Eddie Munson: The stranger of Stranger Things

Gemma Nettle

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Stranger Things has been captivating audiences across the globe since its fiery introduction in 2016, but with its latest season comes one particular character that seems to have struck a chord with everyone. 

Whether you remember him for his enthralling arc or as the person who originated ‘Chrissy, Wake Up’, Eddie Munson has failed to budge from people’s minds since the release of season four. He made such an impact that many are even rallying for his return in the next and final season despite his gruesome death, dreaming up ways he could have possibly survived.

Portrayed to perfection by Joseph Quinn, the character of Eddie is an impeccable example of an age-old character development trope, all the while still evoking a fresh quality. In other words, we feel we’ve seen him before and yet we’re meeting him for the first time. 

When we’re first introduced to Eddie, he is a free-spirited outcast, happily labelling those around him in the same blunt way they do him. He jumps up onto the lunchroom table, addressing his friends, without a care about who’s watching.

Eddie actively hounds his peers about stereotyping and takes any rebuttals from them with ease. So far, these should be the characteristics of an antagonist in the story – but they’re quite the opposite. In fact, to many, Eddie was already a fan-favourite. This can be put down to any number of factors, whether it be admiration for his carefree attitude or enjoyment of his outlandish antics. 

SATANIC PANIC

He is supposedly a representation of a victim of what became known as the ‘Satanic Panic’ – a phenomenon in the 1980s that spread like wildfire and had people believing those who consumed deviant media and music were more likely to take part in satanic ritual abuse. It caused social hysteria, particularly in the US, and resulted in a rash of allegations, later proven to be false, made against a number of people (many of whom were teenagers). This anomaly is the very way Eddie is introduced, reading from a Newsweek magazine article on the topic and openly mocking it. This immediately sets him apart from others. 

“So far, these should be the characteristics of an antagonist – but they’re quite the opposite.”

From his first two minutes of screen time, we feel as though we know his character inside out, but there’s still much to explore. The outsider characteristics don’t stop there either as he is revealed to be a metal head, a lover of The Lord of the Rings, an avid player and dungeon master of Dungeons and Dragons – a game that until recently, thanks to Stranger Things, was seen as ‘nerdy’. Today these don’t aspire to be defining attributes that would separate a person from the majority, but in a time setting such as the 80s, it causes division.

In spite of these separating traits, it’s made clear that Eddie is comfortable in his own skin, remaining passionate about the things that make him who he is – another reason to appreciate him as a nuanced character and not the typical high school rebel we see represented in most media. 

FAR FROM PERFECT

Eddie, however, is not perfect. This is what makes him such an intriguing, fun-to-watch character because if he were faultless, he’d come across as one-dimensional. What makes a good character? Flaws. Eddie himself points them out in his own dialogue, addressing on multiple occasions his tendency to run away when things become too difficult. As we know, this feeds directly into his arc throughout the season, culminating in a tear-jerking finale. 

Aside from this, Dustin is seemingly enraptured by Eddie’s brazen way of living, looking up to him as a brotherly figure. Watching their relationship grow and evolve is one of the biggest highlights of the show, but inevitably proves to be one of the most heartbreaking. Much like Dustin, we will watch Eddie scorn his friends for trying to postpone a game of D&D and still feel connected to him. His first scene alone proves how difficult he can be. Perhaps the combination of this and his unparalleled cockiness is what inspires the effervescent quality he possesses. This makes you long to see him again when he’s not on screen and excited when he gets his moments to shine. 

“Eddie is not perfect. This is what makes him such an intriguing and fun to watch character.”

Of course, the desire to see more of him can also be linked to his relatability. Audience members wish to see themselves or can see themselves in the character.

With every great sci-fi, fantasy or adventure story comes someone who questions the events that unfold. In this way, they act and react as the audience would in their unique scenario – and that is often the purpose Eddie serves in the narrative. This usually provides comic relief but also allows the audience to associate themselves with him. 

GUILT

Most vitally, Eddie is impassioned. Though he will sometimes put on a front for his peers, he’s still a sensitive teenager. This is referenced in his first meeting with Chrissy in the woods when she says she expected him to be “different”, which he understands and accepts, stating he thought she would be “mean and scary, too”. Eddie accesses emotions you wouldn’t have expected him to, given his attitudes displayed in the first episode.

However, once he has experienced an event that would shake anyone up, he retreats and runs away. Clearly panic-stricken, we see his fearful self when the group eventually find him hidden away in the boathouse. From then on, the guilt he feels for abandoning Chrissy slowly manifests itself and evolves until his bold decision to “buy more time” in the Upside Down, leading to his eventual demise. 

Ultimately, the reason Eddie Munson has made such a mark is that he’s an incredibly well-written character – his passion and charisma are relatable enough for the audience that we can picture ourselves in his shoes while still feeling immense admiration for him. Not to mention, Joseph Quinn gives the performance of a lifetime as the rogue, which propelled the character to become one of the most beloved on the show despite his short stint. 

It’s not often a stranger is introduced to a show as well-regarded as this, so late in the game and forms such a vital cog in the storytelling. It’s even rarer for them to then steal the show in such a profound way. 

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