So Stranger Things is over. You’ve binged. You’ve cried. Maybe you’re still recovering from that finale. It was a lot. Hawkins said goodbye, and honestly, we’re all a bit emotionally wobbly about it.
Turns out, the cast is right there with us. They’re sifting through memories too. And Joe Keery—Steve “The Hair” Harrington himself—just pinpointed the exact moment his entire character clicked. It’s not what you’d expect.
Forget demogorgon fights or nail-bat heroics. Keery’s proudest moment? It was quieter. Smaller. It was all about Gaten Matarazzo. Just two guys talking.
The Scene That Rewrote Steve Harrington
In a recent chat, Joe Keery got asked: what’s the one creative moment you’re most proud of? Across five massive seasons. His answer wasn’t a stunt. It was Season 2. Specifically, his scenes with Gaten, who plays Dustin.
“I think I’m most proud of the stuff that I did with Gaten in season two,” Keery said. “It just felt like I really knew how to handle the ground ball that was hit to me.”
Think about that. A “ground ball.” Not a screaming monster. A simple, human interaction. He was working with an “incredible kid,” and something just… aligned.
He’s talking about those early Season 2 beats. Steve seeing Dustin get mocked at school. Their real talk by the railroad tracks. No upside-down. No supernatural threats. Just a former high-school bully and a clever, vulnerable kid finding common ground.
That was the magic. That’s where Steve the Jerk officially died, and Steve the Babysitter was born. The fan-favorite wasn’t crafted in the writer’s room alone. He was built in those quiet, honest moments between takes. The chemistry was real. You can’t fake that.
It’s a masterclass in character development. Sometimes the biggest transformations happen off-camera, in the space between two actors just listening to each other.
From Hawkins to the Charts: The Djo Effect
Here’s the fun part. That same emotional intelligence Keery used for Steve? He’s channeling it elsewhere. Big time.
You know Joe Keery the actor. But Djo (pronounced “Joe”), his music project, is having a genuine moment. After the Stranger Things finale dropped, his song ‘End of Beginning’ shot to No. 2 on Spotify’s Global Chart. It also hit No. 1 on US iTunes for the first time ever.
Let’s be clear. This isn’t just a “actor tries music” story. The track is a legit hit, resonating far beyond the show’s fanbase. It’s got this nostalgic, synth-driven vibe that captures a feeling—maybe that same bittersweet feeling of ending something huge.
Sure, other cast members make music. Maya Hawke, Finn Wolfhard. But Keery’s breakout moment here is notable. It’s not a side project; it’s a parallel career taking off as one door closes. He’s not just playing a rockstar on TV anymore.
Why This Matters (The Real Takeaway)
This story isn’t really about a single scene. It’s about creative foundation.
For fans, it’s a beautiful insight: our favorite characters often find their soul in unexpected, small moments. The heart of Steve Harrington—the guy we all rooted for—was cemented not in battle, but in friendship.
For anyone creating anything, it’s a reminder. The flashy stuff is fun. But the core? The thing people truly connect with? It’s usually simpler. It’s authenticity. It’s human connection, on-screen and off.
Keery is moving on to movies like Cold Storage. Djo is touring. Stranger Things is in the rearview. But that legacy, that character he helped build from a “ground ball” moment with a co-star? That’s permanent.
So maybe, next time you rewatch, pay extra attention to Season 2. Not for the Mind Flayer. But for the talks. That’s where the real hero showed up.
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