Stranger Issues‘ finest friendship will likely be put to the check in season 5. Whereas the mysterious nature of the Upside Down, the horrors wrought by Vecna and the Thoughts Flayer, and the comforting nostalgia of the ’80s are all a part of what make Stranger Issues so common, it is the present’s lovable, eclectic forged of characters that really units it other than different comparable style tales.
The present’s ever-growing ensemble has offered the Stranger Issues writers with alternatives to experiment with some enjoyable, sudden character pairings. Arguably, none have been as well-received by the viewers because the unlikely friendship between Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), first launched in Stranger Issues season 2 when Dustin recruited Steve to assist him discover his lacking pet Demogorgon.
Since that fateful forest stroll, Dustin and Steve have been just about inseparable. Sadly, although, it seems like hassle is brewing for the long-lasting duo in Stranger Issues‘ fifth and closing season. In Empire Journal‘s December 2025 subject, Stranger Issues co-creator Ross Duffer had so much to say about Dustin’s upcoming character arc. Per Empire:
“‘Dustin is struggling due to what occurred to Eddie,’ says Ross [Duffer], nodding to season 4’s late, nice guitar-solo-shredding hero Eddie Munson, performed by Joseph Quinn. Wracked by grief, he is torn between the mission and ‘this need to be defiant and to face up for what Eddie believed in’ — resulting in challenges in his relationship with Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington particularly.”
Duffer continued, “Dustin’s all the time the one that may convey the occasion collectively and preserve everybody aligned. It is fairly destabilizing to not have him be capable of fill that function.”
Although the upcoming distance between Steve and Dustin, particularly within the wake of Eddie’s dying, is comprehensible, it is sure to weigh closely on each the characters and the viewers. Like Steve, Eddie grew to become a mentor determine for Dustin. Dustin’s emotions will possible be extra sophisticated than easy grief, making him an ideal goal for Stranger Issues’ final villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
Much like Max’s (Sadie Sink) journey in season 4, following the dying of her stepbrother Billy (Dacre Montgomery) within the season 3 finale, there’s each probability Dustin will likely be tormented by guilt. Eddie died in his arms, in spite of everything. That will need to have been traumatizing.
Eddie selected to remain behind within the Upside Down, however what if Vecna makes Dustin imagine it was all his fault? What if that is what’s driving him “to be defiant and rise up for what Eddie believed in,” maybe pushing Steve away in a misguided try to preserve him secure?
After all, the Duffer brothers had been cautious to not reveal an excessive amount of about Dustin and Steve’s season 5 story. All we actually know is that the pair will work collectively once more, as evidenced by scenes of them collectively within the season 5 teaser trailer. For now, it is not possible to say, however hopefully, Steve and Dustin will handle to return out of Stranger Issues season 5 (comparatively) unscathed.
Stranger Issues season 5, half 1, premieres on Netflix US on November 26. Half 2 will likely be launched on December 25, and the finale arrives on December 31.
- Launch Date
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2016 – 2025
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
- Administrators
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock