Henry or Vecna looking out into the Upside Down in Stranger Things season 4
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Rianna de Bono-Smith
Published 29 minutes ago
Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 6 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with.
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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things, season 5, volume 1Stranger Things season 5 has officially begun with the release of Volume 1 on November 26, and fans are already clamoring for more. Netflix’s sci-fi series creators, The Duffer Brothers, have revealed what could be in store for Volume 2, including the show’s main antagonist, Vecna (played by Jamie Campbell Bower).
In an interview with Variety, Matt and Ross Duffer spoke about the new Volume of season 5, which is due to be released on December 25. While it’s not officially confirmed what will happen, Matt spoke briefly about what fans can expect to see during the next few episodes, including more of Vecna’s memories:
Yes, that’s what we call our new Russia storyline, because it’s very few characters. They’re kind of isolated off on their own, Max and Holly. We’re very happy with how it integrates with the other storylines.
Max and Holly in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
The Russia storyline refers to Jim Hopper (played by David Harbour) as he is trapped in a Russian prison and has to plot an escape. Similar to Max (played by Sadie Sink) and Holly (played by Nell Fisher), who are planning their escape from Vecna's mindscape during Volume 1 of season 5.
Vecna/Henry/001/Mr. Whotsit has a deep and complex history, which warranted the creators to team up with Kate Trefry and bring to the stage in a play titled The First Shadow, which acts as a prequel to Stranger Things, focusing solely on a young Henry Creel. During the interview, Matt and Ross confirmed that the cave shown during Volume 1 is the same as in the Broadway play:
Matt Duffer: There was always a balance that we had to find in terms of how much we were going to put in the play. [The director] Stephen [Daldry] and [the producer] Sonia [Friedman] were always pushing for more, and we were pushing back and saying, “Well, we have to wait to reveal that in the show.” You’ll see, especially as you reach the final episode, that there’s more overlap with the play.
Ross Duffer: And, like, Max finds that “Oklahoma” poster, which people who haven’t seen the play are maybe like, “Why is Henry in ‘Oklahoma’?” But I think it’s nice for us to start to tie those two together.
Matt Duffer: But you absolutely do not have to have seen the play to understand. They’re Easter eggs more than anything.
While Matt stated that you don’t have to see the play to understand what’s happening, it can’t hurt to get a little extra context. Henry is shown exploring these caves near an army base in Nevada during The First Shadow when he’s accidentally transported to Dimension X, an alternate dimension created way before the Upside Down and this is how Henry meets the Mind Flayer.
While it’s not entirely clear why Henry is deeply afraid of the caves, it’s obvious that whatever happened will be shown in later episodes as Matt and Ross unpack Vecna’s dark history. Variety continued and tried to inquire if the Mind Flayer is truly the real evil of Stranger Things, to which Matt replied:
You’re asking a question that will be answered in the final episode. The next spoiler talk we do, I’ll address it.
The Oklahoma poster Max finds in Henry’s memories shows the date, November 6 (the same date Will was taken in season 1), as well as Joyce (played by Winona Ryder) directing a play which also features Henry. Perhaps their history will also be addressed in Volume 2, as well as the significance of November 6.
Perhaps the true evil has yet to emerge, and Max and Holly’s mission could be the unraveling of a long-kept secret.
Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 is now available on Netflix. Volume 2 is set to release on December 25, with the series finale coming to Netflix on December 31.
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10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
7 Images
Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1
Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Eleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4
Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025)
Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflix
Stranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDB
The Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close
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