Here’s Why Joe Keery And His ‘Stranger Things’ Character Steve Harrington Is Fans Favourite

Stranger Things Steve Harrington may be fictional, but the actor who plays him, Joe Keery, is very real and fans loved him a lot.

Stranger Things was first introduced back in 2016, but a lot of things have changed since then, including the cast and monsters. Stranger Things season 1 gives fans a lot of favourite characters and for sure fans also hate Joe Keery’s Steve then. Often seen as the babysitter of the cast’s main group of kids, he looks after his friends with a genuine faithfulness that has now captured the hearts of millions.

Harrington may be fictional, but the actor who plays him, Joe Keery, is very real and fans loved him a lot. Moreover, just like Steve Harrington looks after his younger friends in Hawkins, Indiana, Keery keeps an eye out for his castmates wherever they go. Last month, fans swooned when co-star Caleb McLaughlin reminded audiences of the time Keery defended co-star Finn Wolfhard at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con after moderator Patton Oswalt told the young actor he had “the greatest porn name ever.” Keery told Wolfhard, who was 14 at the time, to ignore it, and then glared at Oswalt, who later apologized.

Though Steve Harrington broke up with his girlfriend long ago, Keery’s love life isn’t as dull. The actor has been dating Maika Monroe for almost five years, GQ reports that they first met at a party in 2017. That same year, they bonded while working together on the film After Everything and later went public with their romance at the Stranger Things season 2 premiere. Though they keep their relationship off of social media, the couple is known for adorable red carpet appearances and in 2020, Monroe even photographed Keery for the launch of his Djo musical career.

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Steve Harrington is the best character on Stranger Things and fans really don’t want him to die. As fans settle in for season 4’s final two episodes this weekend, anxiety surrounding Steve Harrington’s future is higher than ever before. “If Steve Harrington dies this season you will never hear from me again,” one fan tweeted. In advance of the finale’s release, Netflix has put up billboards that read “Protect Steve.”