The final season of Stranger Things is nearing its end, and after the first four episodes, it seems a science fiction story from 1960 is central to how the show will conclude. Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 premiered on Netflix on November 26th, bringing the story of the Hawkins group closer to a resolution. The latest episodes continue the battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and also introduce new mysteries as we await the final two parts. Please be aware that the following contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1.
Okay, so after watching Volume 1, I’m really left wondering how Holly and Max are going to get out of this mess in Camazotz. Will’s situation is also a huge concern – can they actually break him free from that hive mind? And, of course, the biggest question hanging over everything is what Vecna is really up to. It feels like the gang has been constantly playing right into his hands, and the Duffer brothers have a lot to resolve to give us a truly satisfying ending. Everyone’s already dissecting every little detail from the previous seasons, and one sci-fi classic keeps popping up, which pretty much screams that it’s going to be important to the final showdown. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all comes together!
A Wrinkle in Time Is Clearly Crucial to Stranger Things’ Ending
The show Stranger Things is famous for including references to popular culture, drawing from things like Star Wars, Back to the Future, and He-Man. While these references often just enhance the show’s 1980s atmosphere, they sometimes hint at what’s to come. This appears to be the case with the 1962 novel A Wrinkle in Time, which shows up in several ways in the first part of Season 5. For example, Holly is seen reading the book early in the season, a detail that might be easy to miss, but seems connected to the larger story.
When Henry Creel first meets Eleven and the other kids, he calls himself Mr. Whatsit, a clear reference to the character Mrs. Whatsit from Madeleine L’Engle’s novel, A Wrinkle in Time. Eleven also compares the nightmarish mental space she and Max are trapped in to Camazotz, the dark planet from the same book. In A Wrinkle in Time, characters are pressured to join a collective consciousness on Camazotz, and they face a powerful, shadowy entity called IT, which shares similarities with the Mind Flayer. These connections strongly suggest that the creators of the show are taking inspiration from A Wrinkle in Time, hinting that the classic children’s book might offer insights into future events.
How A Wrinkle in Time Could Be Connected to the Netflix Series
The connection between Stranger Things and A Wrinkle in Time is intriguing, but some elements don’t quite align. Specifically, naming the character Henry after Mrs. Whatsit – a traditionally heroic figure – hints at a potentially redemptive path for him. This could explain the difference in how he appears when interacting with Holly and her friends, compared to the villain seen by Will and Mike in Episode 4. It might also suggest that he’s intentionally distancing himself from the Upside Down, the source of his evil transformation.
This idea connects to a theory that the Mind Flayer is the real villain of Stranger Things, and is actually the one pulling the strings behind Vecna. The similarities to A Wrinkle in Time, which features a powerful, mind-controlling shadow, seem too intentional to be a coincidence. The creators, the Duffer brothers, are likely hinting at this twist through their use of references, and may be setting up a major reveal that will confirm what many fans have predicted.
Stranger Things’ References to the Sci-Fi Classic Support a Popular Season 5 Theory
The show Stranger Things has hinted at connections to A Wrinkle in Time, leading fans to believe time travel might be key to defeating Vecna in the final season. In season four, Mr. Clarke explained wormholes to his class – a lesson that often foreshadows major plot points. Plus, we learned the Upside Down is frozen in the past. Recent set pictures show Mike and Hopper in 1989, two years after the current season’s events, with Hopper surprisingly back in his police uniform, further suggesting time travel will play a role.
Considering everything that’s happened, it’s becoming clear the show will likely involve time travel in future episodes. The recent references to pop culture, specifically the book A Wrinkle in Time, strongly suggest this. That book features characters using a “tesseract” for time travel, which is similar to how Mr. Clarke explained traveling to the Upside Down in Season 1. Plus, Robin’s comment about a “Flux Capacitor” is a clear reference to Back to the Future. At this point, it would be more surprising if time travel didn’t happen.
What are your thoughts on the nods to A Wrinkle in Time in Stranger Things? Share your opinions in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- When Perturbation Fails: Taming Light in Complex Cavities
- FC 26 reveals free preview mode and 10 classic squads
- Jujutsu Kaisen Execution Delivers High-Stakes Action and the Most Shocking Twist of the Series (Review)
- Fluid Dynamics and the Promise of Quantum Computation
- Where Winds Meet: Best Weapon Combinations
- Dancing With The Stars Fans Want Terri Irwin To Compete, And Robert Irwin Shared His Honest Take
- 3 PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for December 2025 Leaked Early
- Why Carrie Fisher’s Daughter Billie Lourd Will Always Talk About Grief
- 7 Most Overpowered Characters in Fighting Games, Ranked
- Hazbin Hotel season 3 release date speculation and latest news
2025-12-11 05:40