Does Will have powers? Stranger Things Season 5 theory shut down by creators

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In the first part of Stranger Things Season 5, Eleven is using her abilities to fight Vecna, but fans are also wondering about Will’s role. A recent discovery caused a lot of debate, but the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, have clarified what’s really happening.

Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) has been a central figure in Stranger Things since the very first season. When he went missing, it revealed the hidden connection between Hawkins and the Upside Down, and he’s been connected to the show’s major villains, the Mind Flayer and Vecna, ever since.

Throughout the series, we’ve also followed Eleven’s journey and the development of her abilities. She’s been a key fighter in the show’s most important conflicts, and as Season 5 Volume 1 begins, she’s reached her peak strength.

Eleven is often seen as the most powerful character on Stranger Things, and the only one who can truly combat the threats from the Upside Down. However, the recent mid-season finale really emphasized just how crucial Will Byers is as well. Be warned: spoilers follow!

Does Will have powers?

The answer is mostly yes. In ‘Chapter Four: Sorcerer,’ everything reaches a critical point as Will finally connects with the Upside Down, something he’s been linked to for a long time.

Vecna finishes a dramatic speech, explaining his evil scheme, and Demogorgons close in to attack the group in Hawkins. Just then, Will suddenly understands that the key to stopping Vecna lies within himself.

His eyes glowed white as he unleashed a powerful burst of energy, freezing the creatures and violently throwing them back, mirroring Vecna’s brutal attacks.

This is the first time Will has consciously used the powers he’s had since the beginning of the show. The moment has generated a lot of buzz, particularly because many fans predicted he would develop these abilities even before the latest season aired.

We’ll learn more when Volume 2 is released, but in the meantime, people are already sharing their ideas and theories online.

One fan believes Will doesn’t actually have psychic abilities, but is instead being controlled by Vecna. They point out that Will suddenly developing powers doesn’t quite fit, and that Vecna’s promise to help him “one last time” in the trailer supports this idea.

Someone else pointed out something really interesting – they think Will actually has those powers, and the Mind Flayer gave them to him, similar to how it empowered Vecna. Apparently, Will just didn’t realize it until now, which makes total sense if you think about it!

It’s easy to think Will and Eleven have similar powers, but the reality is much more complex, and it’s all connected to the Mind Flayer.

Vecna’s origin revealed in Stranger Things play

In the first part of Stranger Things Season 5, we learn that Max has been hiding in a cave because Vecna is afraid to go there.

The stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow tells the backstory of Henry Creel, revealing he wasn’t always a villain. As a child, he stumbled upon caves that unexpectedly led him to the Upside Down.

He was transformed by the Mind Flayer, both in personality and through the powers he gained. One fan on Reddit pointed out that the cave featured in the play The First Shadow is where this happened, and that Volume 2 of the story will likely explain the event in more detail.

Someone else explained that Henry’s fear of the cave stems from a childhood experience with the Mind Flayer, which is why he hesitated to enter it when Max accidentally backed inside.

I just saw a cool thing on Reddit! Apparently, Kate Trefry, who wrote ‘The First Shadow,’ actually directed Episode 6 of Season 5. That means Volume 2 should give us a lot more insight and details – I’m super hyped to find out what she’s been hinting at!

If we accept the play as part of the official story, Henry’s transformation into a villain happened after what occurred in the cave. This is the strongest evidence so far that the Mind Flayer has been secretly controlling everything from the beginning.

Will’s new powers aren’t what Stranger Things fans might think

Will uses his powers for good, always protecting his friends. However, comparing his abilities to Eleven’s isn’t quite straightforward; they’re actually different in some ways.

In an interview with Variety after the show’s release, the Duffer brothers were asked if Will Byers has developed powers similar to Eleven’s.

Ross Duffer explained that while the character can use Vecna’s abilities, everything is connected. Eleven and Vecna share similar powers, but this character doesn’t generate the power himself – he acts as a conduit, channeling Vecna’s abilities and essentially controlling them like a puppet.

Matt explained that the character connects with a collective consciousness, allowing him to control anything within it. As the story unfolds, you’ll see the extent of his power. This is how he controls the monster, but he can’t affect things outside of that network – for example, he can’t simply open a door because doors aren’t part of the collective mind.

Ross explained that Will’s abilities come from being connected to a collective consciousness, often called the hive mind. Matt added that Will needs to be near this hive mind to use or access his powers.

Essentially, he needs to be near the entity to access its power. He’ll likely play a crucial role in the final fight, but this connection is a two-way street: the more he connects with the hive mind, the more the hive mind can influence him.

Here’s another thought: if everyone controlled by the hive mind gains these abilities, could we potentially witness an undead army uniting to defeat the Mind Flayer, with Barb joining the fight?

Okay, so I’m super hyped for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2, but we have to wait until Christmas Day when it hits Netflix! While we’re waiting, I’ve been checking out everything that happened in Volume 1 – like, did anyone actually die? – and reading up on how the reveal of 008 might actually fix a huge plot hole the show had. I’m also revisiting all the best characters and episodes to get even more pumped for the finale!

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2025-11-27 17:21