One of the most popular Netflix original series worldwide, Stranger Things features one of the main characters Dustin Henderson played by Gaten Matarazzo. In four seasons full of suspense and unknown mysteries, watching these young characters solve and conquer many obstacles left a major impression on fans.
Dustin is the smartest of the group, with a love for all things science and technology. He’s also probably the funniest character on the show, providing much-needed comic relief in serious situations. There are many Dustin Henderson moments in the series, of which we’re revisiting our top ten favorites on the actor’s 22nd birthday. Let’s jump right in!
10. Attempting to lie to the police
After extensive research, Dustin, Max (Sadie Sink), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Steve (Joe Keery), Eddie (Joseph Quinn) and Robin (Maya Hawke) were able to locate Hawkins’ link to the Upside Down through a gate at the base of Lover’s Lake during the show’s fourth season. However, Dustin, Max and Lucas had to deal with the local police, officers Calvin Powell (Rob Morgan) and Phil Callahan (John Paul Reynolds).
The officers wanted to know what these kids were doing near the lake at night and how familiar they were with Eddie. Max tried to convince them by saying they were just taking a walk, while Dustin lied about the whole situation. However, Dustin was not very good at lying, as he could not make the police believe their “late night swim” story.
9. Validating concepts that everyone else laughed at
Dustin developed hypotheses to explain many of the events that occurred in Hawkins during Stranger Things. However, he constantly had trouble convincing others to accept his theories, despite the fact that they proved true most of the time.
In Season 4, Dustin was able to validate his theory about Vecna and his assumption about other open gates in the city when he was able to successfully communicate with Steve, Nancy, Eddie, and Robin while they were trapped in the Upside Down. Dustin eventually rescued them by leading them to Eddie’s trailer and communicating with them through Holly Wheeler’s Lite-Brite toy, proving once again that he’s not only the funniest of the group, but also the smartest.
8. Dustin meets Steve after summer vacation
His connection with Steve captured our hearts from the very beginning of Stranger Things. Dustin’s relationship with Eddie in Season 4 was also something to watch. Dustin and Steve cared for each other, creating a relationship that fans loved. After going away to summer camp in Season 2, Dustin reunites with Steve in the show’s third season.
In that scene, Dustin visits Steve at the Scoops Ahoy store, and they share a ridiculous handshake, prompting Robin (Steve’s co-worker) to joke, “How many kids are you friends with?” Then, flashing a big smile and all his teeth, Dustin begins discussing his girlfriend with Steve, and humorously remarks, “She says kissing is better without teeth.”
7. Asking Max to go trick or treating
Sadie Sink’s character Max Mayfield first appears in the show’s second season. Lucas and Dustin are immediately attracted to her after she breaks Dustin’s records at the arcade and exudes a mysterious vibe. Shortly after, Dustin and Lucas begin asking her to join their group of friends, as they felt she “maybe doesn’t have any friends.”
They wanted Max to trick-or-treat with them. To win her over, the boys approached her in the school corridor on Halloween, proudly wearing their famous Ghostbusters costumes. Dustin tried to impress Max by showing off his ghost trap, but she wasn’t particularly impressed, as the mechanism only opened and closed.
6. Dart’s duty of care to the children
After returning home on Halloween, Dustin found a creature in a garbage can. Believing it to be a new species, he decided to raise it and named it D’Artagnan or Dart for short. It was fun to watch him having fun with Dart initially.
However, the creature eventually began to grow and change shape, and turned into the Demogorgon in reverse. Dustin realized he had to get rid of it when it ate the family cat. With the help of Steve, Lucas, and Max, Dustin was finally able to knock the creature down with a hockey stick and lock it in the basement.
5. Introducing Eleven
During the first season, the boys found Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in the woods. They were all quite shocked by her appearance, but they handled it well and brought her to Mike’s (Finn Wolfhard) house. The boys started asking Eleven questions, and Dustin didn’t hold back.
At first he thought she might be deaf, so he clapped in front of her face. Then he assumed she had cancer, which was why her head was shaved. The boys were scared and shocked when Eleven started changing her clothes in front of them.
4. Delivering a harsh message
We all love Dustin’s comedic personality in the series, but this scene from Season 4 made us all cry. Near the end, Hawkins was devastated by the Upside Down earthquake. To help the survivors of this disaster, Steve, Robin, and Dustin came to Hawkins High with Dan. While they were there, Dustin saw Eddie’s uncle putting up a missing poster for his nephew Eddie.
Dustin then had to tell Eddie’s uncle the sad news, telling him that Eddie had died during the earthquake. He continued to reassure him that Eddie died like a hero, sacrificing himself to save the city. Dustin said that if people knew Eddie better, they would love him too. This scene shows the incredible versatility in Gaten Matarazzo’s acting, which left us all stunned.
3. Duet on the radio
No one believed Dustin when he talked about his girlfriend Suzy after returning from summer camp. But in the Season 3 finale, Plank’s constant code was needed by Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) to enter a vault inside the Russian base. Knowing that Suzy could help with the code, Dustin began calling her. However, because he had not communicated with her in some time, Suzy initially ignored his repeated calls, as she was unaware of the immediate situation.
When she finally responded, she insisted that her “Dusty Bun” sing the theme song from The NeverEnding Story in exchange for the code. So, they performed a spectacular duet, which amazed everyone listening on the radio line via walkie-talkie. This scene became one of the most entertaining moments in the entire series.
2. Hawkins High’s Snow Ball
On a rare occasion in the series, we see Dustin dressing up for his school dance, including a bow tie and an unusual hairstyle. Steve gives him some advice in this moment, which highlights the development of their friendship throughout the series. After receiving this confidence boost, Dustin asks several girls to the dance, but is ultimately rejected.
But then, Nancy comes to his aid and offers him a dance. This was a huge moment for Dustin, and it shocked the girls who had previously rejected him. In Dustin’s mind, this dance with Nancy was the event that finally made him feel like part of the cool kids.
1. it was a bit tight in there
In Season 3, when Dustin, Steve, and Robin thought they had discovered a hidden Russian lab inside a shopping mall, they hatched a plan to infiltrate it. While mapping the mall, they realized the vents in the ice cream shop led to a hidden chamber. Dustin volunteered to go inside the vent, insisting he would fit in, and began crawling into the narrow passage.
Since the space was pretty tight, Dustin urged Steve to push him from behind so he could move forward. Steve tried pushing Dustin’s legs, but it obviously didn’t work. When Steve asked, “What?” after that futile push, Dustin yelled in frustration, “Touch my butt! I don’t care!”
No matter what scene you think, Dustin has always won our hearts. We are all waiting to see more of Dustin in Season 5.
Also read: Happy Birthday, Idris Elba: A Look Back at His Top 10 Roles as the 52-Year-Old Actor
