How A Halloween Mask Gave Eddie's Story The Saddest Ending

This article contains spoilers about Stranger Things season four... So if you haven’t seen and don’t want to know, then click away now. 

Stranger Things fans were left devastated when Eddie Munson (played by Joseph Quinn) met his untimely - yet incredibly heroic - end in the final episode of season four. 

Although the character was only introduced this season, he quickly became a firm favourite with viewers as his sweet friendship with Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) grew. 

Metalhead Eddie put himself directly in the line of fire, fighting of Demobats in the Upside Down so his pals could get on with the important business of attempting to defeat Vecna to save Hawkins. 

The last we see of poor Eddie is when he’s lying battered and broken in Dustin’s arms, shortly before he shuffles off this mortal coil. 

Netflix

And while his death left many viewers in tears, there’s an even sadder element to the whole thing, as first spotted by Screen Rant. 

In one of the earlier scenes, Eddie grabs Max’s mask of Michael Myers - the serial killer from the Halloween slasher franchise - puts it on.

At the time, the move feels fairly insignificant, but it takes on a much deeper meaning when you consider that prior to his death Eddie was being lambasted by the people of Hawkins who thought he was a Satanic serial killer. 

Eddie’s close proximity to the teens who were killed by Vecna left many locals, including the police force, believing that he was ‘bogeyman’ responsible and it was only Dustin and the rest of the gang - and us at home - who knew the real truth. 

Because his death was unexpected, Eddie had no chance to clear his name, meaning his heroic death has gone completely unappreciated by everyone except his closest friends, and the people of Hawkins still believe that Eddie is some sort of evil Michael Myers-esque killer. 

Compass International Pictures

Meanwhile, fans have their own theory about the mask - with some believing it may be a sign that Eddie can return in season five.

TikTok user @jadenbricker also spotted the Halloween references, but he reckons it could be a good thing for Eddie. 

Jaden notes Michael Myers managed to cheat death and was resurrected several time throughout the franchise. 

He also points out the where scene Eddie dons the Michael Myers mask, and later dies - similarly, Max (played by Sadie Sink) also wears the mask and later dies, but she is brought back from the dead by Eleven. 

Could this mean that Eddie will follow suit and also come back to life? 

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