With Stranger Things season 4 Volume 1 being so well-received, expectations were high for Vol. 2, and the series did not disappoint. While some of the show's success is down to the tension of the epic supernatural battle against Vecna and the Upside Down, ultimately the lovable and genuine characters have always been Stranger Things' biggest draw.
Dustin Henderson is a fan-favorite character for many reasons: he is a good friend, funny, outspoken, and regularly offers clever insights that give the gang more clues for their supernatural mysteries and save them from terrible fates. But when did Dustin prove that he is the smartest character in the series?
Dustin On Potential Danger
"Did you ever think maybe Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we're going to the exact same spot where we was last seen? And we have no weapons or anything?"
When Will goes missing in season 1, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas realize that they need to do everything they can to find their friend. Mike and Lucas fearlessly cycle to the area where Will went missing and, while Dustin goes with them, he is much more concerned about their safety.
While bravery and courage are commendable attributes, there is certainly something to be said for common sense and risk aversion. In this situation, Dustin demonstrates these qualities, although he does of course follow the lead of his friends in order to try and save Will.
Dustin About The Importance Of Friendship
"We stick together, no matter what."
When El runs away, Mike and Lucas are furious with one another. Mike, being typically stubborn and fiesty, initially refuses to apologize, and Lucas refuses to accept. Dustin helps Mike to realize it is his job to apologize and then, during the argument, explains that they need to stick together in order to stand any chance against the Demogorgon.
In this situation, Dustin is the only one who wants to focus on the real problem at hand: they need to save their friend, Will. Unlike his friends, he is smart enough to prioritize different things by ranking their level of importance and urgency.
Dustin To Mike About His And Lucas' Fight
"Sometimes, your total obliviousness just blows my mind."
Following this same argument between Mike and Lucas, Mike rants about Lucas being unreasonable. Dustin is shocked that Mike does not understand why Lucas is angry.
Using his intuition and understanding, Dustin clearly explains to Mike that Lucas is really angry because he is Mike's best friend, but Mike has been giving all his attention to El. Dustin demonstrates his emotional intelligence by reading into why Lucas is really angry, and cannot understand how Mike could have missed this with it being so obvious to him.
Dustin To El When She Uses Her Powers
"We never would've upset you if we knew you had superpowers."
When Mike, Dustin, and Lucas first find El in this epic teen sci-fi TV series, Dustin and Lucas are a lot less keen to offer her help than Mike. They feel that they have more important things to attend to (not the least of which, the disappearance of their best friend, Will).
However, when El uses her powers to save them from two bullies, Dustin immediately backtracks. Indeed, it would not be a smart move to undermine someone so powerful, and someone who can help save their friend. There is also a certain intelligence in reflecting and itting wrongdoing, as Dustin does here.
Dustin To Mike About Girlfriends
"Now look, I'm not saying that my girlfriend is better than yours, it's just that Suzie's like, a certified genius".
When Dustin begins a relationship with Suzie, his friends are dubious as to whether he really has a girlfriend. Of course, it transpires that he is not lying and not only does he have a girlfriend, but she is a genius. When Mike and El get together, Dustin and Mike argue about whose girlfriend is better.
While it is Suzie, rather than Dustin, who is a genius, Dustin is certainly still very clever. It is clear that Suzie and Dustin have a common interest in learning, which demonstrates Dustin's high level of intelligence.
Dustin To Steve About Eddie
"You're just jealous because I have another older male friend".
In season 4 volume 1, Dustin and Mike are of the Hellfire Club, led by an older student, Eddie Munson. They see Eddie as pretty much the coolest person who has ever lived, and both characters really look up to him.
However, when Steve questions Eddie, Dustin notices that this is because he is jealous of his and Eddie's friendship. While this is one of the funniest quotes from series 4 volume 1, this also demonstrates Dustin's emotional intelligence - he recognizes that Steve's only real problem with Eddie is as a threat to Dustin and Steve's friendship (although it wasn't particularly kind of him to point this out).
Dustin On Magnets And Gates
"In the presence of a stronger electromagnetic field, the needle will deflect towards that power. So either there's some super big magnet around here, or..."
When the gang decides to go to Skull Rock, Steve points out Dustin is leading them in the wrong direction. Dustin is skeptical about this, having been following his com, but when they arrive at Skull Rock, he figures it out.
Dustin displays his brightness in two ways here: first, he has good knowledge about the way magnets work, and second, he is able to put that knowledge to good use in theorizing and working out that there must be a gate close by.
Dustin To Steve About Maturity
"Now that you're out of high school, which means you're technically an adult, don't you think it's time you move on from primitive constructs such as popularity?"
When Dustin and Steve are spying together, Steve begins to talk about "standards" for love interests. Given their close and wholesome friendship, Dustin suggests Robin might be a good match for Steve but Steve explains why someone like him wouldn't date someone as "weird" as Robin.
In addition to how eloquently worded this is, even though Dustin is younger than Steve, Dustin understands that high school social status should not be a factor in relationships and tries to explain this to Steve. He is significantly more mature than Steve, despite being younger.
Dustin About The Usefulness Of Books
"I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel. These books... these books are my paddles."
When Dustin needs to reference some books in order to uncover the latest supernatural mystery in Hawkins, he is stopped by a librarian who explains that he has already borrowed the maximum five books at a time.
While Dustin cleverly uses this line to try to persuade the librarian to make an exception, he really does mean it - in fact, he ends up distracting her and running from the library shouting "I need my paddles!". And he's not wrong, books are a vital learning tool and source of helpful knowledge - something Dustin is endlessly desperate to attain.
Dustin About Vecna's Motive
"So what if with each kill, he's not simply killing them, he's making a powerful psychic connection with his victims - a connection powerful enough to rip a hole in the fabric of time and space."
When Lucas and Dustin explain the latest goings-on with Vecna and the Hawkins murders to Erica in this creepy horror TV show, she questions how the gate in Lover's Lake opened up without anyone creating it. This prompts Dustin to theorize what is really going on: Vecna is murdering teens to open up more gates between Hawkins and the Upside Down.
This really is one of Dustin's most genius moments in the series. Whilst Erica's comment prompts Dustin to think about a new question, it is he who realizes Vecna's real motives.