Did Henry Creel go to Hawkins High? Stranger Things 5’s ‘Oklahoma’ play hints at major origin story
Since the first volume of 'Stranger Things' Season 5 dropped on Netflix, fans haven't been able to stop gushing over it as they await volume 2's release. Just a week after the first four episodes of season 5 were released, several fan theories have started circulating on the internet, with the latest one concerning flyers to the play, 'Oklahoma!' The first volume of 'Stranger Things' Season 5 established that Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) is still alive. In one episode, Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) is seen playing a cassette tape of Kate Bush's hit song 'Running Up That Hill' while sitting next to Max, who remains in a coma, while also stuck inside Vecna/Henry Creel's mind.
Max finds herself in a cave in Venca's mind, where she meets Holly Wheeler, who was also stolen by Vecna. During their time together, Max narrated her story to Holly and revealed how she landed in the darkest corner of Henry's mind. In one of the flashbacks, Max was spotted walking down the corridors of a high school as a girl handed out flyers for the play, 'Oklahoma!', which consisted of some familiar names, leading many to wonder if it was connected to the 'Stranger Things' lore.
And for those wondering, all answers to the link may lie in the prequel theater show, 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow'. The show tells the story of Henry Creel and how he was demonised. As per the 2023 play, Henry discovered the technology created by Dr. Brenner's father while playing in a cave in Nevada. When he turned it on, he was transported to Dimension X, where the Mind Flayer took full control of his mind and body, changing his blood type. Following the ordeal, Henry gained his dark superpowers and became the archvillain, Vecna.
As per the West End play, before killing his whole family, Henry spent some time at Hawkins High School, where he even made some friends. Henry was closest to Patty Newby, the daughter of the high school principal, and she convinced him that he could use his powers for good instead of evil. Shortly afterwards, the two started dating. At that point, one of their classmates, named Joyce (Winona Ryder), puts on a play, and it's none other than 'Oklahoma!'. As per Esquire, the flyer that Max gets in the show reads, "Hawkins Tiger Troupe presents: Oklahoma! Directed by Joyce Maldonado, Friday, November 6th, 1959, for one night only. Starring: James Hopper Jr, Karen Childress, Patty Newby, Alan Munson, Ted Wheeler, and introducing Henry Creel as Curly McLain."
Since the episode aired, fans haven't been able to stop talking about the 'Oklahoma!' link to 'Stranger Things' Season 5. One Reddit user wrote, "The cave was in Nevada, where Henry lived and encountered the mind flayer. Although this does inspire me to see what the plot of Oklahoma is to see if there's an Easter egg there." Another fan quipped, "Hopper, Ted Wheeler, and Vecna were in both school production of Oklahoma together. These are the S5 revelations I was hoping for."
