As Stranger Things Season 5 Part 2 hits Netflix, one fan theory has been making the rounds online: could Eddie Munson come back as a vampire? The short answer from the creators is no. Still, the theory shows just how much fans love and connect with Eddie’s character.
Eddie Munson, played by Joseph Quinn, died heroically in Season 4 while fighting demobats in the Upside Down. Since then, fans have searched for ways he might return, especially using the show’s recurring Dungeons & Dragons themes. Many linked him to Kas the Bloody-Handed, a D&D figure who becomes a vampire after betraying Vecna.
Despite the speculation, Stranger Things Season 5 does not hint at Eddie surviving or returning in any supernatural form.
The vampire theory caught on because Eddie was killed by bat-like creatures, and bats are often tied to vampires in pop culture. Fans also thought the Duffer Brothers might twist Kas’ lore for Eddie in the final season.
But through both parts of Season 5, Eddie never appears in flashbacks, hallucinations, or the Upside Down. His death mainly supports Dustin’s emotional journey, showing that Eddie’s story has already ended.
Ross Duffer addressed the theory in December 2025, saying, “There’s some wild theories, even for season 5. Eddie is not a vampire. I will say that much.” He wanted to put the idea to rest, though discussions among fans continue.
Season 5 Part 2 does mention vampires, but it has nothing to do with Eddie. In Episode 5, Kali calls Dr. Kay “a kind of vampire” because he repeatedly took her blood. This is a metaphor, not literal. Dr. Kay was taking her blood to continue Dr. Brenner’s experiments, trying to replicate powers like Eleven’s. The show makes it clear there are no actual vampires in this storyline.
