Stranger Things: Who Is Vecna? Explained

Stranger Things Season 4 finally introduced us to Vecna, the ruler of the Upside Down and the one who orchestrated every attack that terrorized Hawkins since the start. Now, as time passes and we get closer to the final season’s release, aren’t you curious to know who exactly is Vecna in Stranger Things? Well, if yes, you have arrived at the right place.

Who Is Vecna in Stranger Things Explained

Vecna, or Henry Creel, is the primary antagonist in Netflix’s popular TV series Stranger Things, created by the Duffer Brothers.

How Did Henry Creel Become Vecna?

He wasn’t born a villain, but loneliness transformed him into one. Born to a World War II veteran, Victor Creel and his wife, Virginia, he was named Henry. Henry lived with his parents and his elder sister Alice in Nevada until 1959, when Virginia’s great-uncle passed away, leaving behind a fortune to the family that allowed them to move to their new house in Hawkins. One day, Henry accidentally stumbled upon an alternate reality and was stuck there for 12 hours. The reality gave him strange psychokinetic abilities, so after returning to his family, he felt distant from them.

No one treated him with kindness except Patty Newby, who, after discovering his powers, pushed Henry to use his abilities for good. However, one day, Henry eventually killed Patty, and that was when Virginia handed him over to Dr. Brenner, who did some experiments on Henry in the laboratory. Henry managed to escape the lab, and after coming back to his family, he read the thoughts of his parents and sister and realized that no one wanted him to be there. So, he let the mind flayer take control over him and killed his mother and sister. Victor was put behind bars for killing his wife and daughter.

What Is the Significance of Henry Creel or Vecna in Stranger Things?

Following the death of his family, Henry Creel aka. Vecna was taken back to the Hawkins laboratory, where he became the first test subject and was given the name ‘001.’ The laboratory that residents of Hawkins believed was a facility for scientific research was actually a place where Dr. Brenner and his team conducted painful experiments on the kids with psychic abilities. These tests were conducted to discover the true potential of the human brain, or how much a person can exceed their abilities. Henry’s backstory clearly revealed that he was one of the initial products of the lab’s sinister ambitions.

What Is Henry Creel’s Relationship to Eleven?

When another subject, ‘Eleven’, was brought in at the facility and 001 saw the other subjects bully her, he believed that the new girl and he were alike. So, one day, he manipulated Eleven to remove the chip Dr. Brenner had embedded in his neck to suppress his powers. Eleven did as he said, and that was the biggest mistake, as after that, 001 killed every subject and scientist present in the facility, Dr. Brenner being an exception. 001 then asked Eleven to join forces with him and eradicate humanity from existence, but the girl denied and used her powers to send the evil subject to the alternate reality, which we know as ‘Upside Down.’ The toxic environment of the alternate dimension burned his skin and transformed Henry into the mutilated demon named ‘Vecna.’

Vecna’s Agenda and Powers in Stranger Things Explained

Vecna’s malevolent agendas are driven by personal sufferings and his desire to weaken the dimensional fabric so the Upside Down can cause havoc in the real world of Hawkins. With his psychic abilities, he can enter the brains of the teenagers of Hawkins who are grappling with guilt or trauma. He then makes them his prey and kills them in the most sadistic way. Now, you may wonder what these killings mean. With each killing, Vecna is able to open a new gate that eventually merges the two worlds, allowing the influence of the Upside Down to seep into Hawkins.

Vecna is the commanding ruler of the Upside Down, possessing the ability to control all lifeforms in the alternate reality. Unlike every other threat, including Mind Flayers and Demigorgons, Vecna possesses way more power as he has human-like ambitions and intellect, making him the ultimate villain of Stranger Things. 

Who Is the Vecna Actor in Stranger Things?

Jamie Campbell Bower plays the role of Vecna in Stranger Things. He first appeared in Season 4 and appeared in all 9 episodes of the season. The British actor has played several powerful roles in his career. He is best known for the portrayal of young Gellert Grindelwald in the Harry Potter movies.