The theory that it’s not Vecna who will be Stranger Things‘ ultimate villain reshapes everything we thought we understood about the Upside Down’s hierarchy of power. As the show’s finale approaches, the series’ lore continues to expand, raising questions about who (or what) was really in control all along.
Stranger Things is built on hidden power dynamics, so the possibility that Vecna isn’t the main antagonist doesn’t seem too far off. And now, with unexpected revelations emerging from beyond the Netflix series, the idea of the Mind Flayer being the Big Bad is more than just a new favorite Stranger Things fan theory. Instead, it could be the key to understanding Stranger Things’ final battle.
The Mind Flayer Will Be Stranger Things’ Final Boss — Theory Explained
The Mind Flayer stands above Billy Hargrove, played by Dacre Montgomery, in the Starcourt Mall in Season 3 of Stranger Things.Netflix
The Duffer Brothers haven’t ruled out the possibility of the Mind Flayer being the Big Bad of the series, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the show, it’s that anything is possible.
This villainous trope has been seen before, with its most notable example being the Star Wars films. Vecna could likely be the Darth Vader of the Upside Down, forced to serve a higher power destined for evil. The Mind Flayer could be the one controlling Vecna, a twist that would bring the show full circle – and shock everyone along the way.
The strongest piece of evidence for this theory is from the franchise’s Broadway prequel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The play centers on a young Vecna, a.ka. Henry Creel. When the Creels lived in Nevada, Henry entered a cave while playing and was accidentally transported to Dimension X, the alternate dimension we saw Eleven send him to in season 4.
It’s revealed that Henry first encountered the Mind Flayer while in Dimension X, meaning the creature existed long before him. The Mind Flayer possessed Henry and gave him his powers, corrupting them with evil and sealing his fate as a villain.
The play, which is currently running on Broadway and London’s West End, was written by the series’ writer Kate Trefry and created by the Duffer Brothers, making the play canon to the Stranger Things universe. While it essentially confirms the theory, it’s unknown if Netflix will include this storyline in season 5.
What The Mind Flayer Is Up To During Stranger Things Season 5
The Mind Flayer possesses Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, in Season 2 of Stranger Things.Netflix
We don’t really know if the Mind Flayer is still out there during the events of Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1’s ending, which, honestly, might be more terrifying than actually having it wreak havoc on Hawkins. The fate of the creature hasn’t been confirmed, and Stranger Things has shown us that some things just don’t seem to stay dead.
Will is still able to sense when the monster is near, so it’s safe to assume that the Mind Flayer isn’t just taking a break from fighting because it got bored. It’s still in Hawkins, and it’s still planning something. That something could very well be the final battle.
Hopper made it clear he didn’t want Eleven to join him on any crawls because he couldn’t risk her getting hurt and becoming weak for the final confrontation. The same could likely be happening with the Mind Flayer — refraining from fighting in “minor” battles to ensure it has the maximum strength to defeat Hawkins and fulfill its mission. It’s been hurt by Eleven before, so it would be justifiable for the creature to prioritize gathering all its strength for one final fight.
Is The Mind Flayer More Powerful Than Vecna?
Henry or Vecna looking out into the Upside Down in Stranger Things season 4
In order for this theory to really make sense, the Mind Flayer would have to be more powerful than Vecna, and that’s where it may fall down. It would be a pretty fair fight, but Vecna may be the more powerful one.
In season 3, we saw that the Mind Flayer didn’t have any actual psychokinetic abilities on its own. Its massive size and hive mind are what made it deadly. And if a less-powerful Eleven was able to cause significant damage to the monster, it would presumably be no match for someone with stronger powers (like Vecna).
Vecna also took down an entire army base filled with the most advanced weapons and a skilled army without even flinching. He launched a round of grenades with just a flick of his finger, successfully taking out a group of soldiers in seconds. Remember how the kids launched fireworks and nearly destroyed the Mind Flayer at Starcort Mall? If grenades were used, the fight would have ended long ago.
This means that if Vecna is significantly stronger than the Mind Flayer, Stranger Things will have to do some significant explaining as to how the Mind Flayer is keeping him under control.
Stranger Things season 5, Volume Two begins streaming on Netflix on Christmas Day. The finale drops on New Year’s Eve.
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
