In 'Stranger Things', this heroine was meant to die in Season 1.
However, the creators had to change the storyline.
In the world of television, there's a curious phenomenon: sometimes, a character destined for an early death unexpectedly becomes a central figure of the story. This tends to happen when a show becomes wildly popular and producers realise that killing off such a character would be a crime against the viewers' love.
That’s exactly what happened with Stranger Things. In fact, it happened twice — to two different characters.
Eleven
Initially, the finale of Stranger Things Season 1 was meant to be the end of Eleven’s story — her heroic sacrifice would have been the final chapter. The creators originally planned the show as a limited series, with only a hint at possible continuations.
But fate had other plans. When the series unexpectedly became a hit and Netflix gave the green light for more seasons, the Duffer Brothers faced a dilemma. Their original idea involved saying goodbye to the main heroine, but the project’s sudden success — and the audience’s love for Millie Bobby Brown — made them reconsider.
As a result, Eleven not only returned in Season 2, but became the heart of the entire franchise.
Steve Harrington
In the initial concept for Stranger Things, Steve Harrington was written as the classic "bad boy" — a smug jock who bullied others. He was supposed to meet an unceremonious end in the Season 1 finale as a typical secondary antagonist. But actor Joe Keery’s charisma completely changed those plans.
The Duffer Brothers were so taken with his performance that they began rewriting the character mid-production. By the end of the first season, Steve had evolved from a clear-cut jerk into a more complex — and overall decent — guy. What happened next was even more surprising: the former "villain" turned into one of the most beloved and human characters in the entire series.
