer.
In 1985, Steve worked at an ice cream shop called Scoops Ahoy alongside Robin Buckley, who gave him a hard time when he struck out with the ladies. Feeling self-conscious about not getting into college and working a low-wage job, he was more than willing to help Dustin, who had just come to him with a strange radio transmission. Steve, along with Robin, helped Dustin translate a secret Russian transmission. They discovered there were Russians in Hawkins, working underneath Starcourt Mall. Steve, along with Dustin, Robin, and Lucas Sinclair' younger sister Erica Sinclair, discovered the Russians were trying to reopen a portal to the Upside Down. Steve also formed a friendship with Robin and later accepted her sexuality. Steve later learned of the Mind Flayer's return and helped the rest of the Party battle against it until the gate was closed again. Three months later, Steve remained best friends with Robin as they applied for new jobs at Family Video.
In 1986, Steve is still working at Family Video with Robin and he is still finding it difficult to move on from his breakup with Nancy. He learns about the murder at the Forest Hills Trailer Park of Chrissy Cunningham from the news on TV in the store. Later finding out more information about the victim from Max Mayfield and Dustin. They then trace down Eddie Munson, who was the the prime suspect of Chrissy's death. Steve along with Max, Robin and Dustin went to Reefer Rick's house (the drug dealer of Eddie) where he learnt about the dark wizard of the Upside Down named Vecna.