Duffer Brothers reveal the real meaning behind Steve’s near-death scene in the Stranger Things finale

As the Stranger Things finale approached its release, the biggest question that traumatized fans of the show was the fate of Steve Harrington. Every single theory about his character's fate had viewers wondering if he was going to make it out of the finale alive. Maybe it was the perfect growth of his character arc, which would only find closure if he died as a hero. Maybe it was the trailers and their sequence; fans were convinced that he wasn't going to survive.

So, when the Stranger Things finale episode finally rolled around, fans were on the edge of their collective seats, be it in their homes or in theaters. One scene in the finale, a near-death experience, had Steve falling off a very high radio tower and almost dying. As fans tuned in to the finale, a collective gasp was heard all around the world.

In a deep dive into the finale episode, the Duffer brothers explain why that scene was important for Steve's story arc on the show. Keep reading to find out more.

The Duffer brothers on why Steve's near-death scene in Stranger Things finale was important for resolving one final inner conflict in the Hawkins gang

The Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan triangle has been one of the more entertaining arcs on Stranger Things. After Steve and Nancy's brief dating stint at the start of the show, and Nancy's rocky relationship with Jonathan, fans had been curious to find out how this love triangle would end up. This love triangle also meant there was no love lost between Steve and Jonathan, because Jonathan's relationship with Nancy was struggling, and he found Steve as the root of all of these problems.

So, when Steve fell off the radio tower, in the most unlikely development ever, Jonathan was the one to grab onto his hand and pull him back up, saving his life. Steve thanks Jonathan for saving his life, and they talk about the fact that this supposed love triangle had created a lot of animosity between them.

The Duffer brothers explain that it was really important for them to resolve all of the inner conflicts between the Hawkins gang before the gang worked as one to defeat the Mind Flayer and Vecna. They also needed those conflicts resolved before the group could destroy the Upside Down. This included resolving Jonathan and Steve's issues with each other through some honest and vulnerable conversation.

"We needed to make sure that by the time we got to the final battle, any conflicts were resolved because they really needed to work together as a team. Steve and Jonathan were the last remaining source of tension within the group, and so we realized we had to resolve that before they would be able to defeat Vecna and the Mind Flayer."

"We wanted those two to find common ground by the end of the series, and it leads to that conversation they have in the Abyss where they finally open up about their feelings and their conflict as it relates to Nancy."

They went on to add that it was never the intention to torture Stranger Things fans by having them think that Steve dies. They also said they never understood how fans managed to come up with that theory and believe in it with such conviction.

"It wasn’t designed to torture fans who are terrified that Steve is gonna die. I’ve never really understood why they’re so worried about Steve dying. Really, it was about him and Jonathan coming together, and that’s why that moment is in there."

However much the brothers say that they never intended to torture the Stranger Things fans, the trailer edits and their Today Show interview not only contributed to these theories but also added to them.

Nevertheless, Steve Harrington makes it out of the Stranger Things finale alive and well. He finds himself putting his "always the damn babysitter" qualities to good use as a coach (and the sex ed teacher, let's not forget). He hasn't found any of his "little nuggets," as he likes to call them, but if Harrington the Hair has anything to do about that, it won't be very long.

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