Stranger Things, season 4, is out now. If you're done binge-watching it, it's time to dive into that ending. The entire season so far, especially the seventh episode, was packed with details, explaining the story behind El's flashbacks to a bloody massacre, and somehow tying in the creepy Creel family murder that happened in Hawkins in 1959. Show It's a lot to take in, so viewers can be forgiven if they're a bit confused. Here's a look at what happened in that heart-pounding ending. It's all one big spoiler from here on out. (btw, if you're feeling extra retro, check out our roundup of Stranger Things 4's '80s Easter eggs.) NetflixCreel family murdersSo in 1959, the Creel family was horribly murdered in their Hawkins mansion. The police thought the father of the family, Victor Creel (played by Nightmare on Elm Street's Robert Englund), killed his wife, son and daughter. Nancy and Robin go to the asylum where a now elderly Victor is being held, and realize he didn't kill his family, the season's Big Bad, Vecna, did. But there's more to the story. 011 and 001Eleven has been having flashbacks to a bloody massacre among the other numbered, telekinetic kids who were in the lab with her. In some unnerving scenes that moved Netflix to add a warning to the show after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, Eleven remembers seeing the other kids dead -- and she's convinced she's the monster who is responsible. But of course, it's more complicated than that. Peter Ballard, a man who seemed to be a kind orderly at the lab, turned out to have been the lab's very first child patient, bearing the tattoo of 001, aka One. And who is this man, you may ask? He's Henry Creel, Victor's son. Turns out he not only survived the family massacre, he caused it. Henry was put into psychiatric care after his family was killed and Dr. Brenner, alert to Henry's powers, made him 001, the very first of the kids experimented on. Vecna's origin storyWhen Henry/One became an adult, Dr. Brenner kept his terrifying powers under control with a chip implanted under his skin. As an orderly, Henry/One befriended Eleven and convinced her to remove the chip, saying it was a way Brenner could track and control him. Eleven used her powers to yank out the chip, and whoops, One's terrifying powers were now unleashed again. One and Eleven battled, and One ended up in the Upside Down, taking the form of the creepy demonic creature we now know as Vecna -- but still with his 001 tattoo. This is how the first portal to the Upside Down was opened. Vecna's goalVecna seems to be seeking out guilt-wracked people who've gone through trauma, including Max, who watched Billy die in front of her, and Nancy, who feels responsible for Barb's horrific Upside Down pool death. Unanswered questionsThere are two more season 4 episodes, and a full season 5 yet to come. And that's good, because man, do we have questions. What made Henry Creel who he was? We don't know very much about why his family fled to Hawkins. Henry seems to make friends with black widow spiders, and after that, developed a power he used to kill sweet backyard bunnies. But it seems like there was something unusual about Henry before he ever moved to Hawkins, something that made his parents think they had to get a fresh start. The parents look like fresh-faced 1950s perfection, but Henry hints they have secrets. Were they abusers, or is he just saying that to excuse what he did?
+37 more See all photos What is Vecna's end game? Why is he going after kids with traumatic events in their past? Is he trying to make an army of undead teens? Can Eleven's powers possibly be enough to stop him and lock the gates to the Upside Down for good? Robin and Eddie were able to crawl out of the Upside Down in the final scenes, but Steve is still down there, and Nancy fell into what seemed like a worse universe, Vecna's domain. But perhaps the biggest unanswered question: How are fans going to make it to July 1? And then, what unanswered questions will ride along until the final season, season 5, eventually comes out? Buckle up, there are lots of strange things yet to come.
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Courtesy of Netflix
*Warning: the following post contains spoilers for season 4 of Stranger Things.* Have you binge-watched Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 4? Us, too! Of course, with all the twists and turns in Hawkins, Indiana, you may still have some questions, including the history behind Number One. To learn everything about 001, including details on the actor, keep reading! Who Plays 001 on ‘Stranger Things’?Dr. Martin Brenner, played by actor Matthew Modine, conducted experiments on a number of children at Hawkins Lab. Henry Creel was the first, which is why Dr. Brenner gave him the “001” on his wrist. Henry Creel is portrayed by actor Jamie Campbell Bower. You may also recognize Jamie from his roles in The Twilight Saga, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Actor Raphael Luce played Henry as a child during flashback scenes. During season 4 of Stranger Things, Henry was also referred to by the alias Peter Ballard. Peter worked as an orderly for the children’s lab and was implanted with a device called a Soteria to suppress his powers. As a child and into adulthood, Henry exhibited the ability to control people’s minds and powers of telekinesis. Courtesy of NetflixThe Connection Between Number One and Vecna Explained:In short: Number One is Vecna. While Peter Ballard was an orderly at the Hawkins Lab, he befriended Eleven, played by actress Millie Bobby Brown. However, Peter’s intention for getting close to Eleven was actually to combine their powers to eliminate the human race. After Eleven declined, he turned against her. As a result, Peter/Henry was banished to The Upside Down, where he would remain until he transformed into a creature called Vecna. Vecna ultimately becomes the main antagonist in season 4 of Stranger Things. Like Henry in his human form, Vecna possesses the abilities of mind control and telekinesis. His victims include his mother, Alice Creel, and sister Virginia Creel, Dr. Ellis, Two, Eighteen, Chrissy Cunningham, Fred Benson and Patrick McKinney. His survivors, to date, are his father, Victor Creel, Eleven, Max Mayfield, and possibly Nancy Wheeler. Volume 2 of season 4 of Stranger Things will be available to stream on Netflix on July 1. Love J-14? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars. |