Is Vecna, the main villain of “Stranger Things” season 5, just a monster? Or was he born from a human tragedy? Find out more about his true identity, source of power, and ultimate goal.
We’ve seen plenty of monsters in the world of “Stranger Things” – from the Demogorgon to the Mind Flayer. But the villain who emerges in Season 4 is the one who is involved in the most complex, terrifying, and human tragedy in the show’s history. His name is Vecna. Many are calling him the “Thanos” of the series, but the truth is, Vecna is more terrifying than Thanos and a distorted reflection of our own world.
If you want to delve deeper into Vecna, these four secrets will help you understand everything.
1. Who is Vecna?
The tragic story of human-to-monster transformation Vecna’s real name is Henry Creel. He was once the son of an ordinary family, but he had supernatural psychic powers. Unfortunately, these powers went beyond his control. He entered the minds of his family members, playing with their deepest fears and memories of trauma, forcing them to psychologically break down.
This unstable child is brought to Dr. Martin Brenner’s Nutrihill lab. There he is given the number “001”. Brenner’s brutal experiments ultimately completely mutilate Henry Creel, turning him into the terrifying, physically deformed monster Vecna. He is, therefore, not the lab’s first “accident”, but rather the first “creation”.
2. Eleven created Vecna!
This was the biggest twist of season 4. We see Eleven gather all her power and throw Henry/001 through a gate into the Upside Down. The massive blow and the toxic, distorted environment of the Upside Down completely transform her. Her body hardens like wood, her face becomes distorted, and she loses all of her physical beauty. In a sense, Vecna is a dark creation of Eleven.
3. Hunger: Mental Pain Is Her Food
Vecna doesn’t feed on blood or flesh like other monsters. Her hunger is mental. She seeks out deep memories of guilt, grief, anger, terror, and trauma in her victims. When she finds someone like that, she enters their mind, amplifies that pain, ultimately pushing the victim to the brink of physical paralysis and death.
That’s why he targets characters like Max Mayfield, who are suffering from deep grief and guilt. He turns human weakness into strength. That’s what makes him so dangerous – he attacks not physical strength, but mental strength.
4. What is Vecna’s goal?
Vecna doesn’t just want to destroy the city of Hawkins or a few people. His goal is bigger, more grandiose (in his twisted view). He wants to unite the Upside Down and our normal world to create a new, twisted, and perfect world, where he will be the sole ruler.
To achieve this goal, he needs Eleven’s power. Because Eleven is the only person whose power is equal to, or perhaps greater than, his own. Vecna believes that if he can control Eleven or absorb her power, he will no longer face any obstacles in the way of building his empire. So the main battle of Season 5 will be the clash of these primal forces between Eleven and Vecna.
Knowing these secrets from “Stranger Things” Season 5 will make watching it even more exciting. Which secret are you most curious about? Like does Vecna’s tragic backstory make him more terrifying to you, or somewhat sympathetic? Share your thoughts in the comments! Read more