Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo has discussed how Eddie’s death will help shape Dustin’s series arc. Eddie sacrificed himself in season 4, in the Upside Down, to save the day, and his newly formed big brother/little brother bond with Dustin has now been severed. Stranger Things season 5 is set to drop on Netflix in 2025, and the show’s concluding chapter will seek to tie up loose ends and conclude the Vecna storyline, but the core characters will have plenty of trials and tribulations along the way, not the least Dustin.

In an interview with The Direct, Matarazzo opened up on his character’s season 5 journey and teased a rocky road ahead for Dustin. Discussing how Dustin is still the character viewers know and love, the actor revealed that things will be darker and more traumatic for the fan-favorite character this season and that Dustin will “deal with intense grief” as he attempts to work through the death of his new friend, while also helping his long-time friends defeat Vecna. Check out the Connecticut native’s full comments below:

“… He’s still the guy we know and love, but there is a context of that trauma and that weight of loss that seems to carry on with him through the early process of the season, and hopefully, that’s something that people like to see, see him grow through that arc, and see him start to deal with intense grief at a young age.”

“I think a lot of people, myself included, can really resonate with and understand what that confusion and that rage can feel like. Because it is an enraging thing to deal with. So, I’m stoked for people to see that.”

“…. I think it’s a different vibe, for sure, because obviously, things are a lot different going into this season, comparatively to past ones. Whereas in the last season, in Season 4, we kind of see there are small victories around in the sense that, it seems like Vecna has been subdued… But also, there’s a big, major loss where we see the rifts open in throughout Hawkins. We see, at the end of Season 4, Hawkins is in real disarray. And so we’re starting this season in the aftermath of that.”

What These Comments Mean For Dustin In Stranger Things Season 5

He Will Have To Work Through His Grief

Dustin might have been the nerdy comedy character for much of the Stranger Things franchise, but it is also likely he is going to be a darker and more somber character for season 5. This is the first time a character close to Dustin has died, and it will be difficult for him to process this throughout the season. The gang will have a lot to deal with in the upcoming season, with Vecna still at large, and the fallout from season 4’s battle threatening to spill into the real world, which presents larger problems long-term.

There is a good bet that season 5 will see a different Dustin, who grows harsher, colder, and more adapted to his surroundings and situation. Processing his feelings towards Eddie’s death will help him gain a better understanding of who he is as a teenager on the cusp of making his way into the world. Stranger Things has always functioned best as a bildungsroman, and its rich tapestry of characters evolves each season. Dustin is due some strong growth, and season 5 could well see him have an important arc that remains pivotal to the show’s conclusion.

Our Verdict On Dustin’s Stranger Things Season 5 Arc

Old Friends Will Be Key To Getting Him Back On Track

Dustin will struggle this season, but he is an integral part of the team, and his friends will need his focus if they are to stop Vecna. I suspect the most likely course that will play out would be that Steve will rekindle his strong bond with Dustin to help him work through his feelings, and regain his focus. Whatever the future holds for Stranger Things, and its epic final season, Dustin will be a core part of the story, and a lack of focus could be dangerous to him and other characters, so this is something he will need to work through as much as possible.