Gaten Matarazzo Wanted Fans Torn Over Dustin’s Dark Turn in Stranger Things Season 5
There’s been a lot of talk lately around Gaten Matarazzo and the way his character, Dustin Henderson, changes in Stranger Things Season 5, and honestly, that reaction was exactly what Matarazzo was hoping for. According to him, Dustin this season was never meant to be easy to root for. Instead, fans were supposed to feel conflicted, pulled between sympathy and frustration as they watched a once-cheerful character spiral under the weight of grief.
The Dustin we meet in Season 5 feels very different from the kid who used to light up Hawkins with jokes, curiosity, and off-key singing over a walkie-talkie. That lighter version is gone, replaced by someone angrier, more withdrawn, and clearly hurting. This shift was rooted in a single traumatic moment: witnessing the death of Eddie Munson at the end of Season 4. That loss changes everything. Dustin starts dressing like Eddie, clinging to his Hellfire Club shirt and growing out his hair as a quiet tribute, but emotionally, he’s pulling away from the people who care about him most.
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One relationship that really takes the hit is Dustin’s bond with Steve Harrington. These two had been inseparable for years, so seeing tension and hostility between them was bound to upset fans. Matarazzo was fully aware of that. He explained that Dustin’s behavior, while understandable, isn’t meant to be excused. Grief is real, and it’s heavy, but it doesn’t justify pushing away friends or lashing out at those who are standing by you. Dustin is hurting, yes, but he’s also being selfish, and that uncomfortable truth is something the season leans into.
Throughout Season 5, Dustin’s anger causes real consequences. He skips important moments, picks fights with bullies, and creates friction within the group when they can least afford it. What makes this even harder is that everyone around him is grieving too. Characters like Lucas are dealing with their own pain, yet choosing a different path. That contrast highlights the idea that grief isn’t linear, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone.
Behind the scenes, this darker storyline even changed how scenes were approached. Matarazzo and Joe Keery had to set aside their natural, playful chemistry to fully commit to the tension between Dustin and Steve. Some of the season’s most emotional moments come from that struggle, especially when everything finally boils over and the two are forced to confront Eddie’s death head-on.
By the time reconciliation arrives, it feels earned. The anger, the distance, and the mess all lead to a moment of honesty that hits hard because of what came before. For Matarazzo, that was the point all along. Dustin’s journey isn’t about being pitied; it’s about showing how grief can twist someone, and how facing it openly is the only way back.
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