A new theory suggests Stranger Things Season 5 may bring Eddie Munson back in an unexpected way. According to fan speculation, Eddie could return as a dark version of himself inspired by Dungeons & Dragons lore, possibly serving as Vecna’s undead lieutenant in the final battle for Hawkins.
How Eddie returns in Stranger Things Season 5 may have been teased
The Stranger Things Season 5 teaser includes several moments that have reignited the Eddie Munson-Kas theory. The teaser shows Dustin Henderson visiting Eddie’s grave, where someone has vandalized the headstone with the phrase “burn in hell,” highlighting the town’s ongoing view of Eddie as a villain. This, along with other visual cues, supports the fan theory that Eddie may return as a dark counterpart aligned with Vecna.
n Dungeons & Dragons lore, Kas the Bloody-Handed is Vecna’s former lieutenant who eventually betrays him. The Eddie-Kas theory builds on this, noting that Kas was turned into a vampire after being attacked by bats.
This is a fate similar to Eddie’s death by Demobats in Season 4. Eddie’s tattoos, including bats and a black widow spider, along with his “Master of Puppets” solo and spiked shield, serve as possible references to Kas’ undead transformation and weapons.
Season 5’s premiere episode is titled “The Crawl.” This may reference lyrics from Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”: “Come crawling faster, obey your master.” Eddie famously performs this song. Fans see the title as a hint that Eddie could become Vecna’s puppet before eventually breaking free, just like Kas.
Additional details from the teaser align with this theory. Max is seen in hospital attire, hinting at her survival and possible transformation. Egg sacs lining the Upside Down walls point to Vecna building an army, which could include resurrected characters. The return of the Hawkins Lab and the Dungeons & Dragons map table reinforces Season 5’s focus on symbolic callbacks. These elements also highlight the show’s ongoing D&D parallels.
Although creators Matt and Ross Duffer previously stated that Eddie would not return, the teaser’s imagery suggests otherwise. The visuals and narrative setup continue to fuel speculation about a possible Eddie/Kas resurrection arc.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
