Stranger Things Season 5 solves biggest Vecna mystery with shocking reveal

A question has hung over Stranger Things villain Vecna ever since the character first appeared, and now we have an answer, thanks to a major moment at the end of Season 5 Episode 4.

Having crashed Netflix when it first dropped, Volume 1 of Stranger Things 5 is now streaming, with Episodes 1-4 edging us closer to the finale.

The new instalments introduced the mysterious Mr. Watsit, briefly ripped off a Christmas classic, and featured songs from the likes of Michael Jackson, ABBA, and fan-favorite Kate Bush.

The episodes built towards a huge showdown outside Hawkins lab, which featured Will Byers facing off with his nemesis Vecna, and a major mystery being solved. SPOILERS ahead…

Why does Vecna target children in Stranger Things?

From day one, Vecna has stalked, kidnapped, tortured, manipulated, and used the children of Hawkins, and now we know why – it’s because they are “weak” and “easily reshaped.”

At the end of Episode 4, he levitates Will, pins him in the air, and explains his reasons and methods:

“Can you seem them, William? Can you see the children? Do you know why? Why I chose them to reshape the world? It’s because they are weak. Weak in body and mind. Easily broken. Easily reshaped. Controlled. The perfect vessels.”

To make matters worse, Vecna then tells Byers that his malleable mind gave him inspiration, saying: “You were the first. And you broke so easily. You showed me what was possible. What I could achieve. Some minds, it turns out, simply do not belong in this world. They belong in mine.”

How Vecna wins the trust of Hawkins’ kids in Season 5

Jamie Campbell Bower plays Vecna, who in Season 5, pretends to be a man called Mr. Watsit in order to win the trust of his victims. That name comes from Madeleine L’Engle novel A Wrinkle in Time, as the actor explains in an interview with Deadline about his new guise.

“This super refined, very nice version of who he is,” said Campbell Bower of how Vecna now presents himself. “I mean, for the conversation of style, we were definitely, obviously, using A Wrinkle in Time, this idea of Mr. Whatsit.”

While an even more unexpected source influenced the actor: “Mr. Rogers was a huge inspiration for me as well, with regards to how he wants to present himself with these children, and then even with something like the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

“I always felt like that was a really interesting story that I used quite a lot in building this version of this character. It’s this very warm, nice, natural way of being that hopefully makes them feel at home. It’s so icky. But hopefully it makes them feel at home enough for him to do what he needs to do, which is just disgusting, really, if you think about it.”

Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 is streaming on Netflix, while for more Hawkins action, check out the Stranger Things characters most likely to die in the final chapter, details of how Barb might return, plus Dexerto’s favorite Stranger Things characters ranked, and best Stranger Things episodes ranked.