Stop Being Mean to Dustin Henderson After STRANGER THINGS 5!

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As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I still can’t get over Eddie Munson’s death in season four. Honestly, it felt pointless – Eddie was never a coward, so he didn’t need a dramatic, sacrificial moment to prove his bravery. He was already a hero just by being himself and creating a safe space for others to be weird and free, even when society didn’t want them to. It feels like yesterday I was writing about it, and even though it’s been three years, I still think about him all the time. That’s why I’m so connected to Dustin’s story in the upcoming season five. It’s honestly frustrating to me how little empathy other characters – and a lot of people online – seem to have for him. Seriously, everyone needs to cut Dustin some slack – he deserves our support, not negativity.

Season 5 of Stranger Things starts with a lot going on in Hawkins. The barrier between the real world and the Upside Down has broken, leaving the town vulnerable. Vecna is still a threat, Eleven is in hiding, Max remains in a coma, and Hopper and Mike are desperately trying to find Vecna by interpreting strange visions. Plus, everyone is still grieving Eddie’s death.

ALSO, EDDIE IS DEAD.

It’s understandable that many characters have their own main concerns. Mike is focused on Eleven’s safety, Lucas on Max, and Will is driven by his own reasons for wanting to stop Vecna, even though he didn’t know Eddie. However, when Mike tells Dustin he should focus on one battle, it’s a bit hypocritical, considering Mike isn’t prioritizing a single goal himself.

Everyone in the group is dealing with both personal struggles and the larger fight against Vecna and the Upside Down. For Mike and Eleven, and Lucas and Max, these challenges align – they’re both focused on the same threat. However, Dustin is facing a different situation, with one struggle being supernatural and the other being the more ordinary, yet still dangerous, evil happening in Hawkins. If Mike, Lucas, and Will were preoccupied with something else, they’d likely be pulled in different directions, dividing their focus.

In his final moments, Eddie made sure Dustin had a reason to keep going after he was gone. He wanted Dustin to remember his worth and focus on doing good, even without fighting monsters. As Eddie breathed his last in Stranger Things 5, he asked Dustin to promise to look after a group of vulnerable kids – those who feel different and alone. Dustin vowed to do so, honoring Eddie, their bond, and the genuine heroism they both possessed. He promised to be there for these kids who need a safe place to be themselves.

Honestly, it didn’t shock me at all when Dustin told Lucas he wanted to bring back the Hellfire Club and help those who are struggling. Why shouldn’t he? It feels like that’s just what Dustin is meant to do. We saw with Eddie how important it is to look out for the outcasts, and it’s just as heroic – maybe even more so – as defeating Vecna in this final season. Think about it: Hawkins is a town in crisis, even if everyone doesn’t know Vecna is the cause. They’re practically locked down, and for some people, life there is genuinely unbearable. They feel trapped. So, doesn’t that make finding and supporting those ‘lost sheep’ – reviving the spirit of the Hellfire Club – absolutely essential right now?

Dustin is right – there are other kids in Stranger Things 5 who are suffering, and Vecna is specifically targeting those who feel lost and alone. That’s why creating a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels like they belong is so important – it’s the best way to fight back against him.

In Stranger Things 5, Mike reminds Dustin that Eddie wasn’t bothered by what others thought of him, and that his priority would have been defeating Vecna. While it’s true Eddie didn’t care about criticism, he did deeply value being authentic and expressing himself, even if it meant facing negativity. He wouldn’t have abandoned that core part of himself when facing Vecna, regardless of how Mike tries to frame it. Back in Stranger Things 4, Eddie gave Dustin and Mike a powerful speech, explaining that he and his friends helped make school a better experience for some, and that there are always others who need support.

With Eddie’s passing, Dustin Henderson is taking on a crucial role in the fifth season of Stranger Things. He’s becoming the supportive and outspoken friend who guides others through difficult times. Sadly, given everything happening in Hawkins – not the Upside Down – someone needs to be that person.

It’s fitting that Dustin won’t hide his feelings again in Stranger Things 5, especially after learning to embrace who he is. Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin, explains that while Steve helped Dustin gain some confidence, Eddie was the first person to encourage him to be completely himself. Eddie showed Dustin that he didn’t need to change his unique interests or stop being a “nerd,” and could even confidently ignore anyone who judged him. Matarazzo notes that Dustin has always seemed like someone who doesn’t worry about what others think, and meeting Eddie, who truly embodies that attitude, is a really positive development.

Eddie helped Dustin realize his worth – that he’s perfect just as he is and doesn’t need to change for anyone else. Giving that up to simply fit in is unthinkable for Dustin. Anyone who’s ever embraced their true self understands how much it would cost to pretend to be someone they’re not. In the upcoming season of Stranger Things, Dustin would rather face consequences than compromise who he is, and his friends should support him in finding healthy ways to do that, instead of dismissing his choices.

Let’s get to the most important thing: Dustin is deeply grieving. It’s been a year and a half since Eddie Munson died by the time the events of Stranger Things 5 begin. While Eddie wasn’t officially part of the core group, he was incredibly close to them. His death impacted the main characters more than any other loss in Stranger Things, even more than Barb’s death affected Nancy. Eddie was a friend to Dustin, Mike, and Lucas, and he shared a special bond with both Dustin and Steve. The harrowing journey into the Upside Down with Eddie, Robin, Steve, and Nancy also created a permanent connection between them. Eddie truly became one of the team in Stranger Things 4, and his death is a huge loss—not just for viewers, but a truly devastating trauma for Dustin.

Dustin Henderson experiences a unique situation in Stranger Things – he doesn’t live with his father and doesn’t have any siblings. Because of this, he creates strong, brother-like bonds with older figures, first Steve and then Eddie, effectively building his own chosen family. This connection with Eddie was particularly profound; Dustin even told Eddie he loved him as he died. Dustin’s grief over Eddie’s death is significant, but it feels like his friends aren’t fully acknowledging or sharing in his pain. They seem more focused on preventing future losses, urging him to move on before he’s ready, rather than supporting him through his mourning.

Watching Stranger Things 5, it’s clear Dustin is carrying a weight the other boys – Mike, Lucas, and Will – don’t quite grasp. His grief feels…different, more all-consuming. It’s not that he’s cracking under pressure, it’s that he’s desperately holding onto the memory of Eddie. And honestly, if any of them had lost someone the way Dustin has, I think they’d want him to understand their pain, too – to realize it’s okay to feel that deeply.

Let’s reconsider Dustin Henderson’s journey in Stranger Things 5. While some of his actions, like putting the snake in Andy’s locker, might not be brilliant, and he can sometimes seem self-focused, Dustin is ultimately fighting for something lasting. He’s determined to preserve the positive impact Eddie Munson had on the world – not just for himself, but for anyone who feels lost and needs someone to stand up against injustice.

Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

Rotem Rusak, the Editor-in-Chief of TopMob, is still deeply affected by Eddie Munson’s death – she’s a big fan and has a ton of Hellfire Club merchandise! She’s definitely planning a heartfelt apology to Dustin, and honestly, he’s earned it!

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2025-12-02 00:04