Debunking ‘Stranger Things 4’ Fan Theories with the Showbiz Pop 5
Ever since fans raced to finish Stranger Things 4 Part 1, fan theories have popped up everywhere regarding everything from whether Mike is secretly in love with Will to Vecna fathering all the kids in Hawkins National Laboratory. Fellow Showbiz Cheat Sheet entertainment writer Lauren Anderson and I talked about five different Stranger Things 4 fan theories this week on the Showbiz Pop 5.
[WARNING: This article contains detailed plot spoilers regarding Stranger Things 4 Part 1.]
‘Stranger Things 4’ Fan Theory #1 – Ms. Kelly’s Connection to Vecna
When we catch up with Max (Sadie Sink) in Stranger Things 4 Episode 1, “The Hellfire Club,” Ms. Kelly (Regina Ting Chen) stops her on her way to class. Ms. Kelly works as Hawkins High School’s counselor and sees Max regularly since Max watched her older brother Billy (Dacre Montgomery) die at the end of season 3. It didn’t take long for fans to realize that Max and Vecna’s first two victims share a connection. Not only did they all experience headaches, nightmares, and strange visions, but they all attended regular appointments with Ms. Kelly. Plus, when Max visits Ms. Kelly’s home, we see she’s wearing a necklace with a clock pendant shaped like a key.
It makes sense that Ms. Kelly and Vecna might share a connection. On top of that, Ms. Kelly looks somewhat abnormal when we see her on-screen. Is she even a human? Did Vecna create a glamour using Ms. Kelly? This Stranger Things 4 fan theory ranks pretty high on our list of probable reveals in part 2.
‘Stranger Things 4’ Fan Theory #2 – Henry Creel is Eleven’s Bio Dad
Fans know the Stranger Things books aren’t considered canon. This means the man revealed as her father in the books doesn’t exist in the Netflix series. However, many fans think it’s possible that Henry Creel fathered Eleven. When Henry explained his past to Eleven, he told her that Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) “tried to recreate him.” Does that mean by using his DNA?
We both hate this Stranger Things 4 fan theory, not necessarily because it’s unlikely, but because it’s gross. Was Dr. Brenner using Henry as a sperm donor on all the women in the MKUltra program? This is a cursed theory that we hope never sees the light of day.
‘Stranger Things 4’ Fan Theory #3 – Will’s Painting a Picture of the Upside Down
The subject of Will Byers’ (Noah Schnapp) painting quickly became a hot topic once Stranger Things 4 implied Will had romantic feelings for Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard). More than a few fans believed the painting included a special moment between the two friends, like the first time they met on the swingset at five. However, this particular Stranger Things 4 fan theory suggests Will’s painting the Upside Down. An interviewer asked Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair, to give one word to describe season 4. He replied with the word “traitor.” Fans quickly theorized that Will might know something about the Upside Down but kept it a secret from his friends.
While this isn’t the worst theory we’ve come across, it doesn’t seem probable. First of all, we can’t imagine Will spending so much time lovingly creating the alternate dimension of his nightmares. Secondly, why would he insist on giving Mike a painting of the Upside Down? The answer: He wouldn’t.
‘Stranger Things 4’ Fan Theory #4 – Eddie Munson is Secretly Number 010
People desperately want other characters in the series to have supernatural powers. However, much like the word “fetch,” it’s never going to happen. Some fans believe that because Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) mentioned having a shaved head when he was younger, this must mean Dr. Brenner experimented on him in the lab like Eleven. Plus, they pointed out that he also wears a watch so that he can cover up the number tattoo on his arm.
Listen, we understand the desire for someone else in small-town Hawkins, Indiana, to move things with their mind, but not every kid with a buzzcut grew up in the lab. Just because someone wears a watch doesn’t mean they have anything to hide. We respectfully ask the fans to let this one go.
‘Stranger Things 4’ Fan Theory #5 – Billy Hargrove Survived
Oddly enough, there are many Billy stans in the fandom. This Stranger Things 4 fan theory proposes that an evil version of Billy died in the Battle at Starcourt. The good version remains stuck in the Upside Down.
However, to this, we respond: How could there even be an evil version of Billy? Was the original not bad enough? Sure, he had a redemption arc, but was it really enough to make everyone forget his racist remarks and abusive behaviors? Montgomery didn’t return to the United States to film his scenes for “Dear Billy” because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This makes this Stranger Things 4 fan theory decidedly debunked.
Stranger Things 4 Part 2 premieres on July 1, 2022.
