Skip to main content

Stranger Things 4 villain Vecna raises plenty of new questions about how time works in the Upside Down. Here’s everything we found that makes us believe time might be the key to Vecna’s demise.

'Stranger Things 4' villain Vecna makes a clock appear hours before he kills his victims. Grace Van Dien as Chrissy Cunningham sees the clock in the woods in this production still
Grace Van Dien as Chrissy in ‘Stranger Things 4’ | Cr. Courtesy of Netflix

‘Stranger Things 4’ villain Vecna’s disdain for the way humans view time

When we first learn the origin story behind Stranger Things 4 villain Vecna, it’s from Henry Creel’s point of view. Vecna shows Nancy the truth behind the Creel family murders in a scene that runs parallel to Jamie Campbell Bower’s character, Peter Ballard, as Eleven recalls the events on Sept. 8, 1979. Henry and Peter are the same person, with Henry changing his name to Peter at some point between 1959 and 1979. Vecna explains to Nancy how much he hates how humans use time to create order in their everyday lives. We also see young Henry use his supernatural powers to reverse the hands on the grandfather clock that’s featured prominently throughout Stranger Things 4.

Finding clocks and references to time as clues in the Netflix series

Ever since Stranger Things Season 1, clocks have lurked around in the background of some of the most pivotal scenes. Normally, we’d chalk this up to normal people who like to keep a grasp on what time it is throughout the day, but the Duffer Brothers are intentional about every single item in a scene. When Max visits her counselor, Ms. Kelly, at her house, the counselor wears a necklace with a tiny clock as a pendant in the shape of a key. The teaser trailer titled “Eleven, Are You Listening?” features a clock with the hands at three and 12. On top of that, Stranger Things Season 3 included a slew of Back to the Future references.

Not only does the audience see clocks, watches, and images of time, but they hear them as well. When Peter/Henry gives his monologue to Eleven, we hear a clock ticking faintly in the background. In Stranger Things Season 1, the Demogorgon snatches Will and a cacophony of clock chimes ring in the background. Also, the first time Eleven makes contact with the Demogorgon, audiences can hear a clock faintly ticking in the background. YouTube channel Flicks and the City noticed these coincidences as well and even added more, including the scene where Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) gets stuck in the Mind Flayer’s tunnels in Stranger Things Season 2. As the camera pans away from Harbour, it begins to slowly spin and the sound of a clock ticking plays in the background.

Related

‘Stranger Things 4’: This Is Why Dr. Brenner Focuses Solely on Eleven

‘Stranger Things 4’ villain Vecna’s obsession with Black Widows might represent another hint at time

As Henry/Peter continues with his backstory, the audiences see him become obsessed with Black Widows. The spiders become somewhat of a calling card for when Vecna lurks nearby. He often forces his victims to watch as the poisonous spiders crawl around in their Mind Scape. Black Widows are known for having a small, red spot in the shape of an hourglass on their abdomen. This hints at yet another reference to how time might play into Vecna’s demise.

While we don’t know for sure, Stranger Things 4 likely ends on a cliffhanger. With one more season left in the series, it’s unlikely the characters solve the mystery of the Upside Down and beat Vecna before season 5. However, we can’t help but notice all the teasing of clocks and time that might come into play before the series finale.

Stranger Things 4 Volume II premieres on July 1, 2022.

Best in Entertainment