Gaten Matarazzo, the actor behind fan-favorite Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things, has given an exciting glimpse into his character's arc for the show's final season. In an exclusive interview, Matarazzo shared that Dustin will grapple with "intense grief" following the traumatic events of season 4.
Dustin's emotional journey emanates from the loss of his new best friend: Eddie Munson, who heroically sacrificed himself during the struggle with Vecna and the Demobats. While Dustin's pain was subtly touched upon in the Season 4 finale, Matarazzo has revealed that a lot of grief will play in Stranger Things Season 5.
The actor feels that the trauma Dustin is supposed to face will test his development and strength, which will be quite an emotional journey for the viewers. Season 5 picks up after Hawkins is thrown into chaos, with rifts to the Upside Down spreading across the town.
This backdrop of devastation adds weight to Dustin's struggles, as he attempts to navigate the loss of his friend while staying true to the "guy we know and love." Matarazzo hinted that Eddie's death's fallout could deepen Dustin's bond with Steve Harrington, another fan-favorite character.
With the last season coming in with all loose ends, audiences can look forward to a poignant and transformative journey as Stranger Things brings the conclusion in a theatrical fashion.
Dustin's emotional struggles in Stranger Things Season 5
Matarazzo stressed the deep ways that Dustin's grieving over losing Eddie is going to affect him as a character. Although the boy genius will remain characteristically witty and charming, he'll now carry this un residual baggage of unresolved trauma with him.
"... 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", Matarazzo said.
This aspect of the actor also describes that the experience of grief, which Dustin will go through will be reflective of emotions with many viewers. Matarazzo describes the emotional complexity of losing someone so young, saying
"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."
The deeper the narrative into the grief and healing, the more realistic and natural it is to portray a scenario that would be expected by younger characters like Dustin regarding trauma. Fans can thus expect to see Dustin while struggling with his emotions, channel them into meaningful action since Hawkins faces existential threats in the final season.
Collapse of Hawkins: A new beginning for the final season of Stranger Things
The story of Stranger Things season 5 takes off where the previous climactic Season 4 events left the town of Hawkins. As the rift spreads out with Vecna, it's evident that this showdown would decide the fate of Hawkins town and its people.
Matarazzo described the first few episodes of the season as "a different vibe" than previous seasons.
".... 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."
The actor suggested that starting from where Stranger Things Season 5 leaves off, higher stakes and emotionally charged telling can be expected. Fans are interested in how Dustin's grief might strengthen or redefine his relationships with other core characters, such as Steve Harrington.
Although their dynamic did take a backseat during Season 4, the loss of Eddie may push them closer together, reigniting their unique camaraderie.
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As Stranger Things approaches its grand finale, the character arc of Dustin Henderson promises to be heart-wrenching yet inspiring. Gaten Matarazzo's revelations about his character's emotional struggles and Hawkins' impending doom promise a season full of high stakes and personal growth.
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