Will Byers in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
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Published 46 minutes ago
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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1!
Stranger Things season 5's first set of episodes featured a heroic moment from Will Byers that proved the strength of his connection to Vecna. The premiere episode fittingly began with a flashback to 1983, providing another look at Will in the Upside Down a few days after he went missing. In addition to the terrors he endured in the Upside Down, it was revealed that he came in contact with Vecna from the very beginning.
Based on past Stranger Things seasons, it had been clear that Will still suffers from adverse side effects due to his time in the Upside Down. The significance of the connection came back into focus almost immediately in the new installment, as the ending of Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, introduced a twist involving Will that could turn the tables in the fight against Vecna.
Will Has The Same Powers As Vecna In Stranger Things S5 Volume 1's Ending
Will using powers in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
The final sequence of "Sorcerer," which concluded Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, surprisingly revealed that Will had the ability to replicate Vecna's powers. More specifically, Will was able to telekinetically stop Demogorgons before killing them. It was more impressive considering Will defeated three separate Demogorgons who were targeting Mike, Lucas, and Robin in different Hawkins locations.
When unleashing the powers, Will's eyes went white, just like Vecna's. He also had the power to snap the Demogorgons' limbs, similar to what Vecna did to the victims like Max when enacting Vecna's curse. Upon discovering his powers, Will seemed to go back to his normal self, though Stranger Things has proven that normal stopped being an option since Will entered the Upside Down.
Why Will's Nose Was Bleeding Just Like Eleven
Will with nosebleed in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
One key detail during Will's display of newfound power was that he got a nosebleed immediately after using the telekinesis, which had become a trademark for Eleven. Any time El has used her powers, a small amount of blood would drip from her nose as she exerted herself. Seeing the same happen to Will, however, reinforced the notion that he tapped into his connection to Vecna.
There had been lingering theories that Will would end up with his own powers by the end of Stranger Things. Further twists are certainly possible, but it didn't seem like Will had always had powers that remained dormant. Instead, nosebleeds were linked to Dr. Brenner's test subjects, like Eleven. If Will was replicating the abilities of Brenner's first test subject, aka Henry Creel/Vecna, it would make sense for the character to show the physical strain of Vecna's psychokinesis.
Will's Connection To The Hive Mind Explained
Earlier in Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, Will admitted that his connection to Vecna and the Upside Down was never "severed" as they had hoped. The closer he was to Hawkins, the deeper the connection became, to the point that he could feel Vecna's presence. As the connection strengthened, so did Will's link to the hive mind.
Every living thing within the Upside Down, from Demogorgons to the vines, was confirmed to be connected to the hive mind, allowing the villain to know what's going on at all times. With Vecna pulling the strings, he had been able to take control through the hive mind, using it as a defense or a spy network, like the case with Will for a time.
On the other hand, keeping Will linked to the hive mind backfired because it became a two-way street when Will learned how to interpret what he was seeing through Vecna's hive mind. Since Vecna could see from the POV of Demogorgons or Vecna's planned victims, Will was able to keep the group prepared for what was coming. The hive mind intel also became a major advantage before tapping into the villain's other powers.
How Mike's "Sorcerer" Line Foreshadowed Will's Power Twist
Noah Schnapp as Will the Wise in Stranger Things
When Will was initially confused about his visions, or the return of the "now memories," Robin wondered if Will was acting like a receiver, as if his connection to Vecna got stronger with proximity, similar to a radio station needing a signal. While that notion certainly made sense, it was Mike referring to Will as a "sorcerer" that subtly foreshadowed Will's powers.
Mike compared Will and Vecna, implying that if Will could tap into the hive mind, then he was strong enough to control it like Vecna. At the time, it seemed like Mike may have just been giving one of his best friends a confidence boost, but he ended up being right based on Volume 1's ending.
Will took Robin's advice to heart, looking back at his younger self in a montage of flashbacks, helping him remember that he needs to look within himself for answers, especially when it comes to strength and acceptance. The realization then allowed Will to stop giving in to fear, which unlocked the Vecna-like powers just in time to save some of his closest friends in the final moments of Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1.
Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 is now available on Netflix. Volume 2 will be released on December 25, followed by the series finale on December 31.
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