Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4.
The fan-favorite Eddie Munson of Stranger Things is being honored across TikTok with Guitar Hero tributes. Since his appearance in the first episode of season 4, Eddie garnered a major following amongst Stranger Things viewers to the point where even Last of Us' Ellie became a Munson fan, according to one fan artist. The epic and tragic events of the season four finale of Stranger Things left many fans devastated, with the beloved newcomer Eddie Munson at the center of one such tragedy.
Just as Stranger Things took the present world by storm, so too did Guitar Hero back in the late 2000s. Guitar Hero was a smash hit novelty of the era, allowing music fans to play several popular rock tracks utilizing its trademark guitar peripheral. While some popular franchises were content with seeing one game a year, Guitar Hero would often release several, with 2009 seeing at least five Guitar Hero titles plus the release of spin-off series DJ Hero. The series enjoyed tremendous success for almost a decade until inevitable burnout from an oversaturated market placed Guitar Hero on hiatus in 2015. However, stalwart fans remain hopeful for a new Guitar Hero after Microsoft’s buyout of Activision.
Recently, GamesRadar reported that Stranger Things fans have taken to TikTok to honor Eddie Munson via Guitar Hero tributes. In the climactic season 4 finale of Stranger Things, Eddie Munson uses his guitar to play the Metallica hit Master of Puppets amidst the thundering hellscape of the Upside Down to distract the minions of Stranger Things’ ultimate antagonist Vecna. The scene culminated in one of the most heroically tragic moments of the series, where Eddie gave his life to save Dustin from the bloodthirsty swarm. The GamesRadar article features several fans honoring Eddie’s heroic sacrifice by playing an assortment of songs on Guitar Hero. One fan even adorned himself with Eddie’s trademark Hellfire Club T-shirt and played Master of Puppets featured on Guitar Hero: Metallica.
Stranger Things and video games have gone hand in hand over the years. Along with a limited-time Dead by Daylight content pack, Stranger Things also featured in crossovers with Far Cry 6, Fortnite, SMITE, and Rocket League. Video game fans were responsible for other forms of tribute to the series in sandbox games like Minecraft and the Sims, where players recreate several locations from the popular show. With much of Stranger Things rooted in Dungeons and Dragons, which many argue is the great grandfather of modern video gaming, it’s no surprise players find video games as an appropriate form of tribute to the series.
It has been said that tragedy often brings people together, and it seems the same rings true even for fictional tragedies. Seeing fans join in honoring a popular character like Eddie Munson, despite his brief run on the show, is a phenomenon to behold, especially when done in such creative methods. With the next season of Stranger Things looking to break even more hearts, fans might want to dust off those old Guitar Hero controllers and start practicing.
Sources: GamesRadar