Dungeons & Dragons and fighting in the Upside Down.
Stranger Things fans across the internet have developed a sub-fandom in the relationship between Dustin and Eddie, producing funny and sentimental memes that sum up their friendship.
The New Rivalry Between Steve and Eddie
Steve is thought of as the babysitter of the Hawkins kids, especially throughout Season 3. Expecting to carry on his responsibilities in Season 4, he's met with some opposition in Eddie. They're endearing on-screen, but Eddie and Steve find tension over Dustin's time.
This meme playfully summarizes how Steve would feel about Eddie and Dustin's relationship. If anything, this meme remarks on the novelty of Dustin and Eddie's relationship. They're new and finding many interests—like Dungeons & Dragons, metal, and weirdness—that Dustin and Steve simply didn't have.
Eddie Goes Out In His Best Friend's Arms
One staple of Eddie's character is that he will always be an outsider. In one of Eddie's best quotes, he claims that Dungeons & Dragons players are "freaks, because we like to play a fantasy game." Perhaps he's always been a freak, but another key moment from his earlier appearances is Dustin's iration of him.
This meme depicts a "me when" meme of Eddie and analyzes that Dustin and Eddie became best friends. In his final moments on screen, Eddie is assured by his closest (and perhaps longest) friend that he is loved and that he fought well.
Dustin and Eddie, Brothers In Arms
Perhaps the most heartwarming and exciting part of the Stranger Things 4 finale was the Dustin-Eddie fighting dynamic. From training in an open field to fighting to the death in the Upside Down, they have some intense and awe-inspiring moments together.
the most anticipated video games of 2022. If traveling Dungeons & Dragons storylines together wasn't enough, being plunged into the Upside Down against Demobats quickly made them brothers in arms.
Dustin Hyping Up Eddie's Guitar Solo
Eddie got his moment of glory in the final episode of Vol. 2, with his masterful cover of Metallica's "Master of Puppets." Not only was this the best scene in the Stranger Things 4 finale, but it was also, to quote Dustin, "the most metal, EVER!"
This meme might convey the absolute that Eddie and Dustin share mutually. It also might accurately convey the feelings of every metal or Dustin-Eddie fan after watching the scene. Overall, Eddie and Dustin survive in the Upside Down for that time because of their and hype for each other.
*That* Scene Gets A Minecraft Remake
Perhaps an unexpectedly emotional moment in the Stranger Things 4 finale was the death of Eddie. A once-scared character became a hero overnight, buying much-needed time for the Hawkins gang in the Upside Down.
This meme not only narrows down the exact timestamp of Eddie's death scene but gives it a clever Minecraft makeover, hopefully softening the blow that is Dustin's reaction to his new friend's sacrifice. It humorously summarizes the weirdness and nerdy side of Dustin and Eddie's friendship by using cats and a now-beloved video game to depict that scene.
Eddie Didn't Run Away, And Dustin Knew That
Eddie's character development has a major upswing in the last two episodes. He goes from an outcast and rebel to a fearless fighter and friend. In his final moments, in the Upside Down with Dustin, he asks if his courage was enough.
This meme from The Stranger Things Memes on Facebook summarizes Dustin's response to Eddie—and every Stranger Things fan's. Though Eddie's new friends and longtime evil-slayers honored him, Dustin did the most. He was the only one there at his death, but ensured him what Eddie did was more than enough—it was heroic.
Dustin Could Be The Only One To Get Through To Eddie
A recent theory about Stranger Things 5 is that Eddie will return as a villain and serve Vecna's army, the Flayed. Fans have noticed hints in Eddie's time on screen that could allude to him serving Vecna and becoming a "master of puppets," of sorts.
This meme hypothesizes how viewers would feel if Eddie's villain arc revolved around a strong friendship with Dustin. Not only does Dustin quote Eddie's "Chrissy wake up!" line back to him, he realizes that their friendship might be the only thing to save Hawkins. This theory makes their relationship seem even more foundational in Season 4, Vol. 2.
Dustin Always Saw Eddie As A Hero
One thing Dustin was adamant about telling Eddie in his last moments was that he was a hero. Whether in respecting Eddie's every word at the lunch table or sharing his heroic story with Eddie's uncle and others, Dustin always saw him as courageous.
This meme from The Stranger Things Memes on Facebook shows that in the end, when Dustin had to comfort Eddie in death, he told him what he always thought of him: "you're a hero." Dustin and Eddie's relationship might be summed up in that regard, that they looked up to each other.
Fighting for Dustin's Approval
From the first episode of Stranger Things 4, Eddie just wanted a friend. He might have found it in Chrissy—and been open and accepting to her—but soon lost it at the end of Episode 1. Throughout Season 4, he goes from being wanted for Chrissy's murder to making deep bonds with the Hawkins gang.
This meme hilariously points out just how competitive Eddie can be over Dustin's friendship. In the final episode, they spend most of their time together. Eddie chooses Dustin while planning the break-in to Vecna's house, showing just how badly he wants to be with Dustin.
Dustin Cared The Most About Telling Eddie's Story
Dustin honored Eddie in the best ways he could. He made it a point—even while Hawkins was in turmoil—to tell Eddie's uncle what happened in the Upside Down. He brought the memories of him and stories of his valor against Vecna out of the Upside Down and into the light.
This meme eliminates everyone—save for Dustin and Eddie's uncle—from that treatment, showing that Dustin's love for Eddie was like that of family. They may not have known each other for long, but Dustin confided in him, loved him, and respected him as a brother and fighter.