Throughout four seasons,Stranger Thingscreators Matt and Ross Duffer have created a habit of introducing widely adored characters and killing them off by the end of the season. Season 1 was Barbara Holland, season 2 was Bob Newby, season 3 was Alexei — and in the Netflix series' most recent season, Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) joined them. However, there are a few clues that may suggest viewers haven’t seen the last of the beloved metalhead.
The pattern of killing off likable characters is only one of many tactics that the Duffers have created throughoutStranger Things,with another being that some deaths aren’t exactly permanent. At the end of Season 1, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) was presumed dead, but was found living withJim Hopper (David Harbour)in Season 2. At the end of Season 3, it appeared Hopper had died, and Season 4 revealed he had been taken prisoner in Russia.Stranger ThingsSeason 4 vol. 2 ended with Max (Sadie Sink) in a deep comatose state, and her fate is still unknown. The second volume’s finale also included Eddie’s death, which appears rather permanent.
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It is a well-known fact that Eddie is a massive metalhead. From his wardrobe to his epic scene playing Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” atop his trailer in the Upside Down, Eddie’s adoration for the genre is clear. Of course, Metallica isn’t the only metal band Eddie is familiar with.As Nancy (Natalia Dyer)is under Vecna’s spell, Robin (Maya Hawke) and Eddie have an argument about his selection of music, and Eddie holds up his Iron Maiden cassette tape, screaming “This is music!” While Iron Maiden is an expected addition to Eddie’s collection of music, there are a few connections between theStranger Thingscharacter and the heavy metal band that could be mere Easter eggs, or a suggestion that Eddie could return in Season 5.
In September 1986, Iron Maiden released their albumSomewhere in Time, which featured their signature mascot on the front cover. The name of the metal band’s mascot, who makes frequent appearances on the band’s merchandise and album artwork, is Eddie.Eddie was killed by Vecna in March 1986, giving the series a few months between the events.Somewhere in Timedeals heavily with themes of time, and asStranger Thingsviewers know, time moves differently in the Upside Down. Many of the songs on the album could certainly describe Eddie’s newfound relationship with the Upside Down. “Stranger in a Strange Land” certainly describes Eddie as Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and viewers last saw him, while “Caught Somewhere in Time” could support another fan theory that puts Eddie under Vecna’s control. The most important clue fromSomewhere in Timeis the album cover, where “Eddie Lives” is painted on the right side.
The oddly placedtime jump at the end of vol. 2suggests that there is something that might be amiss. There is no real reason for the time jump, only allowing the show to avoid answering some questions and filling the void with character reunions. Like the fake deaths of Eleven and Hopper in previous seasons ofStranger Things,Eddie’s body was never seen. He and Dustin share a tearful goodbye, and the likely conclusion is that Eddie was left in the Upside Down. The two-day time skip could give the theory time to form, or give a brief cushion forany surprises the series may have in store. Dustin did bring Eddie’s guitar pick necklace back from the Upside Down, gifting it to Eddie’s uncle. The necklace could be a symbol for something larger, though it is likely just a token of the kindhearted, passionate metalhead that both Dustin and Eddie’s uncle will carry in their memories of him.
While the Duffers and Quinn have said that Eddie is dead, there are many theories that have already been crafted with hopes of Eddie’s return. If the beloved character does makean appearance in season 5 ofStranger Things,it will likely be in a Dacre Montgomery-like role. In Season 4, Montgomery made a brief reprisal of his character Billy Hargrove, who only appeared in Max’s psyche as a form of torture from Vecna. Eddie could return in a similar role to torture Dustin, who was not only the last one to see Eddie alive, but the one who admired him the most. Dustin is also the only character aside from Eddie’s uncle to show any grief about Eddie’s death, which could set Dustin up for a Max-like arc inStranger Things’final season.
There’s a good chance the Iron Maiden connection isonly an opportunity to illustrate Eddie’s character. There have been many theories from Season 4 that turned out to be crafty details, including the guidance counselor’s connection to Vecna because of the clock necklace she wore. Whether “Eddie Lives” references an actual revival of the beloved character, a chance he’ll return as a vampire lieutenant who ends up killing Vecna, or as a mere figment of Dustin’s imagination, the memory of the character will live on in the series.Quinn’s extraordinary performancebrought a fresh energy toStranger Thingsthat was unfortunately short-lived. However, what Quinn accomplished as Eddie has etched him into the series as one of the most memorable and adored charactersStranger Thingshas ever had.
