Stranger Things’upcoming partnership withDungeons & Dragonsis a painful reminder of the show’s most heartbreaking death. In a series as terrifying, thrilling, and suspenseful asStranger Things, we can’t expect every character we love to make it through unscathed. And yet,Stranger Thingshabitually sacrifices new, well-developed characters in favor of the established, core cast.
InStranger Thingsseason 1, the sacrificial lamb was Nancy’s best friend, Barbara Holland (Shannon Purser). In season 2, it was Sean Astin’s kind, gentle, and brave Bob Newby. In season 3, it was the ICEE-slurping Russian scientist Alexei (Alec Utgoff), and in season 4, it was none other than Joseph Quinn’s Dungeon Master, Eddie Munson.
Eddie’s death, especially, devastated fans. Luckily, the character has lived on in other ways, most notably in the standalone novelStranger Things: Flight of Icarusby Caitlin Schneiderhan. Now,Eddie will return once more in an officialDungeons & DragonsxStranger Thingscollaboration, but what does it say about his legacy that the franchise keeps finding ways to bring him back? Did they kill him off too soon?
Eddie Munson Returns In A New Dungeons & Dragons Campaign
Learn More About Eddie’s Adventurous In-Universe D&D Campaign
It was recently announced thatDungeons & Dragonswill be releasing a newStranger Things-themed board game, titledWelcome To The Hellfire Club. Available both digitally and physically,the game promises players that they’ll be able to"finish what Eddie started,“referring to the gruelingD&Dcampaign Eddie created for the Hellfire Club. They never did get to finish playing.
Each time Eddie is brought back in some capacity, it just reaffirms the character’s potential.
For those who are both avidD&Dplayers and die-hardStranger Thingsfans, this latest collaboration is a dream come true. It’s great that another part of Eddie’s story will find some closure, but I can’t help but think about what could have been. Each time Eddie is brought back in some capacity, it just reaffirms the character’s potential.
Stranger Things Is Making The Show’s Most Heartbreaking Death Even Worse
Eddie’s death was undeniably tragic. He’d been accused of crimes he didn’t commit, forced to hide and run away from those who wished to do him harm, and in the end, he died trying to save Hawkins and his friends from the wrath of the Upside Down.As Dustin told Mr Munson in theStranger Thingsseason 4 epilogue, Eddie was a hero.
Given his experience with the Upside Down, Eddie could have easily slotted right in with the rest of the Hawkins crew inStranger Thingsseason 5. He deserved a chance to prove his innocence, and I would have loved to see him hang out with Jonathan (Charlie Heaton); I’m sure they would have had a lot in common, from music to their time in high school.
We know thatStranger Thingsseason 5 has not forgotten about Eddie’s character. In the officialStranger Things5 teaser trailer, there’s a shot of Dustin visiting Eddie’s grave, which has been defiled with graffiti. PerhapsVecna will use Dustin’s grief over Eddiein the same way he used Max’s confusion about Billy to tear the Hawkins gang apart from the inside.
That would certainly prove just how much Eddie meant to Dustin, but I’d also be frustrated if that’s all his character ends up being good for. Robin (Maya Hawke) and Max (Sadie Sink) survived their introductory seasons, and I’m so glad they did. Still, a part of me wishes the same courtesy had been extended toStranger Things’Eddie Munson.
