Stranger Things Season 5: The unlikely friendship that stole the spotlight in the finale

Stranger Things Season 5 brings many long-running arcs to an emotional close. But amid the final battle and tearful goodbyes, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Jonathan Byers' (Charlie Heaton) unexpectedly quiet dynamic truly steals the spotlight.

What began as awkward tension and unspoken rivalry evolves into one of the most sincere and grounded relationships in the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, which offered fans a reminder of growth and forgiveness. For much of the series, Steve and Jonathan existed on opposite ends of Hawkins High’s social spectrum (and on opposite sides of Nancy Wheeler’s heart). Their early interactions were defined by jealousy, misunderstanding and resentment, making the idea of camaraderie between them seem almost impossible.

But when Steve has a near-death experience in the Upside Down in the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, Jonathan emerges as an unlikely ally, providing sturdy competition to Steve's best friend, Dustin.

Stranger Things Season 5: Steve and Jonathan's unlikely friendship in the finale

As the gang waited in the Upside Down to strike Vecna in The Abyss, Max, Kali and Eleven visited Henry's memory to defeat him and rescue the children. As the trio navigated Henry's complicated memories, the walls of The Abyss closed in on the wormhole and the fates of our protagonists hung in the balance. Just when Eleven managed to get a hold of Henry in the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, the walls to Dimension X closed in and Steve had a near-death experience when he fell from the platform. As the group (and fans) expressed their concern, he was rescued by Jonathan, who offered him a hand and pulled him onto the platform again.

After Steve and Jonathan began Stranger Things Season 5 by bickering over Nancy like children, this was a welcome change and sowed the seeds for an unlikely friendship.

In an interview with Netflix Tudum, the Duffer Brothers break down this pivotal moment from the finale, which was not designed to scare fans into thinking their beloved character would die but to establish Jonathan and Steve's eventual friendship.

Matt Duffer explained this moment as:

''It was about him and Jonathan coming together, and that’s why that moment is in there. 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...We wanted the least likely person to save Steve.''

The Stranger Things Season 5 finale resolved Steve and Jonathan's pent-up tension

While friendship is one of the most important aspects in Stranger Things, Jonathan and Steve's rivalry is as iconic as the core four's friendship. But after Jonathan surprisingly rose to the situation and helped Steve, the two finally had a heartwarming conversation, clearing the air between them. Jonathan confesses that his hatred for Steve was rooted in Nancy's history with him. But now that the two broke up in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2, Jonathan suggested that they should mend their ways.

On the other hand, Steve agreed that much of the tension between them stemmed from their shared feelings for Nancy. After he accepted that he didn't hold a chance at a future with the oldest Wheeler, he was able to move past his rivalry with Jonathan and appreciated his kind gesture in the Upside Down. This much-awaited heart-to-heart moment between Steve and Jonathan was an important sequence from the finale, essentially setting up an unlikely bromance between the characters.

Ross Duffer discussed the importance of Steve and Jonathan's conversation in the Stranger Things Season 5 finale:

''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.''

Fans were excited to see who would end up with Nancy in the series' ending but the Duffer Brothers flipped the script. As Nancy chose herself in the end, Steve and Jonathan found common ground, ending the show on a wholesome note as the adults contemplated their future while enjoying the sunset on a rooftop.

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