Why Stranger Things' Eddie Munson was the unsung hero of 2022
When the fourth season of Stranger Things premiered on Netflix earlier this year in May, no one could anticipate the fan reaction to newcomer Eddie Munson.
New characters have been introduced on the hit sci-fi series before with a degree of fanfare, like the arrival of Sadie Sink’s Max and her brother Billy played by Dacre Montgomery in season 2, or Maya Hawke’s Robin in season 3. Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington even found a new surge of fan love after becoming a pseudo-mom to Hawkins’ kids in the second season. But there hasn’t been a reaction to a Stranger Things character — or arguably any TV character over the past few years, for that matter — that has seen the amount of love and dedication that Eddie Munson, played by breakout star Joseph Quinn, has. The hashtag #EddieMunson on TikTok has reached 16.4 billion views, for instance — which is 4 billion more than #SteveHarrington, who’s been a part of the Stranger Things-verse since 2016. Even Metallica honored the “cult of Eddie Munson.”
For a character who was only in one season, his impact has been substantial — and his heroic moments throughout the season are why.
Read more: Why Wednesday Addams will always be a cult-favorite goth icon
Teens of the early aughts fell in love with dorky outcasts like Seth Cohen in The O.C. and Jess Mariano in Gilmore Girls, but popular teen dramas now don’t exactly satisfy that desire. Although shows like the Gossip Girl reboot and Euphoria are very watchable, they don’t necessarily always depict universal experiences to the average audience. Although Stranger Things is rooted deeply within the paranormal genre, it manages to craft characters who seem like someone you might know.
Eddie Munson embodies the same traits that many young viewers gravitate towards, just as they did with Seth Cohen and Jess Mariano. His on-screen introduction is loud — stomping on tables in the high school cafeteria, calling out the hypocrisy of his Dungeons & Dragons group being called “freaks” for playing a fantasy game, when the label doesn’t apply to those who conform to mainstream activities, like playing sports or partying. But it’s in the quieter moments when we see Eddie’s sensitive and self-effacing qualities, like when he meets struggling cheerleader Chrissy (Grace Van Dien) in the woods to offer her something to ease the terrors she’s been experiencing, and lightens the mood by playing dead.
[Netflix]
“I think a lot of people see themselves in him,” explains Kei, a 28-year-old who runs a Twitter account dedicated to Munson. “You don’t necessarily need to be a metal head to be able to do that. The way he is himself is enough for people to really connect with him as a person. He’s an advocate for all things seen as ‘weird’ and ‘different.’ He makes it okay to be that way — the way he takes on ‘little sheep’ who need a place to feel accepted. He makes everyone feel welcome and is a huge comfort to many people.”
There’s actually psychology behind why some fictional characters resonate so deeply with audiences — and it’s all because of empathy. It’s how we connect with one another and how we process and better understand someone’s experience. It’s through that connection where we respond with genuine emotions towards a character and create a parasocial relationship.
Whether it was on purpose or not, the way Eddie’s character was written has provided fans a safe space to project their emotions because he encourages everyone to embrace their quirkiness, rather than shy away from it. It’s been five months since season 4 part 2 of Stranger Things hit Netflix, and yet, TikToks dedicated to the character — whether that’s “girlfriend POV“ videos or step-by-step guides on how to dress like him — still make their way onto For You Pages all the time. For Kei, the sudden obsession with Eddie speaks to the lack of accessible and sensitive outcasts in pop culture right now. “I think he’s a character a lot of people were missing in their lives,” says Kei. “[Eddie is] a character we don’t see that often who opened a lot of eyes to what it’s like to not fit the stereotypical ‘norms’ of society.”
One of the most powerful relationships in season 4 is Eddie’s brotherly relationship with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). Much like Eddie, Dustin has felt out of place at times and leans on fellow outcasts for support and guidance. When they head off to battle creatures in the Upside Down and Dustin tells a dorky joke, Eddie makes Dustin promise him to never change. Despite Hawkins making fun of him for being different, wrongly accusing him of murdering Chrissy, and ostracizing him for it, Eddie refuses to back down from who he is — and emboldens other people to do the same.
[Netflix]
The character has influenced and inspired his fans so much, they’ve created a myriad of accounts in his honor. Camila, age 20, runs Best of Joseph Quinn on Twitter, a fan account dedicated to the actor that portrays Eddie. “I’m sure many others can relate to this, but I’ve had my fair share of experiences of being an outcast,” they say. “To see a character like Eddie Munson, who goes through a similar scrutiny experience, have no fear and stay true to himself is inspiring. I’m sure those with a similar background would say that he resonates with many because he remains grounded and wholeheartedly himself despite being different from everyone else.”
Outside of Eddie Munson’s heroic acts throughout Stranger Things season 4 — whether it was sacrificing himself in order for his friends to live or simply choosing to help, even if all he used to do was run — there is a bigger reason why he is the unsung hero of 2022. He created an entire collective of misunderstood outcasts, underdogs, weirdos, nerds, and everyone in between that felt seen.
Years from now, when the pain of his fictional death wears off, fans will look back and remember the importance of being unapologetically yourself — something Eddie encouraged the Hellfire Club to do. It’s safe to say that, despite dying, it really was his year. He has the fanbase to prove it.
