Eddie Munson Finally Gets His Due on STRANGER THINGS 5

by

Season 5 of Stranger Things will feature the return of Eddie Munson, though in a spectral form. The grief felt by Dustin Henderson and the more nuanced pain experienced by Steve Harrington, both over Eddie’s death, heavily influence their final scenes together. This allows Eddie’s story to reach a more satisfying conclusion than the one originally presented. While Eddie was a fan favorite in Season 4, many viewers felt his storyline and ending were incomplete. Season 5 revisits Eddie’s legacy, courage, and death, offering a revised perspective that better suits his character. While bringing Eddie back to life would have been ideal, this new direction for his story is a welcome surprise.

I won’t detail my reasons here for why Eddie’s death on Stranger Things didn’t feel meaningful or needed. If you’re interested in reading my full thoughts on that, you can find them in my previous article about it.

I was really disappointed with how the show wrapped up Eddie’s story in Stranger Things 4. In a touching scene, Dustin explains to Eddie’s uncle that everyone would have loved Eddie if they’d really known him. He emphasizes that even facing death, Eddie stayed true to himself and didn’t try to save himself, choosing instead to fight and die protecting a town that had always disliked him. Dustin ultimately calls Eddie a hero, not just innocent. This moment, combined with everything we see of Eddie throughout the season, feels like the core message of his story: Eddie started as someone selfish and afraid, but through facing danger and sacrificing himself for the town, he finally became a hero.

I’ve said it before, but the way Stranger Things 4 portrayed Eddie’s death just doesn’t make sense. Framing it as a noble sacrifice to save Hawkins feels wrong, especially considering the town readily turned on him. Eddie was someone who created a safe space for others to be themselves, and the idea that his value is tied to dying to protect a town that represented everything he despised is, at best, deeply disrespectful.

It diminishes the importance of good character. More significantly, it disrespects the viewers who connected with Eddie and saw themselves in him. It’s disheartening for those who admired his courage in being himself and standing up for what he believed in, only to have the story suggest that bravery only mattered when he sacrificed himself for those who didn’t accept him.

I honestly didn’t think I’d ever accept how Eddie Munson’s story ended. But after thinking about it, and considering how fans felt about Eddie, the fifth season of Stranger Things revisits those conclusions and adjusts them in a way that feels more fitting. It doesn’t offer a truly happy ending – only letting Eddie live could have done that – but it’s acceptable and helps to lessen the frustration. As with many positive moments in the show, Steve and Dustin play a key role.

In a heated confrontation in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2, Steve Harrington bluntly tells Dustin Henderson, “I didn’t save anyone.” He reminds Dustin that he warned them both not to act like heroes, and points out that Eddie rushed into danger with the bats, essentially making a reckless decision that cost him his life. While Steve’s words initially sound harsh, his explanation of Eddie’s death is far more thoughtful and nuanced than what the show previously presented.

Simply put, the fact that the story now shows Eddie’s death wasn’t a necessary act of heroism – that he didn’t have to die – is a significant improvement. It’s much better to hear someone state plainly that Eddie didn’t need to sacrifice himself for Hawkins to matter, rather than implying his death was inherently noble.

Okay, let’s talk about Steve’s big scene in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2. Everyone’s interpreting it as him being mad at Eddie for recklessly running into danger, but honestly, I think that’s a total misread. What Steve’s really upset about isn’t Eddie’s bravery, or lack thereof. It’s the way Eddie’s death completely devastated Dustin. Watching that scene, it became clear to me that Steve was furious at how Dustin shut down emotionally for a year and a half – pushing everyone away, including Steve, because of the grief. It wasn’t about Eddie’s actions, it was about the fallout and the pain it caused Dustin, and Steve’s helplessness watching his friend suffer. It’s a much more layered and heartbreaking moment when you see it that way.

Steve is echoing what many fans of Eddie Munson have felt since Stranger Things 4: Eddie’s life and the positive impact he had on others would have been more valuable than his death. Steve’s words highlight how deeply Eddie affected Dustin, to the point that Dustin is struggling without him. Ultimately, Eddie’s most important legacy isn’t his sacrifice for the town, but the loving connection he shared with Dustin.

In the final volume of Stranger Things season 5, Dustin’s heartfelt words about Eddie perfectly capture why Eddie is a true hero. Many fans consider it the best explanation of his heroic qualities throughout the entire series. While Dustin says this while comforting Steve, the sentiment remains powerfully true. He describes Eddie as a genuine friend who believed in him and showed him kindness, admitting Eddie wasn’t flawless but always authentic. Eddie didn’t worry about others’ opinions; he was simply himself, and Dustin believes he was the smartest and kindest person he’s ever known.

In the fourth season of Stranger Things, Eddie was so preoccupied with feeling like a coward instead of a hero that it overshadowed everything else. However, the idea that Eddie was actually the kindest character is really fitting and should have been clear to anyone who looked closely. He was consistently kind to Dustin and Chrissy, and wasn’t a hardened tough guy at all – he was sensitive, cried easily, and was very open with his feelings. That’s precisely what made him such a compelling character. Calling him a coward, as the show initially implied, doesn’t fit. “Kind” is a much more accurate and helpful way to understand his actions throughout the series.

The heart of Eddie’s story on Stranger Things – and what makes him truly brave – is that he was simply himself. As Dustin points out, Eddie created a safe space for his friends – Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and others – to be authentic as well. He fearlessly showed them, and everyone around him, that it’s okay to embrace who you are, regardless of what others think.

Eddie truly deserves recognition for his courage in creating a safe and supportive environment for others. Finally, in Stranger Things 5, the show directly acknowledges this, celebrating Eddie for simply being himself and for his kindness towards Dustin. This is a much more meaningful tribute than portraying him as a ‘hero’ solely because he ‘fought and died to protect a town that mistreated him.’

After Steve and Dustin resolve their argument, Steve shares a powerful reflection on Eddie’s heroism and the significance of his death in Stranger Things. He delivers this final thought in Volume 2 of Stranger Things 5, saying, “Eddie… He saved your life. Our lives. And I know what he meant to you. I can’t even imagine how hard it’s been.” Ultimately, Eddie’s lasting impact on Stranger Things is seen through Dustin. Eddie imparted invaluable life lessons to Dustin, lessons that Dustin now cherishes and will undoubtedly pass on to others who need help.

If Eddie died simply to save Dustin’s life – not to save the town, or even to help people who disliked him – then his death feels meaningful within the story of Stranger Things. While many fans always believed this was the true reason for his sacrifice, Stranger Things 5 now confirms it. We finally learn that Eddie died so Dustin could live, and that Eddie helped Dustin embrace his true self, accepting him for who he was. The fact that Eddie loved Dustin, and Dustin loved him back, makes his sacrifice truly heroic.

Absolutely, I believe Eddie deserved to survive in Stranger Things – to prove his detractors wrong, live life on his own terms, and ultimately find happiness. And yes, I desperately wish he could have been brought back for another chance at it all.

I’m relieved that the show now frames Eddie’s sacrifice in Stranger Things 5 as protecting the person he loved, ensuring his legacy of kindness and strength lives on, rather than simply dying a hero for those who mistreated him. While Eddie’s death will always be painful to me, I’m happy the show finally seems to truly understand his character.

(Bring Eddie back, you cowards.)

Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 and Volume 2 are now streaming on Netflix.

Rotem Rusak leads the editorial team at TopMob. She’s particularly fascinated by the characters Steve, Dustin, and Eddie from Stranger Things, considering them highlights of the show’s story.

Read More

2025-12-26 23:35