
With the fifth and final season of Stranger Things approaching, the creators, the Duffer Brothers, and Netflix are focused on wrapping up all storylines and pleasing fans worldwide. The stakes are incredibly high as Stranger Things 5, Volume 2, delivers final answers about Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the mysterious Upside Down. While providing the closure many viewers have been waiting for, these new episodes also introduce surprising twists that change the show’s established history. A major example of this is a significant change to the backstory of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), which essentially re-examines events from the second season.
Warning: Spoilers below for Stranger Things 5, Volume 2
In the second season of Stranger Things, Will Byers was secretly controlled by the Mind Flayer, allowing the creature to spy on his friends and spread strange plants and creatures throughout Hawkins. This resulted in a huge network of tunnels appearing under the town, which were used by the dangerous Demodogs to hunt. Fans previously believed these tunnels were a natural part of the Upside Down, growing from the opening created by Hawkins Lab. But the latest episodes clearly show this isn’t true – the tunnels were deliberately built, and Will was the one responsible for creating them while under the Mind Flayer’s control.
Stranger Things Makes Will Responsible for Season 2’s Tunnels

In the final part of Stranger Things Season 5, Will tries to psychically attack Vecna by connecting to a shared consciousness. However, this plan fails, and Vecna traps Will in his own mind, where he reveals the disturbing truth about their link. Vecna taunts Will, calling him his “builder,” and explains that he secretly turned Will into a way to use telekinetic powers in the real world. Everyone in Hawkins thought Will was just possessed, but he was actually being used to create the tunnels. This happened mostly while Will was asleep, meaning Vecna weaponized Will’s subconscious to change the town and expand the Upside Down.
The newly revealed backstory about Will Byers is key to understanding what Vecna is up to in the fifth season of Stranger Things. It shows that Vecna gains power from people he possesses, allowing him to control things across different dimensions. This explains why Vecna is targeting children like Holly Wheeler – he needs them as a source of energy to connect our world to a dangerous place called the Abyss. Will was Vecna’s first attempt, proving this plan could work. Now, Vecna is using twelve more children to gain enough power to fully merge the Abyss with Earth.
You can now watch Volume 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix. The very last episode will be released on January 31st.
What were your thoughts on the changes made to Will’s story in Season 5 of Stranger Things? Share your opinion in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-26 19:42