Stranger Things’ Duffer Brothers Clarify That Huge Will Twist (And I Get It Now)

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Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things Season 5’s first four episodes.

Wow, if you’ve finished the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 – seriously, they just dropped! – you’re probably as shaken up as I am by that huge Will Byers reveal. Honestly, I’m still processing it! If you haven’t seen Episode 4, “Sorcerer,” stop reading now, seriously! Okay, it’s just us true Stranger Things fans left, right? Thankfully, the Duffer Brothers finally explained what that twist actually means, and now that it’s all clear, I think it’ll click for you too.

In a recent interview with Variety, the show’s creators explained how Will Byers suddenly developed powers – the ones that made it look like he was channeling Eleven and easily defeated the Demogorgons. Fans immediately wondered if Will’s powers were similar to Eleven’s. Ross Duffer addressed these questions, telling Variety:

What makes this situation unique is that he can actually access and use Vecna’s abilities. However, everyone involved is connected. Eleven and Vecna share similar powers, but this person doesn’t generate the powers themselves. Instead, he acts like a conduit, drawing power from Vecna and essentially being controlled by him.

At the start of Stranger Things’ final season, things get really tough for Eleven and the group. Vecna arrives with a powerful attack, specifically targeting Will and taunting his insecurities before unleashing a horde of Demogorgons. Just when it seems like they can’t handle it, Will discovers hidden powers, using a bone-breaking ability similar to Vecna’s to freeze and defeat the creatures.

Once the fighting stopped, Will suffered a nosebleed, reminiscent of Eleven’s abilities, leading fans to wonder what his powers might be. Matt Duffer, one of the show’s creators, explained the reasoning behind this moment, stating:

He connects with the collective consciousness, allowing him to control anything connected to it. As the story unfolds, you’ll see the extent of his power. This is how he controls the monster. However, he can’t affect things outside of that connection – for example, he can’t open a door if it’s not part of the hive mind.

Essentially, Will isn’t just a backup to Eleven; he’s a connection to the collective consciousness, and he’s using Vecna’s own power against him. His abilities are tied to how close he is to this collective, and they only exist because Vecna originally linked him to it. If Will hadn’t been taken in the first season, none of this would have been possible.

Let’s talk about Will Byers. The Duffer brothers really leaned into his emotional journey this season, and it’s the key to understanding why he’s finally able to tap into these powers. It’s not about external factors, it’s all internal – his growing connection with Robin, finally accepting who he is, and even Mike offering support. Apparently, the early cuts of episode four were missing that crucial emotional core. They realized they needed to show Will’s internal shift, and that’s where the beautiful home movie flashback sequence came in. It wasn’t just a nice touch; it was essential to making his arc resonate.

According to Matt Duffer, Vecna’s biggest error was underestimating Will Byers – a mistake others have made throughout the series. This will soon change, particularly when the final two episodes of Volume 2 (episodes 5, 6, and 7) become available on Netflix on December 25th.

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2025-12-01 19:38