Gaten Matarazzo, the actor behind Dustin Henderson, recently spoke to Elite Daily about the intricacies of Dustin, Steve, and Stranger Things. And yes, this original cast member shares the hurt of viewers regarding the changes in Dustin and Steve's friendship.
While Dustin and Steve did interact in season 1 of Stranger Things, their shared screen time was minimal. However, in season 2, Steve took on a mentor and even brotherly role for Dustin, making their relationship one of the most beloved in the show. But alas, season 5 has revealed a very different side to Dustin and Steve in its first four episodes.
Following the death of Eddie Munson in season 4, Dustin has clearly become consumed by grief, transforming from his goofy, fun-loving, optimistic self into someone with a short fuse and no patience. This has included Dustin even biting Steve's head off in certain scenes. The internet has been abuzz with how painful it is to watch these friends no longer getting along, with both characters even saying they don't want to speak to each other at various points.
Matarazzo echoed these sentiments, saying, "Not only is it difficult to be detached and not have as much fun, but I had a really hard time being as mean to Steve as I was...That was a real bummer. I know it makes sense, but Dustin really does try to actively hurt him throughout this season."
The idea that Dustin hurts Steve "throughout" the season suggests this dynamic will continue in the upcoming episodes releasing on Christmas Day and potentially in the series finale on New Year's Eve. (Although there are still questions about whether Steve will die before the end.)
However, Matarazzo is also right that narratively, this turn for Dustin makes sense. Out of all the deaths the kids have experienced thus far, none has hit Dustin as hard as Eddie's did. Eddie showed Dustin what it meant to truly not care what others thought or let them define him, and he was very attached to Eddie, only to have him die in his arms.
Matarazzo further explained this relationship and why it's causing Dustin to act the way he is: "Dustin lost somebody he loves so much in Eddie, and he's being presented with a true fear of it happening to the other people in his life, especially Steve." In a way, this takes a bit of the sting out of Dustin's treatment of Steve thus far in season 5 because it's clear that it comes from a place of love. But fans are still missing that classic Dustin and Steve friendship, especially considering there are only four episodes left of the show.
