‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ Explains Why Henry is the Most Misunderstood Character

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Those who enjoy Stranger Things are excitedly anticipating the final part of the show’s three-part ending, which will arrive on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. While many predictions are circulating about how the story will conclude, a popular idea is that Vecna—also known as Henry Creel and played by Jamie Campbell Bower—might find a way to be redeemed.

Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, suggested that Vecna is a more complex character than viewers might think, telling TV Guide that he’s actually the most misunderstood. Millie Bobby Brown, playing Eleven, quickly stopped him from elaborating. However, this has fueled speculation about Vecna’s backstory. The Broadway play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which tells the story of Henry’s past, further supports the idea that we’ll learn more about what made Vecna who he is.

The Broadway Play is Canon, And Says A Lot


Image via Netflix

The Broadway show I saw is now officially part of the show’s story. It’s based on a short story by the creators, explaining what happened to Henry – the character who later became the Mind Flayer’s host – during his high school years. The story reveals he knew the parents of many of the main characters, including Joyce Byers and Jim Hopper.

According to Kate Trefy, the writer of both the play and the TV series, this development is officially part of the show’s storyline. She told The Hollywood Reporter that it’s connected to events from seasons one through four, and will also play a role in future events of season five. She describes it as a crucial element that brings everything together.

The play centers around Henry and his struggle to understand and control his frightening abilities. It’s set in Hawkins, 1959, shortly after Henry’s family moves there. Years before, the government attempted to create an invisibility technology, which inadvertently opened a gateway to the Upside Down. A Russian spy was involved in the project, and after it failed and everyone died except for Dr. Martin Brenner’s father, the spy concealed some of the technology in a cave. Young Henry discovered this technology, accidentally activated it, and spent months trapped in the Upside Down, where he was taken over by the Mind Flayer, fundamentally changing who he was.

A key moment in the latest season of Stranger Things hints at a wild fan theory about the finale. Max tells Holly she’s been hiding in a cave inside Henry’s mind – the same cave featured in the play that originally traumatized him. The fact that Henry actively avoids this cave suggests a part of his original self is still trapped there. While the current events are happening through Henry, it’s becoming clear that the Mind Flayer, not Henry himself, is truly responsible.

The First Shadow Paints Henry as Completely Misunderstood


Image via Netflix

In Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Henry is shown as a typical, somewhat awkward teenager navigating the challenges of growing up and starting at a new school. His quick connection and budding romance with Patty, who turns out to be Bob’s sister, hint that even while controlled by the Mind Flayer—much like Will—the genuine boy still remains within him.

As a longtime fan, it’s always broken my heart watching Henry. Every time he tries to use his abilities, things spiral out of control, and the Mind Flayer takes over. He genuinely can’t stop himself, and it leads to terrible acts – starting with harming animals and tragically escalating to his own family. It’s complicated because Patty, despite caring for him, actually encourages him to embrace his powers, hoping he can help her find her birth mother. Honestly, all Henry wants is a normal childhood, but it’s just not possible for him. It’s a small detail, but that flashback in Stranger Things Season 5, Part 1, where you see Joyce handing out flyers for the school play with Henry’s name on it? That just really highlights what he could have had, you know? It’s devastating.

Dr. Brenner (played by Matthew Modine) is clearly presented as the main antagonist, and audiences often react with strong disapproval when he appears. He discovers Henry’s abilities and pretends to offer assistance, but his true intention is to exploit Henry as a test subject. Both the play and Season 4 of the show reveal that Brenner conducted numerous experiments on Henry, eventually utilizing his unique blood type to create a new group of children with special powers – Eleven being a prime example.

Okay, so things really go south when Brenner shows up at the school, intending to eliminate Patty. It becomes clear she’s a problem because of my connection to her – Brenner sees my feelings as a weakness. Fueled by rage, I lose control and, well, I really hurt her. It’s a devastating moment, and Brenner manipulates me into believing I’m a monster only he can fix. He’s essentially taken me under his wing now, becoming a father figure in a very twisted way.

The Revenge Story Could Play Into the End


Image via Netflix

It becomes clear that Henry isn’t truly a villain. He’s a young boy who was overwhelmed and controlled by a much stronger power. Will faced a similar threat, but he had the support of his family and friends to help him resist. Henry, however, was completely alone. Although he briefly had a connection with Patty, Dr. Brenner manipulated him emotionally, making him believe that Brenner was the only one who cared. Seeing Henry’s backstory makes you feel sympathy for him, and perhaps even understand how he ended up the way he did.

The play also hints that Henry’s actions stem from a desire for revenge, whether fueled by his own sadness or the Mind Flayer’s influence. His father, though surviving an attack, was wrongly blamed for a series of deaths and animal killings in town. Joyce, Hopper, and Bob discovered the source of these strange occurrences traced back to the Creel House. Henry’s father, Victor, might have been the only one who could have helped him, but he was removed from the situation. Adding to Henry’s troubles, he was mistreated by his classmates at school.

In the play, Henry threatens Joyce with future consequences, hinting at why he might have targeted Will first. Will seems to remind Henry of his younger self, and importantly, he’s the son of the woman who destroyed Henry’s father’s life with false accusations.

Considering Henry often acts on his feelings, and the Mind Flayer targets people struggling with guilt and shame, it’s likely some of the main characters will be able to reach him, similar to how they helped Will. By the end, Patty survives, though she needs a cane and travels to Las Vegas to see her mother. Eventually, Joyce, Hopper, and the others will realize the person controlling Vecna is actually Henry Creel, someone they knew from school. Perhaps Joyce will be the key to bringing him back to his senses.

It’s important to remember that Victor, despite blinding himself after being falsely accused of murder and learning about his son’s actions, is still alive and living in an institution, portrayed by Robert Englund. Eleven and Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) are also significant – Kali unexpectedly reappeared in Part 1. Henry has known both of them since childhood, and because they were created from his own blood, they’re essentially his siblings. This likely creates a complex mix of shame, guilt, and attachment for him regarding their experiences.

It seems unlikely Henry will be fully redeemed, but Stranger Things: The First Shadow has successfully created an emotional connection with the audience, especially those familiar with his story. Once you understand his past, it’s hard not to see the vulnerable person beneath the villain, Vecna. He appears determined to remake the world, even if it means harming children—a fate he himself suffered. However, the story suggests he’s not truly in control of his actions anymore, and hasn’t been for quite some time.

The expression on Henry’s face when he finds Max in the cave is incredibly telling – it’s a major hint about his backstory. It reminds us of the vulnerable teenager who desperately wanted to belong and stop hurting others, but was powerless against the Mind Flayer’s control. Deep down, he’s still that scared kid, and it’s likely we’ll eventually see the true Henry Creel resurface before the series ends.

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2025-12-13 03:36