‘Stranger Things’ finale: Dustin’s speech had an Eddie Munson reference you may have missed

Now that the dust has settled on Stranger Things finale – which left more than a few fans angry – we’re starting to see quite a few Easter eggs and theories emerge.

Many of them concern the fate of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) – did you spot that clue on the book shelf in the final scene, for example? – but there’s also a poignant flashback in the final epilogue that you may have missed.

We’re talking about the Hawkins High School graduation speech given by Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), who took over the ceremony with a rousing tirade against the system that had his classmates cheering and Principal Higgins (Bill Winkler) rushing to the microphone.

The thing is, Dustin’s speech wasn’t as unexpected as it might have seemed. It was actually a poignant return to Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), the leader of the Hellfire Club, who died to save Dustin and his friends in the Upside Down in season 4.

How does Dustin’s graduation speech honor Eddie?

Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Eddie (Joseph Quinn) fought side by side in season 4.
Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

“To hell with school, to hell with the system, to hell with conformity, to hell with everyone and everything that tries to hold you back and tear us apart because it’s our year!” » Dustin shouts at the end of his graduation speech, before dropping the microphone, snatching his diploma from Higgins and knocking the exasperated principal over.

Dustin’s actions are somewhat of a play-by-play reenactment of what Eddie says he’s going to do when he graduates from Hawkins High, in the scene in Season 4 where we first meet his character.

“I’m going to stand on this stage next month, I’m going to look Principal Higgins in the eye, I’m going to give him a bird’s-eye view, I’m going to snatch this diploma and I’m going to run out of here,” Eddie shouts, pacing the school cafeteria while his D&D team, including Dustin and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), laugh in admiration.

Obviously, his words stuck in Dustin’s mind. And given that Dustin is still mourning Eddie throughout Season 5, the graduation speech is actually a tribute to his friend’s memory.

Eddie may be gone, but Hellfire lives.

Stranger ThingsThe final season is available to stream now on Netflix.