Why Dustin Had to Be 'a Dick': Gaten Matarazzo on Stranger Things Season 5 Arc

"He's being a dick." Gaten Matarazzo doesn't mince words when describing his iconic character's transformation in Stranger Things Season 5. The boy who once sang duets over walkie-talkies has been replaced by a sulking, angry young man. According to a Mashable interview, this drastic shift stems from the raw trauma of witnessing Eddie's death at the end of Season 4.

The Trauma Behind the Transformation

Dustin has channeled his grief by adopting Eddie's persona—donning rings and refusing to take off his Hellfire Club shirt. However, this tribute comes at a cost: he's pushing away those who care for him most. His legendary bond with Steve hits an all-time low this season. Matarazzo explained that Dustin is "actively trying to cut himself off from the person he's scared of losing the most."

The show contrasts Dustin’s selfish grieving process with Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), who has been mourning Max for over a year. While Lucas remains a team player, Dustin picks fights and misses critical missions, highlighting that grief is rarely linear or polite.

Clashing on Set and the Final Reconciliation

The friction between Dustin and Steve isn't just script-deep; it changed how Matarazzo and Joe Keery worked together. They had to pivot from their usual playful banter to intense physical altercations in the Upside Down. Matarazzo recalled the emotional weight of shooting these scenes chronologically, which added a layer of realism to their eventual, tear-jerking reconciliation.

As the series approaches its finale on December 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix, fans are left to witness the most vulnerable version of this duo yet. The reconciliation hug—a moment Matarazzo admitted he was "so scared of"—serves as the emotional anchor for the season.