Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) was the breakout fan-favorite character of Stranger Things season 4, and though viewers may bemoan his tragic fate, it's for the best that he doesn't return. The fourth season of Netflix's hit science-fiction horror show was its most popular yet, as it was notably the darkest installment. The story centers around Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the latest monster from the Upside Down, who preys on and murders traumatized teenagers. However, the town of Hawkins, Indiana points the finger at outsider Eddie as the prime suspect.
Stranger Things season 4 takes place in 1986 in the throes of the Satanic panic. As leader of the Hellfire Club, a Dungeons & Dragons group comprised of Hawkins High students, Eddie is already looked at with suspicion and disdain. However, things take a turn for the worse when the mysteriously named Vecna kills popular cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham (Grace Van Dien), and Eddie gets blamed for her murder. The season sees Eddie evolve from scared teenager on the run to brave hero who fights back against Vecna and the evils of the Upside Down, ultimately sacrificing his life in the process. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) sums this up in a tearjerking heart-to-heart with Eddie's uncle Wayne (Joel Stoffer). If Stranger Things brought Eddie back, it would render his arc completely moot.
Why Eddie's Return Would Be Bad For Stranger Things 5 (& His Ending)
While the audience may hold out hope to see their favorite new character in season 5, Stranger Things producer Shawn Levy bluntly shot Eddie's return down. He said that it was "highly unlikely" that Eddie would come back, acknowledging the fandom's attachment to the character: "But we hear you, world. We know. You're obsessed with Eddie. So were we."
Every season of Stranger Things sees the show introducing new characters at an increased frequency, with season 4 being the most by far. Many were great characters, Eddie especially. However, the more the cast swells, the less opportunity there is for in-depth, character-driven stories. As excellent as season 4 was, several original main characters barely shared the screen together, with the season's plot taking place not just in Hawkins, but also in California and Russia. Season 5 will be Stranger Things' last, and by bringing Eddie back, it would take away from the original characters' storylines, which were also poignant and compelling. Will's (Noah Schnapp) sexuality and increasing unrequited love for his best friend Mike (Finn Wolfhard) was a particularly strong storyline. In of closure for the series' end, it matters more for viewers to see the original core four Party reunited than it does to see Eddie again.
How Eddie Munson Differs From Other Stranger Things ing Characters
It could be argued that Eddie is just as important as any of the original main characters, and that he deserves to come back in some capacity for the final season. Stranger Things also has a habit of introducing outcast characters whom viewers fall in love with, only to brutally kill them off. Season 1's Barb Holland (Shannon Purser) is a prime example, and even inspired an online "Justice for Barb" campaign. However, Barb was controversially killed off early in her season and never got a chance to develop as a character. Eddie, on the other hand, went through a full-fledged character arc that culminated in the most fitting death scene Stranger Things has shown thus far. By distracting the demobats with a hard-rocking guitar rendition of Metallica's "Master of Puppets," Eddie shredded his "Eddie the Banished" image and proved he was no longer a fleer, but a fighter. He did this in the most Eddie way possible, remaining true to himself to the bitter end. That's why audiences love him, but that's why they can't have him back.