Stranger Things Season 5 Fans Applaud Eddie Munson Easter Egg in Finale

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The final episode of Stranger Things Season 5 includes a heartfelt tribute to Eddie Munson, a beloved character who was introduced and tragically killed off in Season 4. Eddie’s death deeply impacted fans and especially Dustin Henderson, played by Gaten Matarazzo.

Throughout much of Season 5, Dustin was noticeably affected by Eddie’s death. He became withdrawn and even started dressing like him, sporting a mullet and a Hellfire Club shirt as a way to cope.

How Stranger Things Season 5 finale paid tribute to Eddie Munson

In the final episode of Stranger Things Season 5, Dustin delivers a graduation speech, celebrating his friends in the audience and acknowledging that the threat from Vecna and the Upside Down is finally finished.

He immediately shifts from a formal speech to rebellious energy when he takes off his graduation gown and shows off a Hellfire Club shirt. Then, as Dustin shouts, “Forget school, forget the rules, forget fitting in! This is our year!” while Principal Higgins attempts to intervene, the crowd erupts in cheers and Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” begins to play.

Dustin honors Eddie’s memory by recreating a defiant act at his own graduation. He takes his diploma from Principal Higgins, gives him the middle finger, and runs off, just as Eddie had planned to do at his own unfulfilled graduation. Eddie had previously told Dustin and the others, “I was going to walk across that stage, look Higgins right in the eye, flip him off, grab my diploma, and run!”

Eddie was known for breaking the school’s strict rules, which made him unpopular with many students, especially his rival, Jason Carver.

The final episode features a hidden nod to Eddie’s memory. Just before the battle with Vecna, Dustin equips Steve with a shield and weapon – a revamped garbage can lid – that originally belonged to Eddie.

Fans react to Stranger Things Season 5 finale’s Eddie Easter egg

The tribute to Eddie in the Stranger Things Season 5 finale sparked a lot of emotional responses from fans. One Reddit user simply wrote, “Yes. It was so Eddie. Perfect,” while another called it an “absolute amazing tribute to Eddie the Banished.”

One viewer shared, “I have four children and was watching the final episode on my phone because everyone else was using the TV. I even had to run to the bathroom to quietly cry at the end!”

A user expressed feeling intensely upset, saying that if they were to outwardly show their emotions, it would likely worry those around them, so they’ve decided to write about it in a journal instead.

Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on SuperHeroHype.

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2026-01-02 16:27