Peter Solarz
πͺΌ
cherry valley forever
Cosimo Galluzzi
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
AnasAbdin
Jules of Nature

blake kathryn

titsay
Monterey Bay Aquarium
we're not kids anymore.
trying on a metaphor
noise dept.

No title available
I'd rather be in outer space πΈ
i don't do bad sauce passes

#extradirty
h

romaβ
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

seen from South Africa

seen from United States

seen from Malaysia

seen from United Kingdom

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Sweden

seen from United States
seen from Germany

seen from TΓΌrkiye

seen from Czechia
seen from TΓΌrkiye
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from Canada
seen from Lithuania
seen from United States

seen from United States
@livwi
IN THE IDEA THIS REKINDLES SOME HOPE
π¬ 9Β Β π 42Β Β β€οΈ 275Β Β·Β SING YOUR OWN SONG! A Mini Byler-Creelby AnalysisΒ Β·Β We know that Creelby and Byler are very much one another's narrative
Iβm posting this link to a BylerβCreelby analysis I wrote a couple weeks ago, and it makes SO MUCH SENSE in the context of what happened last night in volume 2
I know Iβm probably delusional, but the way what I analyzed was written, just makes too much sense for it to be nothing
I hope it brings up your hope like it brought up mine
ELEVEN, SAVE THE BOY! - further analysis to our Henry Creel theory
KINDA BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR NOW THAT WE WILL ABSOLUTELY TOUCH ON FURTHER LATER ;
BUT OOMF ON TIKTOK AFTER SEEING OUR THEORY POINTED OUT SOMETHING ABOUT HENRY AND ELEVEN ;
WE MENTIONED THAT HENRY HAD NO FAMILIAL LOVE GROWING UP
HE NEEDS FAMILIAL LOVE TO BE SAVED FROM HIS ETERNAL PRISON AS HE ONLY HAD ROMANTIC LOVE FROM PATTY
YOU NEED TO BE SURROUNDED IN LOVE SO YOU ARE STABLE IN YOUR THOUGHTS SO THEY CANNOT BE MANIPULATED AGAINST YOU, JUST AS BRENNER DID WITH HENRY AND HIS LOVE FOR PATTY
WHEN EL'S CONSCIOUSNESS WAS TRAPPED IN VECNA'S MINDSCAPE, SHE INSISTED TO HIM THAT HE WASN'T THE MONSTER, BUT THAT BRENNER WAS (WHICH HE WAS AS HE IS THE MIND FLAYER'S NARRATIVE FOIL)
" HE IS THE MONSTER, HENRY. NOT YOU."
WHICH IS WHY VECNA DID NOT BLAME BRENNER, AS BRENNER HELPED THE MIND FLAYER TO POSSESS HENRY AND OVERTAKE HIS CONSCIOUSNESS
BRENNER COULD HAVE BEEN A MEANS FOR HENRY TO FINALLY HAVE FAMILIAL LOVE, BUT HE SHOWED NO AID OR COMFORT TO HENRY
IT WAS NOT BRENNER WHO MADE HIM THE MONSTER, BUT ELEVEN
IF ELEVEN WAS THE ONE TO MAKE HIM THE MONSTER, IT WILL BE HER WHO TAKES HENRY OUT OF THE MONSTER
SHE SENT 001 TO DIMENSION X, WHICH IS LIKELY WHERE HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS TRAPPED IN HIS ORIGINAL MEMORY OF BEING SENT THERE AT AGE 8
SHE SENT THE BODY TO DIMENSION X, SHE CAN TAKE HIS CONSCIOUSNESS OUT
THEY PUT SUCH INCREDIBLE EMPHASIS TO 001 AND ELEVEN'S BOND
IT WAS FOR GOOD REASON
ELEVEN'S ATTEMPT AT RECONNECTING TO HIS HUMANITY FAILED
WHY? BECAUSE THIS ISN'T HENRY
THIS IS SIMPLY THE MIND FLAYER IN THE FLESH
ELEVEN WILL HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO FIND YOUNG HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS AND SAVE HIM
TO PROVIDE HIM THE FAMILIAL LOVE THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED HIM
"HE IS THE MONSTER, HENRY. NOT YOU."
KNOWING BRENNER IS THE MIND FLAYER'S NARRATIVE FOIL, THIS STATEMENT CAN BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY.
"HENRY" BEING YOUNG HENRY AND "HE IS THE MONSTER" BEING THE MIND FLAYER/VECNA.
THIS WILL BE THE CONVERSATION SHE HAS WITH YOUNG HENRY IN SEASON 5
JUST LIKE PATTY TOLD HIM "YOU'RE NOT THE DEVIL, YOU'RE JUST A WEIRDO"
PATTY WAS TOLD TO "SAVE THE BOY"
SHE WAS UNABLE TO, HER LOVE WAS NOT ENOUGH
THE BOY STILL HAS YET TO BE SAVED
AND THEN IN VOLUME 1, ELEVEN HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR VECNA AND WAS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR VECNA AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND HIM.
JUST AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND MAX
AND WHY CAN'T SHE FIND VECNA? BECAUSE SHE IS LOOKING FOR HENRY, WHO'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS TRAPPED
VECNA IS THE MIND FLAYER'S MANIFESTATION AND NOT HENRY HIMSELF
BUT THEN IN THE VOLUME ONE POSTER, WHILE EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FORWARD, SHE WAS LOOKING TO THE BACK, AS THOUGH SHE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OR SOMEONE.
WHAT'S BEHIND HER IN THAT DIRECTION?
THE LIGHTNING THAT WE MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL POST LIKELY REPRESENTING YOUNG HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS TRAPPED IN VECNA'S MIND IN HIS MEMORY OF BEING SENT TO DIMENSION X
ELEVEN IS FINDING YOUNG HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS IN HIS PRISON AND SAVING HIM WITH THE FAMILIAL LOVE HE HAD ALWAYS CRAVED
I think our theory just got confirmedβ¦..
Just Jonathan consistently grilling and questioning Mike on whether or not his βcoordinatesβ on Eleven are correctβ¦
And him saying βit just doesnβt make any senseβ after he tells Mike to go βstraightβ¦straightβ¦straightβ to the coordinates β¦
Ouhhhh he absolutely suspects Michael
Jonathan holding a coke literally listening to the borderline flirty conversation Mike and Will were having before interrupting them
JUST LIKE WILL DID WITH ROBIN AND VICKIE IN SEASON 5?????? HELLOOOOOO?????????????
The concept of Jonathan having a conversation like this with Mike about Willβ¦
The Bridge Out of Vecna
How Will and his abilities are the key in recovering Henry, sparking the cascade that will destroy Vecna
βββββββββββββββββββ
What if the reason why Whatsit was glitching like this was because Will was looking through him / puppeteering his mind?
βββββββββββββββββββ
Which could explain why Will is in between Vecna and Henry, as he serves as their bridge or the link between the two
βββββββββββββββββββ
Will says "we failed,β because itβs possible he was unable to hold onto the figment of 001 in one spot as he closed in on Holly as Vecna took over, which wore him out,
possibly explaining why he's passed out with Joyce looking incredibly guilty (as she's the one who recommended the plan)
βββββββββββββββββββ
and Holly was likely unable to be saved.
Leading to Will's guilt possibly after waking up and him saying "we failed."
βββββββββββββββββββ
Look at how Eleven is in the sensory deprivation tank RIGHT NEXT TO HENRY.
Eleven was unable to ever find Vecna (just as she couldn't find Max.)
βββββββββββββββββββ
what if Will tries to hack into Vecna's mind once more,
and finally has the capacity to keep his mind grounded/frozen in one spot (the bridge between Vecna and Henry),
and finally allow Eleven to piggyback into his mind via the void?
βββββββββββββββββββ
El had done this with the memory of the lieutenant,
they had him physically trapped and she was able to traverse his memories and she was able to see the room where 008 was hidden
(THE VERY ROOM SHE THOUGHT VECNA WAS HIDDEN IN!!!!)
βββββββββββββββββββ
If Will can trap Whatsitβs/Vecnaβs mind, Eleven can then have the ability to freely piggyback into his memories,
where she could then very possibly come across a certain memory of his
Which memory would that be?
βββββββββββββββββββ
Henryβs memory of the cave.
βββββββββββββββββββ
they were unable to show what truly happened in the cave in the play as the Duffers wanted it to be a big reveal for season 5.
βββββββββββββββββββ
What had happened was simply only implied. Thus, the β80% less.β
βββββββββββββββββββ
and in this memory, eleven will finally be able to witness what happened to him and find the REAL Henry,
his consciousness trapped, reliving this moment over and over and over again.
βββββββββββββββββββ
which explains why on the ST5 poster, there was a figure of lightning that resembled young Henry in his scout outfit just above Vecna's human eye,
as though it's trapped in Vecna's mind.
which could also explain why El is looking back in the direction of the figure of lightning,
especially considering she was looking for Vecna the entire season and was unable to figure out where he was
(likely because Henry is trapped in his memory of being sent to DimX)
as well as why the same figure of lightning was on the official mural art for the Broadway performance
and which is why she is right next to Henry as the Duffers placed her.
She will be finding Henry's consciousness and recovering him from his prison via Willβs abilities
And thus why Will is the key in defeating Vecna; without him and his abilities, this cannot be completed.
HENRYβS SACRIFICE β A REFERENCE
ARCANE SPOILERS INCOMING!!
So we have our theory that Henry has his consciousness trapped in Vecnaβs mindscape.
This post may not make complete sense if you have not read our theory entirely (we have several posts on our profile explaining this!)
But we will have a little synopsis in context to the video we will use
- Henry's the Hand of Vecna, the final artifact of Vecna/Mind Flayer.
- Henry sacrifices himself after his consciousness is recovered, destroying Vecna + Mind Flayer,
- Reviving Will in the process who sacrificed himself from being the Eye of Vecna
- Henry's consciousness dies along with the Mind Flayer, finally knowing peace after years of torment
THE ARTIFACTS OF VECNA π«³ποΈ
An Eyegate analysis/speculation and further elaboration on our theory of Henry's consciousness + how the show could possibly end
βββββββββββββββββββ
We know that Henry and Will are narrative foils.
They have had very similar stories so far with opposite components in their arcs.
Henry went missing because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Will went missing because his abduction was a calculated decision.
Henry had romantic love but no familial love (yet).
Will has had familial love, but no romantic love (yet).
They will have their arcs completed, but in opposite ways.
βββββββββββββββββββ
Will has had no injury to his eye;
injuring his eye may be a component in severing his connection to Vecna, as it is the likely possibility that he is the Eye of Vecna.
In D&D lore, the user has to gauge out their own eye to use its abilities.
But since Will has his connection to the hive mind, he exhibits the abilities regardless.
So removing his eye is what may ultimately weaken his connection.
βββββββββββββββββββ
While Henry's the Hand of Vecna.
Henry injuring his hand is what caused him to develop the magic hand after his body transformed into Vecna.
We see this is emphasized when the figment of 001 that was chasing Max only had his left arm transformed into its Vecnatype transfiguration
Unlike Will, this injury Henry suffered is likely what lead to Vecna developing his powerful hand.
So the recovery of Henry's consciousness into his own body is what may be needed to weaken his own connection.
βββββββββββββββββββ
We'll examine this image
The eye represents Will and the hand represents Henry
Metaphor: if you remove the eye, the hand will still remain/exist
However, if you remove the hand, the eye will fall. The Hand of Vecna is what allows the Eye of Vecna to exist
βββββββββββββββββββ
& then in this poster, we see Will is directly underneath the faded eye.
a likely representation that he will injure/lose his eye, but his connection to the Mind Flayer as well.
In our eyes, these two eyes represent the different sides to Vecna.
the faded eye representing the MF, while the human eye represents Henry (and his consciousness, as we look above it and there's a figure of lightning that resembles a child.)
and who could this child represent?
young Henry's consciousness, who is likely trapped in a memory in Vecna's mindscape.
likely in the memory of him being sent to Dimension X, interesting as Max has yet to come across this memory despite traversing through Vecna's memories a multitude of times.
βββββββββββββββββββ
Further interesting as Eleven had not been able to find Max because her consciousness is trapped.
Eleven was looking for Vecna and was unable to find him.
Why?
Because she is looking for Henry without even realizing, whose consciousness is ALSO likely trapped.
βββββββββββββββββββ
We look back at this poster.
It appears as though Eleven is looking back, as though she is looking for something or someONE.
And behind her in that particular direction, what stands out?
the lightning figure that resembles a child above Vecna's human eye as though it's in the foreground of his mind.
Remember, Eleven was looking for Vecna but was unable to find him.
She was looking for Max but was unable to find her because her consciousness was trapped.
And when we put these two images together, the foreground and colors nearly match up if we analyze closely.
we can see that they behold two particular figures.
Instead, these figures are in opposite spots.
One in Vecna's mind and the other facing the MF.
keep this in mind!!
βββββββββββββββββββ
Will and the lightning figure are also on opposite ends of the poster, likely emphasizing him and Henry as narrative foils.
βββββββββββββββββββ
why does this matter?
We mentioned this prior;
they are narrative foils and their arcs have opposite characteristics in their cultivation.
Henry injuring his hand further STRENGTHENED his connection to the MF
while Will injuring his eye could WEAKEN his connection to the MF
In some way, some how, they are connected to one another.
They are Vecna's artifacts.
These artifacts in some way need to be destroyed to destroy Vecna and the Mind Flayer (like horcruxes)
But how would this work?
βββββββββββββββββββ
Well, this story started with Henry's character.
Him being sent to Dimension X and being possessed by the Mind Flayer is what led to Vecna.
If Henry's consciousness is trapped, it needs to be recovered in order to kill Vecna.
In a dire moment, Will may sacrifice himself by removing his eye which will result in his fakeout death.
Turns out this is not enough to end Vecna. That's where Henry comes in.
βββββββββββββββββββ
One artifact has already been destroyed: the Eye of Vecna.
What is left is the Hand of Vecna.
And that is Henry.
Will being the Eye of Vecna was an ultimate byproduct of the fact that he was induced into the hive mind by Vecna.
The Hand of Vecna can exist without the Eye of Vecna, but the Eye of Vecna CANNOT exist WITHOUT the Hand of Vecna.
Will's artifact is conditional, while Henry's is permanent.
Will will remain the Eye of Vecna UNTIL the Hand of Vecna is destroyed, because that is his connection.
βββββββββββββββββββ
Henry becoming the Hand of Vecna was a result of the fact his hand was injured WHEN he became possessed.
Even if Henry's consciousness is recovered, the Hand of Vecna cannot be destroyed UNLESS Henry is destroyed as well.
Will's artifact wasn't embedded into him, it was because he had the connection to the hive mind.
Henry's artifact is physically/tangibly embedded into him.
He beholds the ultimate connection to what's causing EVERYTHING: the Mind Flayer.
βββββββββββββββββββ
Henry must destroy himself, to destroy the Mind Flayer.
Both Henry & Will ultimately will self-sacrifice, but they are meant to serve the Doomed vs the Blessed narrative foils.
Because Henry and the Mind Flayer are now gone, the connection that killed Will is eliminated and severed; he'll now be able to live an unburdened tranquil life, fulfilling the happy ending with Mike that Henry and Patty were unable to see themselves.
SING YOUR OWN SONG! A Mini Byler-Creelby Analysis
We know that Creelby and Byler are very much one another's narrative foils.
Henry parallels Will
Patty parallels Mike
βββββββββββββββββββ
Henry and Patty connected with one another when they met
they were seen as outcasts at Hawkins High
they felt isolated and alone
They bonded and connected through this commonality and made each other truly feel seen.
They wanted to run away from Hawkins, to write their own story, together. But they were unable to. Why?
Because tragedy struck.
Henry couldn't resist the Mind Flayer and he was forced to try and kill Patty
Thus, he was taken into Brenner's custody where he was kept in the lab until Eleven sent him to Dimension X
βββββββββββββββββββ
Now we look at the characters' lines of Joyce's play that Henry and Patty were portraying: (where the colors are also blue, yellow, and green...)
Henry's character says
"it's bad luck not to finish a song,"
Patty's character replies
"it's a sad one. I like the gay ones best."
If we put this introspectively, it's nearly as though they are speaking about their own ending.
Their ending was a sad one, because they were unable to fulfill their dreams together and their story resulted in a tragedy.
But Henry's character says you don't know the ending until it's all sung through.
The play is made to serve as a prequel to the show and aids in the context of season 5 tremendously.
Just because the play ended in tragedy, doesn't mean the show will.
Because the show still has yet to be completely "sung through."
This is why "let's make it a gay one," in regards to the song and its ending is so crucial. Why?
βββββββββββββββββββ
Because Will and Mike will have the happy ending that Henry and Patty were unable to have.
Creelby's story and the play serves as the sad song.
But again, that doesn't mean the show will end in this tragedy because we don't know the ending
"till a song has been sung through."
That's why they say, "then let's make it a gay one."
Because Mike and Will will have their happy ending, the "gay" song.
We just have yet to see it because their song has not been completely sung through. (the show's story has yet to finish)
They will get to sing their own ending because they'll no longer have to face anything keeping them from being together (Mind Flayer, Vecna, Upside Down) after their years of suffering.
They will leave Hawkins, starting their own party, the two of them.
Just as Henry and Patty had wanted for themselves.
The sad song and the gay song.
βββββββββββββββββββ
We have so much more to add to this analysis in regards to our theory on young Henry's trapped consciousness, but that'll be another post.
For now, we hope you enjoed this little analysis <3
ELEVEN, SAVE THE BOY! - further analysis to our Henry Creel theory
KINDA BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR NOW THAT WE WILL ABSOLUTELY TOUCH ON FURTHER LATER ;
BUT OOMF ON TIKTOK AFTER SEEING OUR THEORY POINTED OUT SOMETHING ABOUT HENRY AND ELEVEN ;
WE MENTIONED THAT HENRY HAD NO FAMILIAL LOVE GROWING UP
HE NEEDS FAMILIAL LOVE TO BE SAVED FROM HIS ETERNAL PRISON AS HE ONLY HAD ROMANTIC LOVE FROM PATTY
YOU NEED TO BE SURROUNDED IN LOVE SO YOU ARE STABLE IN YOUR THOUGHTS SO THEY CANNOT BE MANIPULATED AGAINST YOU, JUST AS BRENNER DID WITH HENRY AND HIS LOVE FOR PATTY
WHEN EL'S CONSCIOUSNESS WAS TRAPPED IN VECNA'S MINDSCAPE, SHE INSISTED TO HIM THAT HE WASN'T THE MONSTER, BUT THAT BRENNER WAS (WHICH HE WAS AS HE IS THE MIND FLAYER'S NARRATIVE FOIL)
" HE IS THE MONSTER, HENRY. NOT YOU."
WHICH IS WHY VECNA DID NOT BLAME BRENNER, AS BRENNER HELPED THE MIND FLAYER TO POSSESS HENRY AND OVERTAKE HIS CONSCIOUSNESS
BRENNER COULD HAVE BEEN A MEANS FOR HENRY TO FINALLY HAVE FAMILIAL LOVE, BUT HE SHOWED NO AID OR COMFORT TO HENRY
IT WAS NOT BRENNER WHO MADE HIM THE MONSTER, BUT ELEVEN
IF ELEVEN WAS THE ONE TO MAKE HIM THE MONSTER, IT WILL BE HER WHO TAKES HENRY OUT OF THE MONSTER
SHE SENT 001 TO DIMENSION X, WHICH IS LIKELY WHERE HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS TRAPPED IN HIS ORIGINAL MEMORY OF BEING SENT THERE AT AGE 8
SHE SENT THE BODY TO DIMENSION X, SHE CAN TAKE HIS CONSCIOUSNESS OUT
THEY PUT SUCH INCREDIBLE EMPHASIS TO 001 AND ELEVEN'S BOND
IT WAS FOR GOOD REASON
ELEVEN'S ATTEMPT AT RECONNECTING TO HIS HUMANITY FAILED
WHY? BECAUSE THIS ISN'T HENRY
THIS IS SIMPLY THE MIND FLAYER IN THE FLESH
ELEVEN WILL HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO FIND YOUNG HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS AND SAVE HIM
TO PROVIDE HIM THE FAMILIAL LOVE THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED HIM
"HE IS THE MONSTER, HENRY. NOT YOU."
KNOWING BRENNER IS THE MIND FLAYER'S NARRATIVE FOIL, THIS STATEMENT CAN BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY.
"HENRY" BEING YOUNG HENRY AND "HE IS THE MONSTER" BEING THE MIND FLAYER/VECNA.
THIS WILL BE THE CONVERSATION SHE HAS WITH YOUNG HENRY IN SEASON 5
JUST LIKE PATTY TOLD HIM "YOU'RE NOT THE DEVIL, YOU'RE JUST A WEIRDO"
PATTY WAS TOLD TO "SAVE THE BOY"
SHE WAS UNABLE TO, HER LOVE WAS NOT ENOUGH
THE BOY STILL HAS YET TO BE SAVED
AND THEN IN VOLUME 1, ELEVEN HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR VECNA AND WAS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR VECNA AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND HIM.
JUST AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND MAX
AND WHY CAN'T SHE FIND VECNA? BECAUSE SHE IS LOOKING FOR HENRY, WHO'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS TRAPPED
VECNA IS THE MIND FLAYER'S MANIFESTATION AND NOT HENRY HIMSELF
BUT THEN IN THE VOLUME ONE POSTER, WHILE EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FORWARD, SHE WAS LOOKING TO THE BACK, AS THOUGH SHE WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OR SOMEONE.
WHAT'S BEHIND HER IN THAT DIRECTION?
THE LIGHTNING THAT WE MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL POST LIKELY REPRESENTING YOUNG HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS TRAPPED IN VECNA'S MIND IN HIS MEMORY OF BEING SENT TO DIMENSION X
ELEVEN IS FINDING YOUNG HENRY'S CONSCIOUSNESS IN HIS PRISON AND SAVING HIM WITH THE FAMILIAL LOVE HE HAD ALWAYS CRAVED
SAVE THE BOY! - a Henry Creel Theory
Analyzation surrounding young Henry's character as a consciousness and how he could be important to the ending of season 5
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
βVecna had an obsession with acquiring and maintaining secrets, believing them to be the source of true powerβ
βEvery being in existence had a secret that could be used to bring about its destructionβ
( via the Forgotten Realms wiki )
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
βMind Flayer attacked the secret that rots inside Pattyβs fatherβ
βHenry tried to stop it and fought backβ
βPattyβs father told Patty to save the boyβ
( via Henry's wiki page )
Max establishing to Holly that her journey through the memories were like a prison that she couldnβt escape from.
Double entendre to the fact that perhaps Henry is trapped in them as well? As βHenryβs Prisonβ
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
The official Stranger Things twitter account mentioned the concept of a mind/memory palace, which is an imaginary location where you store mnemonic images.
You make a journey through a place you know well. Max made this journey through Henryβs memories.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
In D&D lore, Vecna was cursed by gods who were jealous of his power
(just as Henry was possessed by the Mind Flayer to be used for his powers)
Vecna also trapped his death in a castle on the grey sands of an alien world, where it wails in eternal torment.
( via Forgotten Realms wiki )
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
When Vecna kills his victims, he kills their consciousness, which in turn kills the body. He then keeps the deceased consciousnesses as trophies in his mindscape, as we saw with Chrissy and Fred.
HOWEVER, in Maxβs case, he was unable to kill her consciousness because she was able to escape at the last moment because of the party's ambush (which for some reason, he had not foreseen to happen despite him claiming he has foresight and knowing they were there).
She simply died because of the severity of her injuries. So when El revived her body, her consciousness was revived but it was trapped in Henryβs memories as he nearly succeeded in capturing her consciousness. But now instead of remaining as a trophy on his walls, sheβs stuck in his memories.
The body cannot exist and function properly without the consciousness still existing; the consciousness is what makes a body mortal, which is why when the consciousness is killed, the physical body will be killed along with it.
In a video promoting the visuals of The First Shadow Play, Louis McCartney (Henry's actor) emphasized that this "evil version of Henry" made him "contort and convulse," which sounds rather similar to what happens to the bodies of Vecna's victims after he kills their consciousnesses.
However, after this contorting and convulsing was occurring on the fact that Henry and the Mind Flayer were fighting over the control of his body. Fighting for who would be the consciousness.
If Vecna is truly a puppet and the body's consciousness is hidden away, it would explain why the party was unable to kill him in season 4 and why he was now essentially indestructible in season 5.
He can regenerate himself because of his immortality.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
In D&D lore, the Mind Flayer βcontrolled the minds of their life forms to use them as obedient thrallsβ βthey consumed their victimsβ very personality by extracting and devouring their brains while they were still alive.β
it did this very thing with Will in season 2, where it consumed his memories and was slowly removing his consciousness and personality as its tether to him grew stronger
It was quite literally said that when Henry returned from Dimension X, his personality was significantly altered from what it originally had been
( via Forgotten Realms wiki )
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
001/Vecna does not have Henryβs persona.
In the play, Henry was shown to have a very gentle personality while opposing the Mind Flayer and simply wanted to live a happy life full of love. He hated what he was going through. 001, on the other hand, believed he was always different.
That he always hated the human race, when this was not the case at all. He wanted to take part in the human experience, but his supernatural possession prevented him from doing so, where even Pattyβs love was not enough to save him.
This is why this line is ironic (all while performing in a silly, terrible play), because we learned Henryβs backstory in the play, where he connected with the very person who was able to weaken his tether to the Mind Flayer.
It is also a double entendre to the fact that this isnβt Henry, as it is likely someone or someTHING acting as Henry.
What does the Mind Flayer do? It consumes their victimsβ personality by extracting and devouring their brains while they were still alive.
Which is likely what the Mind Flayer has done with Henryβs, using his body as a vessel for its own use and purpose, while his gentle and whimsy personality was completely eliminated.
The memories we were provided in season 4, werenβt Henryβs. They were instead the Mind Flayerβs, cursing the human society through its experience of possessing Henryβs body.
It removed his happiness, the innocence of the childhood he had prior to his possession.
First, because the Mind Flayer had not experienced it firsthand and second, because it hates these kind of memories. We know it feeds off of fear.
Just like Vecna took advantage of sensitive situations in the show and creeped into the mind of his victims, the Mind Flayer did the same with Henry in the play.
Without even realizing, it got into his head and made him fear that he would hurt Patty, that he "would kill a lot of things" "they want the same thing" "to let me in." while she said that everyone in his life is right, contorting her face into its skull in a nightmarish display.
These arenβt Henryβs abilities;
they are the Mind Flayerβs. Patty herself said to Henry, βyouβre definitely not the devil. Youβre just a weirdo.β EMPHASIZING that Henry isnβt some evil monster.
Heβs just a weirdo and a nerd, just like her. Just like all our characters. Those abilities of the Mind Flayerβs have been transferred to Vecna, because it is using Henryβs body as a vessel for its own use.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Now we bring back this point.
Itβs safe to conclude that the Henry we know in the play, is not the 001/Vecna we come to see in the show. Henry's consciousness that has been removed while the Mind Flayer uses his body as its own vessel is the trapped death imprisoned on a castle of grey sands of an alien world where it wails in eternal torment.
But exactly where is this?
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββDimension X is very much an alien world of grey sands.
But how could Henry be trapped here if simply a consciousness at this point? Where is the βcastle?β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
We bring back the memory/mind palace.
Henryβs βcastleβ is the mind palace of the memory of him being sent to Dimension X. The Mind Flayer is holding him captive in this memory, where he lives in fear and wails in eternal torment.
It explains why that figment of 001 was so terrified to come into the cave. In that cave, originates the memory where he comes into contact with the Mind Flayer and his ultimate possession, destroying the childhood this child once had.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
And now we come back to secrets.
If Vecna looks for the secrets that will destroy others, he most definitely has one that will destroy him. And what could it possibly be? Henry being trapped in that memory. Because if he is recovered, he can finally kill the Mind Flayer.
We constantly have this reiterated in the show:
βI had a feeling he didnβt want me to see.β Max has not come across this memory of Henryβs prison, because it is quite literally where henry is trapped. If he is saved, his body becomes mortal and the Mind Flayer can be killed.
Patty's father emphasized to her, to save Henry, to save the boy. And yet, she was unable to, he succumbed to the Mind Flayer. He insisted that he is the key to destroying this shadow.
He must be saved and recovered in season 5 to make the body mortal again, which will finally give him the full possibility to defeat the Mind Flayer once and for all. But how can this happen?
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
We come back to a close square 1.
In this poster, we can see a faded eye and a human eye, with one eye likely representing the Mind Flayer and the other representing Henry's humanness, as we know Vecna does not have eyes like these. They are the two sides to Vecna.
Lately, the cast has emphasized his past and his humanness. That he was once a good kid, that we have to question WHY he went from this gentle, quiet kid who just wanted to live a happy life to the evil monster he is now. What if this eye is young Henry's eye?
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
and then we have this somewhat out of place shot of lightning just above the human eye, which somewhat resembles the figure of a child as though it remains in the backdrop of vecna's mind.
And we mention it out of place BECAUSE it is only on this particular side of Vecna's face with an oddly humanoid shape, where not another shot of lightning is any where on the poster.
which is INCREDIBLY ironic, because that SAME SHOT of lightning was on the official mural for The First Shadow Play on Broadway. (found by amazing oomf tysm)
zooming on it a little bit more, we see the shape is the EXACT same shape. Just simply reflected towards the Mind Flayer, with the rays of lightning that are protruding from it appearing as though they are attached to this interdimensional deity.
and of course, while it may simply just be a ray of lightning, why reuse the same shot? one that resembles a human? why use it on a poster where it is so eye catching on the image?
knowing their story in The First Shadow, when Henry and Patty had their first kiss, the lights went haywire and the electricity surged (flickergate? π€) further representing this lighting as young Henry's consciousness trapped in Vecna's mind
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
now this piece is a bit of a nothingburger, but when we zoom in on the lightning figure, we can see one of the rays vaguely resembles an h / H / or the roman numeral for 1
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
a bit more of a nothing burger, but the lightning figure also somewhat resembles Henry in his boy scout outfit, which may have been what he was wearing when he was transported to Dimension X
this just further emphasizes the concept of Henry being trapped as a consciousness - the question that remains is how can Henry be saved?
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
bringing back this poster, we can see all of the party is looking forwards EXCEPT for Eleven.
She is looking to the back, behind the party. And why does this matter? Because Eleven could be the very one to find young Henry's consciousness.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Henry had romantic love. But he had no familial/platonic love.
As soon as he came back from Dimension X after his exposure to the Mind Flayer, his personality was significantly altered and he was supernaturally tortuered and tormented. He begged his family for help and none of them cared, they made his possession worse, speaking bad of him when he wasn't in their presence and refused to comfort and show him love when he really needed it.
When he finally met Brenner, instead of helping him through what he was going through, he made Henry's possession significantly worse.
Instead, it was Patty's love who helped him fight off the Mind Flayer until he was no longer able to.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Will and Henry are very clearly narrative foils. They are two very similar characters who could have the same ending, but they will have opposite outcomes. It only makes narrative sense.
Adding onto this, Will didn't have romantic love, but he had familial/platonic love. The exact opposite of what Henry had. The memories of the familial/platonic love that were provided to Will in season 2 were the memories that allowed Will to accept himself and harness his powers and use them against Vecna.
Just as Patty's love for Henry pushed him to harness and use his powers for good against the Mind Flayer, to save her father.
However, Patty's love was not enough to keep Henry against his tether to the deity. When Brenner made him unsure of Patty's love for him, that it was a weakness, it left him uncertain and it made him easier to give into the Mind Flayer, in a moment in which he was completely lost against it.
The same will likely be used for Will, if birthdaygate is true and currently in plan by Vecna. Leading to uncertainty in Will, making it easier for him to give into Vecna.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
And in the way they serve their narrative foil goodness:
Will will need the romantic love for the ultimate shield against the Mind Flayer.
Henry needed the familial/platonic love for the ultimate shield against the Mind Flayer.
And how will this work for the both of them?
If Mike reciprocates Will's feelings
If Eleven finds Henry's consciousness
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
If Eleven finds Henry's consciousness, he'll meet a sister he likely knew he never had, and she'll let him know that:
that they are so similar
that what happened to him wasn't deserved
that ultimately that she sees him and that he is loved and that he is not some evil monster
In the show, 001 had her reach into memories that made her angry. Eleven will reach into memories that made Henry happy.
In a parallel to to Billy sacrificing himself in season 3
But instead, it will end in the successful killing of the Mind Flayer
Eleven will provide Henry the familial love that he had always desired and craved, the love that would have saved him had he had it before the Mind Flayer completely took over his body and trapped his consciousness
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
As we mentioned prior, Henry and Will are narrative foils
Two very similar characters who will have opposite endings
Henry was always doomed, everything that ever happened to him was never planned out or premeditated, he simply was in the wrong place at the wrong time
"It started with Will, it ends with Will." β No, it started with Henry, it ends with Henry.
They both will have their self acceptance, their familial love, and their romantic love. But only one of them can live on.
And that will be Will.
The Duffers say that characters like Eddie were always doomed for a tragic ending
We believe Henry falls into that category
He'll finally gain back control of himself and his powers after being reminded and reassured that he is loved and important
Where, in the end, in a bittersweet parallel to Star Wars (Anakin β Sidious), Henry will sacrifice himself against the Mind Flayer, ultimately killing it, but himself as well along with it.
Which we believe this official art by @ _james_martin_ on instagram portrays
Which will finally release him from the eternal prison and let him know peace after so long
And in that case, we believe that Will will experience a fakeout death, similarly to that in Harry Potter
As he is possibly the Eye of Vecna, he may remove his eye, which will kill him
However, once Henry succeeds with his ultimate sacrifice, Will is revived, as that connection that killed him no longer holds any tether to him
Sealing the beautiful stories of two characters whose arcs are fulfilled in similar, yet opposite ways
in receiving the love they had always desired
succeeding against the evil that had tormented them for years.
Two sides of the same coin β
The doomed versus the blessed.
THE CALLING OF A HIDDEN CONSCIOUSNESS a theory by liv and kiwi :)
hello! this is our first post on here but this was a long time in the culmination!
it is written in regard to henry creel's past and his character in the show, and how it caters to the ending of Stranger Things as a whole.
we really hope anyone who might catch this likes it, we personally had so much fun writing this theory and we see it having such a strong possibility of happening in season 5.
thank you sm if u happened to read it :)