One of the best parts of Stranger Things finale was this subtle Eddie Munson tribute

The decade-long wait for the Stranger Things finale has finally come to an end, and the two-hour-long finale episode spends half this time saying goodbye to its characters and the audience with a heartwarming epilogue. All the goodbye scenes that made the multi-phase epilogue a success were heartwarming and hit right at the spot, even by themselves, but one of the best parts of these scenes was Dustin's inspirational valedictorian speech when the gang graduates from Hawkins High.

The valedictorian speech is inspirational by itself because it brings one of the core themes of the show to the forefront: unlikely friendships bringing down the pre-established high school social structures. However, the speech becomes even more emotional when you realize that it had a subtle Eddie Munson tribute from Dustin.

Keep reading to find out more.

Dustin offers Eddie a tribute in his Stranger Things finale valedictorian speech

The Stranger Things deaths might be fewer than your local horror show, but when they do happen, they tug at the most deeply embedded corners of our hearts. Be it Barb, Alexi, or Bob, the deaths are always hard-hitting. But none was as hard-hitting or of epic proportions as Eddie Munson's death in the Season 4 finale.

After an epic rock performance to distract demobats, Eddie Munson ends up sacrificing his life for the sake of Dustin and the others. His death hits the hardest for Dustin Henderson, who shared a special bond with the Hellfire creator and leader. To him, Eddie offered support, friendship, and a place to be themselves where none would.

So, the fifth season of Stranger Things found Dustin grieving Eddie's death, and even getting into fights and getting himself beaten up because he felt as if he had no right to feel good anymore. However, after some honest and vulnerable conversations with Steve, we find Dustin making peace with Eddie's death, but in his graduation ceremony, he offers one of the most heartwarming and solemn tributes to Munson.

Dustin delivers a rebellious valedictorian speech, ribbing the students, leading to all of them taking off their graduation robes and throwing them up. When Dustin takes his off, he is revealed to be wearing a "Hellfire lives" T-shirt, a quiet tribute, and he ends up snatching his diploma from Principal Higgins, giving him the bird, and rushing off the stage.

The scene by itself is almost perfect, but the diehard Stranger Things fans will remember this is exactly what Eddie wanted to do when he received his diploma:

"I’m gonna walk that stage next month, I’m gonna look Principal Higgins dead in the eye, I’m gonna flip him the bird, I’m gonna snatch that diploma, and I’m gonna run like hell outta here"

So, Dustin's quiet tribute to Eddie during the Stranger Things finale managed to steal all of our hearts and proved exactly why this show is as big as it is, because at the heart of it all, it's a tale of friendship and the hardships you can endure if you have the right friends by your side.

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