Does This Popular 'Stranger Things' Fan Theory Really Hold Water?
By Andrew Sanford | News | October 31, 2025
One of the highlights of Stranger Things season four was how it connected past storylines. The main villain, Vecna, was linked back to earlier seasons, revealing a history with Eleven and the Hawkins kids. Although Vecna seemed new, viewers actually saw him in various forms before. The way this was achieved felt almost like a magic trick.
Some might view this as retconning parts of the story. Vecna was described as a projection controlling smaller monsters, who were mindless servants of his evil will. It's suggested that Vecna, not the Demogorgon from season one, was responsible for certain actions. While this hasn't been officially confirmed by the show's creators, it has sparked intense fan speculation.
Fan Theories and Evidence
Fans revisited the first episode and found clues that were not obvious at first. These discoveries have fueled discussions about how long the monster truly has been haunting Hawkins. However, it's still unclear if these connections were part of a precise plan or changes made late in production.
Will Byers' Disappearance
The most crucial event in season one was Will Byers' abduction by a shadowy figure, taken to the Upside Down. Initially, many assumed it was the Demogorgon, but the creature's behavior differed from what we later saw. Instead of being aggressive and overt, this entity moved stealthily and seemed more deliberate in its actions.
"He was just a projection of the smaller monster. Mindless servants of his evil. That was committed by Vecna, not the Demogorgon that menaced the town in season one."
This fan theory challenges the original assumptions about the show's early events, showing how narratives can evolve with new seasons.
Summary: The theory that Vecna, not the Demogorgon, was the original monster haunting Hawkins offers a fresh perspective, blending new plotlines with past mysteries, though it remains unconfirmed by creators.
Would you like the tone to be more analytical or casual?