Is Will possessed by Vecna? 5 ‘Stranger Things’ finale theories we totally think might come true

From Kali as a villain to Vecna as a pawn, there's enough to think about ahead of the epic finale
PUBLISHED DEC 31, 2025
Noah Schnapp as Will Byers in a still from 'Stranger Things' Season 5 (Cover image credit: YouTube | Netflix)
Noah Schnapp as Will Byers in a still from 'Stranger Things' Season 5 (Cover image credit: YouTube | Netflix)

Noah Schnapp's Will Byers had two major moments in 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Vol. 2. If one were warning Sadie Sink's Max to run from Vecna, the other was killing the Demogorgons in ways similar to how Vecna would snap up his victims. While that did make him one of the coolest characters ever on the show, it also adds to the list of intriguing theories ahead of the epic finale.

Ahead of the epic finale slated to release on New Year's Eve, here are five major talking points fans need to know:

So, is Will Byers possessed by Vecna?

Well, yes and no. Some traits are hard to ignore — Will having the same posture as Vecna, or killing the monsters in the same way Vecna did. While the latter provides a direct link, the first one could very likely be a tease or a production snafu. That said, the connection between the two certainly makes for an interesting one with the evil wizard looking to use Will to spy on the others "one last time."

Kali, the traitor?

Let's admit it. No one likes the vibes from 008. Not Hopper (David Harbour), not Mike (Finn Wolfhard), and definitely not a good amount of the show's faithful. One of the major theories is that Kali is bleeding from her left nostril like Will and Vecna, making her another candidate likely to be possessed by him. To add, her strong conviction of going on a suicidal mission to El (Millie Bobby Brown) just adds to the layer of unease that she could be a traitor.

The Mind Flayer is the big bad

This theory partly makes sense with the new dimension's introduction. It also means Vecna is just another puppet, and that makes the Mind Flayer the big villain. There's a storyline that might see Vecna likely try to break free from the clutches. We doubt if there is a team-up with Hawkins' heroes on the cards, but never say never.

Steve 'The Hair' Harrington's fate

As much as fans thought the emotional 'You die, I die' exchange between Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) would see one of them die, the duo survived. The cast have already promised a tearjerker of a finale, with Keery hinting at a bittersweet moment for his character. So, whether that means he loses Nancy Wheeler (Natalie Dyer) again, or maybe he dies in her arms while she confesses her love for him? Bring out the tissues.

Eleven dies

In the end, it just might be the ultimate move that saves Hawkins and the world. Much of Eleven's screentime has dimmed in the two volumes, and the finale might just see her make the necessary sacrifice. Or maybe the Duffer Brothers leave the ending in a cliffhanger, leaving her fate up for debate. Either way, tears were shed when Tony Stark/Iron Man died in 'Avengers: Endgame'. Eleven just might take the same route.

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