With the trailer for season 5 ofStranger Thingsmanaging to pull in over 18 million views in under 10 days, it’s clear there is still plenty of love to go around for the long-running supernatural horror show. Even with its high praise and cultural impact, there are bound to be more than a few criticisms about a show likeStranger Thingsthat has been running for nearly a decade at this point.
[Warning: this article contains spoilers for the fourth season ofStranger Things]While the length between seasons and actor ages are easy sources of jokes within the fandom,the pattern of howStranger Thingstreats its side characters is one of its more frustrating aspects. Thankfully, if you’re like me and still aren’t over the most common complaint aboutStranger Things:Season Four's most popular character, the show’s latest collaboration has you covered.
Bringing Back Season 4’s Legendary Dungeon Master Once More
Despite its greatest heights,Stranger Thingshas a serious problem when it comes to introducing widely beloved side characters, only to kill them off in the same season. Even if the trend is somewhat predictable at this point,Eddie Munson’s death inStranger Things: Season Fouris easily one of the show’s most gut-wrenching moments.
Dungeons & Dragonsserves as Eddie’s initial connection to the main cast, andthe upcomingStranger Things Welcome to the Hellfire Clubtabletop game leans on that connection. The upcoming Eddie Munson-themed adventureisn’t the first timeStranger Thingsand Wizards of the Coast havecollaborated on aD&Dproject, but it could be the franchise’s best tabletop offering yet, paying homage to the fan-favorite character in the best way possible.
Despite never getting to see Eddie finish his lastDungeons & Dragonsgame before tragically meeting his fate at the end of the previous season,Stranger Things Welcome to the Hellfire Cluboffers some solace by letting you play out the unfinished adventure for yourself firsthand. While the cheaper digital version has everything you need to pick up and experience Eddie’s unfinished adventure right away,the physical edition offers a surprising amount of playable material, which includes:
Withthe popularity ofStranger Thingsopening the doors for an influx of newD&Dplayers, it’s hard to find a better option forStranger Thingsfans wanting to combine their passion with the tabletop genre. On top of the standard character and monster inclusions you would expect from a crossover,Welcome to the Hellfire Clubalso introduces abrand-new Demogorgon variantahead ofStranger Things' final season.
Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club Brings Back Eddie’s Adventures
Finally Finishing Eddie’s Magnum Opus
As if the death of Eddie Munson wasn’t tragic enough on its own, his fate means we never got to see theconclusion of Eddie’sD&Dcampaignplay out in live action. Rather than recreating the storyline of the standardD&Dstoryline fromSeason One,Welcome to the Hellfire Clubis entirely themed with Eddie’s exaggerated personal flair.
Purchasing the Welcome to the Hellfire Club Ultimate Bundle will save $10 from buying both digital and physical versions individually, while unlocking the limited Upside Down Dice Set, Digital Map, and Sticker Pack.
Directly inspired byset visits from the show,each version ofWelcome to the Hellfire Clubaims to recreate the feeling of the show with all the familiar characters you love, alongside"tips and tricks from the legend Eddie Munson himself,“according to itsD&D Beyonddescription.
As a larger venture than the previousStranger Thingsstarter set, this beginner-friendly pack could easily transition into a full-fledged campaign to keep your adventure going thanks to its fifth edition compatibility. All the same, you don’t need to learn theD&Drulebook to play, as the physical version is built to function as a standalone board game.
Whileyou can fully understand everything going on inStranger Thingswithout being a fan of tabletop games,the show is filled to the brim withD&Dreferencesthat can be easy to overlook. If you want to better understand either the culture that directly inspiredStranger Thingsor Eddie Munson’s character himself,Welcome to the Hellfire Clubeasily satisfies both these needs.
It’s An Odd Way To Rectify Season Four’s Useless Killing, But It Works
A Love Letter To Fans Of Eddie’s Extravagance
There’s no doubt that Eddie Munson’s death was one of the most controversial elements ofStranger Things Season Four, with many claims that it was an unnecessary or even pointless sacrifice for the plot. Even if there’s some merit that Eddie’s foreshadowed sacrifice helped to fully tie up his character arc, its actual execution made the moment just as confusing as it was heartbreaking.
Welcome to the Hellfire Clubmight not be enough to make up for killing off one of the most charismatic characters inStranger Things, buttheD&Dcrossover helps ease the pain of Eddie’s absenceby delivering an authentic representation of his unfinished passion project. Thankfully, it’s clear that the creators ofStranger Thingsare still aware of how popular Eddie is within the fandom, with the latest project connecting full circle with the childlike imagination of the original seasons.
Even if this might be the last time we see a major project revolving around Eddie withintheStranger Thingsuniverse, aside from a flashback or spirit-like cameo in the next season, it’s hard to think of a better send-off for such a beloved character than theWelcome to the Hellfire Clubcrossover.
