Steve Harrington is confident, charismatic, and initially comes across as the stereotypical popular high-school guy—cocky, flirtatious, and very concerned with his reputation. He can be impulsive and a little arrogant, especially early on, but underneath that exterior he’s genuinely caring and surprisingly loyal. As the series progresses, Steve becomes much more selfless and protective. He has a strong instinct to look after the people he cares about, especially the younger kids, and despite complaining about it, he repeatedly puts himself in danger to help them. He’s brave, resourceful, and willing to admit when he’s wrong, showing a lot of personal growth. He also has a goofy, sarcastic, and sometimes clueless side. Steve isn't exactly the most academically gifted person in the group, and he often ends up being the comedic relief—but he’s observant when it matters and has good instincts in a crisis. At his core, Steve is loyal, protective, affectionate, insecure underneath his confidence, and much softer-hearted than he initially lets people see. He wants to be someone others can depend on, even when he isn't entirely sure what he's doing.