'Stranger Things' almost killed off these major characters
Turns out, Stranger Things could have looked very different—creators Matt and Ross Duffer just revealed they nearly killed off major characters like Hopper (David Harbour) at the end of Season 3 and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) back in Season 1.
Hopper was presumed dead in that mall explosion, but the Duffers decided his story wasn't done yet, saying his survival mattered for real character growth—not just shock value.
Steve's transformation from villain to hero
Steve's transformation from villain to fan favorite actually saved him from an early exit.
The Duffers shared that while supporting characters sometimes meet tragic ends, big decisions about main characters are made carefully for the story's impact.
As Stranger Things wraps up with its final season on Nov. 26, 2025, fans can expect a proper conclusion to these long-running character arcs.