Stranger Things fans may be shocked to learn that one of their beloved characters could have easily been canceled after the first season. Steve Harrington, the charismatic and conceited high school heartthrob who became the favorite babysitter of all, was, in fact, destined to be killed early on in the series. The Duffer Brothers, however, changed their minds upon witnessing the natural charm of Joe Keery and the tremendous chemistry that he had with the other cast.They chose to keep Steve alive, and that decision transformed everything. Rather than being a typical side character, Steve got to be a likable hero and one of the most emotionally diverse elements of the show. His transformation from an egotistical adolescent to a devoted, faithful companion proved to be one of the greatest surprises in Stranger Things, and we cannot imagine the show without him.What did the Stranger Things creators originally plan for Steve Harrington’s characterAt the time when the Duffer Brothers were initially developing Stranger Things Season 1, they desired actual danger in the narrative. No one was entirely safe; characters were subject to dying, provided that the plot needed it. Even in those initial drafts, Steve is only the handsome high school jerk, a common bully, who could've gotten what he deserved.In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Matt Duffer revealed:“That was close. We just fell in love with Joe Keery, but had we not liked Joe Keery, Steve would've been gone.”His death would have made the tale more pessimistic and demonstrated how serious the threat of the Upside Down was. However, as the filming continued, actor Joe Keery introduced something new to Steve: warmth, humor, and a heart. The Duffers had a vision for bigger things.His sudden murder seemed like a waste, considering he was the only character balancing and taking forward the emotional heart of the show. Thus, they rewrote his destiny, and Steve Harrington, from a short-lived side character, turned into one of the most popular heroes of Stranger Things.How Joe Keery (and on-set magic) rewrote Steve’s destiny in Stranger Things View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThis is where the storytelling crossed over to real life: the performance of Joe Keery in Stranger Things transformed it all. Steve was initially a one-dimensional, flat character, but Keery introduced an unlikely depth in him through a combination of humor, kindness, and vulnerability. The writers perceived Steve in a different way because of his charisma.The Duffer Brothers went as far as to say that they fell in love with him, and thus they revised the story and allowed Steve to survive in Stranger Things’ narrative. Rather than being another minor character in the story, Steve became a loving, protective big-brother figure in the lives of the children.People adored his ability to be funny, courageous, and, at the same time, good-hearted. The fact that Keery managed to make a small role become one of the emotional highlights of Stranger Things has led numerous people to give credit to his personality and the candidness of the writers.For more such insights on Stranger Things, keep following SoapCentral.