Joseph Quinn: How do I define a hero? I think serving an idea, doing something that will not benefit you. That's heroic. Self-sacrifice.

[Eddie Munson yelling] 

Joseph Quinn: I'm Joe Quinn, and this is the journey of Eddie Munson. So, when we first meet Eddie, we see him showing off and being kind of insufferable. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: As long as you're into band or science… [sneeringly] …or parties…

Joseph Quinn: Commanding his minions of the Hellfire Club. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: And we showed you…

Joseph Quinn: We also see him selling drugs to Chrissy. 

[CLIP] Chrissy Cunningham: How does this work? 

Joseph Quinn: He sees this horrific tragedy.

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Her body just, like, lifted into the air. Her bones started to snap. [screams]

Joseph Quinn: He then goes into hiding, then spends most of the season running away, being accused of things that he wasn't gonna do, and then is ingratiated into the gang. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Jesus… 

[CLIP] Dustin Henderson: Delivery service. 

Joseph Quinn: When they get back from the Upside Down…

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Check this out.

Joseph Quinn: And after Nancy has dodged Vecna's laser beam, they're kind of talking about plans.

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Everything you need for, uh… well, uh, killing things, basically.

Joseph Quinn: I think after that, he realizes that maybe he can add something to the group.

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: [dramatically] There will be no more retreating… [in regular voice] …from Eddie the Banished. 

[CLIP] Dustin Henderson: Hey, you're really ready for bat-tle. 

Joseph Quinn: He is constantly battling with the fact that he wasn't able to save Chrissy. Wracked with guilt, really. So I think, kind of, he feels that he couldn't be heroic in that moment, so how could he be heroic in any other moment? 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Outside of D&D, I am no hero. I see danger and I just… [clicks fingers] …turn heel and run. Or at least that's what I've learned about myself this week. 

Joseph Quinn: He's being pretty harsh on himself because, ultimately… he decides to face his fears.

[Eddie yells] 

Joseph Quinn: And then kind of proves himself to be a pretty heroic young man.

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Look at us. We are not heroes.

[bats screeching, Eddie yelling] 

Joseph Quinn: When I signed on for Stranger Things, I didn't know that Eddie was gonna die. The first time I read the death scene, I remember thinking that this is a beautifully-written scene. I've got a wonderful actor to get into that with, so I remember feeling quite lucky. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Now for the fun part.

Joseph Quinn: It's the tale of redemption, which I think kind of is what we like as an audience. He's kind of authentic. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: It's like… she was destined for an alternate dimension.

Joseph Quinn: I think maybe people responded to that. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: I didn't run away this time, right? 

[CLIP] Dustin Henderson: No. No, no, no. [sobs] You didn't run. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: You're gonna have to look after those little sheep for me, okay? 

[CLIP] Dustin Henderson: No, you're gonna do that yourself. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Nah, man. Say, "I'm gonna look after them."

[CLIP] Dustin Henderson: [tearfully] I'm… I'm gonna look after…

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Good. 

Joseph Quinn: The most surprising or surreal part of the fan experience, I think that video, the TikTok video.

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Chrissy, wake up! I don't like this!

Joseph Quinn: The "Chrissy, wake up" remix. Kind of hilarious. The fact that people would take time out of their day to make art about a character that I played is such a lovely feeling. 

[CLIP] Eddie Munson: Welcome to Hellfire. 

Joseph Quinn: And then, I got a text from Winona Ryder saying, "Well done," which was, uh, pretty great.

[plays "Master of Puppets" by Metallica]