Joseph Quinn Talks Eddie's 'Stranger Things' Season 4 'Redemption Tale'

Actor Joseph Quinn is opening up about the fate of his character, Eddie Munson, in season 4 of “Stranger Things.”

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Quinn opened up about his character arc and what it was like to film his death scene.

Quinn joked that he was “avoiding Twitter” after the final episodes were released last Friday, but he said that he heard “that it’s kind of madness on there.”

Quinn also said that he felt “like I was pounding pints” of the fake blood for his final scene, where he sacrifices himself to save Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo).

“The moment was a bit of a monkey on my and Gaten’s back,” he explained. “We wanted to do the best that we could, but it was shot very late in the day. It was a kind of very brutal night shoot. We did the bat fight and the Metallica sequence that evening.”

“We had very little time left, but we managed to get my coverage done before the sun came up,” he added. “And then, months later, we got Gaten’s coverage.”

Quinn also said there was a “fraternal connection” between Eddie and Dustin that led to his eventual sacrifice, although he noted that Eddie also sees Dustin as a sort of little brother or a version of himself that he used to be.

“Those years when you’re a teenager when the hormones are raging, and it’s horrible, and it’s weird — anyone who’s walked down the path and has a couple of miles more than you, you want that advice,” Quinn explained. “And when you’ve got a younger person, you kind of see aspects of yourself in them.”

He says that’s the reason why Eddie decided to cut the rope: “I think he probably knows that Dustin would follow him back, and he knows that if the bats get through that gate, everyone’s done for. So, he tries to give Dustin no option to follow him.”

Although Eddie starts off as a bit of a bully, Quinn sees his story as a “redemption tale” and describes that as a silver lining in his death.

“I think he’s completely haunted by his inability to do anything to save Chrissy and how powerless he was at that moment,” he explained. “And obviously being blamed for that murder is devastating and then having to go into hiding.”

“I think he gets a little bored with feeling pathetic and unable to do anything. And then at some point in episode 8, a switch flips, and he decides that he’s going to prove himself,” he continued. “The opportunity then arises, but he has to pay the ultimate price. But he proves to himself that he certainly isn’t a coward.”

Unfortunately, he didn’t receive a goodbye party, although he said that there “were some gifts and definitely some hugs” on his last day on set. “I kind of hate goodbyes, so I got out of there as soon as I could,” he admitted.

Quinn was able to confirm that he really was playing some of the chords during the Metallica scene. He said that he was “very lucky in the fact that I’ve been playing since I was young.”

“I’ve had a huge amount of time off, but when I read the script, I went and bought the guitar and started practicing manically,” he explained. “The solo was not me. I’m not a heavy metal guitarist, so we got this brilliant virtuoso to come in and do that bit. But the rest I was able to film.”

When asked if Dustin will get justice for Eddie, Quinn replied, “It would be nice, wouldn’t it?” He then added, “It feels kind of very unfair his name isn’t cleared, but hey, I don’t make the rules.”

Although it’s impossible to say whether or not Eddie will return in the show’s fifth and final season through a flashback sequence or in another way, Quinn teased, “We’ll see.”

“You know, anything is possible, and I’d be up for anything,” he added.

Seasons one through four of “Stranger Things” is available to stream on Netflix. In the meantime, fans can check out Sadie Sink’s interview on Max’s fate by clicking here.