‘Stranger Things’ Fan Theory Says Vecna Could Use Survival Tactic Similar to Voldemort in Volume 2
Stranger Things fan theories are plentiful, but there’s one about Vecna in Volume 2 that has us thinking. Said theory makes Vecna sound a lot like another big bad from the Harry Potter series — Voldemort. Will the Stranger Things villain take a page out of Lord Voldemort’s book to save himself?
Vecna is based on the lich in Dungeons and Dragons
The story in Stranger Things is rooted in Dungeons and Dragons lore, among other things. In the first episode of season 4, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) faces Vecna. The formerly human king turned lich is a significant character in the fantasy game.
A lich is a “universally evil form” known for its “malign magic, intelligence, and willingness to embrace undeath for a chance to exist forever” (via Forgotten Realms). Sound familiar? Vecna, formerly Henry Creel, despises everything about the natural world and uses his powers to begin wiping humans from existence.
As if that weren’t enough of a connection, a Dungeons and Dragons website describes a lich’s lair as “a haunted ruin,” a la the Creel residence. The description continues:
“Everything about a lich’s lair reflects its keen mind and wicked cunning, including the magic and mundane traps that secure it. Undead, constructs, and bound demons lurk in shadowy recesses.”
In Stranger Things 4 Volume 1, Vecna’s victims are encased in his realm.
Vecna might save himself by transferring his soul like Voldemort did with the horcruxes
A Stranger Things fan on TikTok thinks Vecna will store his soul in Will’s body in the final two episodes of season 4. “In Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 Vecna is going to transfer his soul into Will’s body — here’s how I know,” the fan shared.
Admittedly they thought Will might get the villain edit in season 4 based on the way his friends have been treating him. However, Will’s similarities to Vecna are what give this fan theory legs to stand on.
“Stranger Things is based on a conspiracy theory about a scientist ripping a hole in the space-time continuum [and] rapidly [aging],” they explained. “He only saves his own life by transferring his soul into a child’s body.” They reference the lich and how they can postpone death through magical means.
“In addition to being an undead, former magic-user, we also see that Vecna is neutral evil,” the fan elaborated. Will’s Dungeons and Dragons character sheet describes him as a magic user and true neutral (via Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down.)
“That means that if Will turns evil like Vecna, he moves from true neutral to neutral evil,” this fan concluded. “[That’s] what Vecna’s alignment is.”
Voldemort split his soul into seven pieces to save himself in the ‘Harry Potter’ books and movies
Voldemort, the villain in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, splits his soul into seven pieces. He stores each piece in an object he deemed valuable, called a Horcrux.
To beat Voldemort, Harry first had to find and destroy all seven Horcruxes. Will our friends in Stranger Things have to destroy Will’s body to beat Vecna?
See how it all plays out in Stranger Things 4. Volume 2 drops on Netflix on July 1.
