Stranger Things Confirms the Biggest Will Byers Theory (& It Changes Everything for Fighting Vecna)

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The long breaks between seasons of Stranger Things give fans plenty of time to discuss and create theories about the show’s biggest mysteries. From the very beginning, viewers have been trying to solve unanswered questions, carefully analyzing every detail for clues about what’s next. One of the most intriguing mysteries revolves around Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), whose disappearance kicked off the entire series. After being taken to the Upside Down, Will developed a strange connection to it, which has been a key part of his story ever since. The show has hinted at the importance of this connection for years, and now, with the final season arriving, we’re finally learning what role Will will play in the battle for Hawkins.

Warning: Spoilers below for Stranger Things 5, Volume 1

The first part of Stranger Things Season 5 quickly confirms that Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) intentionally targeted Will. A flashback shows that after Will was taken to the Upside Down in 1983, Vecna forced a strange substance into him using a disturbing vine-like growth. While Will was unconscious, Vecna promised they would accomplish great things together. This initial act created a lasting connection between Will and the Upside Down’s central consciousness. For years, this connection has made Will vulnerable and allowed Vecna to torment and find him. But in the new season, Will starts to understand this link, allowing him to use its power in new ways and becoming a key player in the fight against Vecna.

What Are Will’s Powers?

This season delves into how Will’s powers work, portraying him as someone who can pick up on supernatural signals. Robin realizes he’s like a radio antenna, able to sense the unique energy Vecna sends out through the Mind Flayer’s particles – the same energy Vecna uses to control his creatures and target people. This ability quickly proves useful when Will feels Vecna’s presence near Holly Wheeler, Mike’s little sister, helping the group realize another child, Derek Turnbow, is in danger. Essentially, Will is tracking Vecna’s movements around Hawkins, intercepting his psychic messages, and giving the others a vital edge in the fight.

Throughout the first four episodes, Will goes from simply experiencing events to actively shaping them, and this reaches a powerful peak at the end. The first hint of his abilities appears when Mike suggests the Demogorgon held back from attacking Joyce because Will was unknowingly affecting its thoughts. This potential is fully realized in the thrilling finale of Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1.

With Vecna’s army overpowering both the soldiers and the Hawkins group, Will experiences a seizure due to the intense psychic connection he shares with the hive mind. Inspired by Robin’s heartfelt words about accepting who you are, Will stops resisting the connection and leans into it. He suddenly understands that when Vecna infected him, he unknowingly gave Will the ability to control the hive mind. In a surprising climax, Will halts a group of Demogorgons as they attack, lifts them into the air, and then brutally destroys them using only his mind – mirroring Vecna’s own deadly method. This powerful act causes Will to bleed from the nose, proving he now possesses the same kind of strong psychic abilities as Eleven.

Is Will Stronger Than Vecna?

One of the biggest mysteries this season is just how powerful Will has become, but it’s clear he’s now one of the strongest characters on Stranger Things. He can now find Vecna’s plans, access information from a shared consciousness, control the creatures from the Upside Down, and even destroy them using his mind. This unique combination of abilities makes him a perfect match against Vecna, who also controls the Upside Down.

Will’s abilities are different from Eleven’s in a key way. Eleven is usually the one who directly fights monsters and closes portals, but Will doesn’t need to be physically present to make an impact. Because of his link to the Upside Down’s network, he can affect things wherever that dimension reaches – as we saw when Demogorgons were defeated far from the lab. This opens up exciting possibilities for the rest of the season. Could Will use his connection to turn the hive mind against Vecna? Or even cut Vecna off from his creatures for good? While it’s too soon to say if he’s more powerful than the monster who created him, Will’s change in abilities shifts the power dynamic and suggests he might be the key to saving everyone.

Okay, so the first part of Stranger Things’ final season is finally here on Netflix! You can binge it right now. But don’t get too comfortable, because the story continues – Volume 2 drops on December 25th, and we’ll get the very last episode on December 31st. It’s going to be a bittersweet holiday season for fans, that’s for sure.

Now that Will has developed new powers, how do you see him helping to defeat Vecna in the remaining episodes? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-27 18:43