It finally happened, Will Byers became a badass. Oh, and he has superpowers now!
Stranger Things 5 is finally letting him step into a moment where he’s no longer the victim. For the first time, Will is the threat.
How Will’s powers work
It’s looking like Will is channeling the hive mind connecting him to Vecna, the Upside Down, and every creature that crawls out of it. It’s the same connection Vecna has used to turn Will into an unwilling spy.
That connection becomes a two-way street in Season 5.
The hive mind lets Will tap into Vecna’s powers, giving him telekinetic abilities. This gave Will power to stop the Demogorgons from attacking his friends. Keep in mind that two of these Demogorgons were in different locations!
The best part is watching Will stop the Demogorgon in its tracks. Then break it apart by replicating Vecna’s trait of using his telekinesis to snap limbs. It’s brutal and cathartic.
Why this twist is so amazing
What makes this twist so awesome is that for the entire series, Will was walked all over on. He was the victim. It was easy to forget that the series is supposed to be Will’s story, not Eleven’s or Hopper’s or Max’s.
Now he’s finally turning the tables. The prey has turned into the predator.
It’s also a beautiful metaphor for Will accepting all parts of himself. From his sexuality, his trauma, but also the positive memories of his past. Particularly his relationship with his friends and family. It also ties into how Eleven tapped into her full power, by drawing on the love she has for the people she cares about.
What this means for Volume 2
The interesting part is that Will’s powers are still evolving. He’s only just learned he can pull from the hive mind at the end of Volume 1. The link between his consciousness and Vecna’s is still there, along with the threat of Vecna pushing back.
This time, Will can actually use his link to Vecna to The Party’s advantage.Will getting powers isn’t about making him a superhero. It’s giving him control over his story. His newfound abilities place Will at the center of the conflict with the Upside Down. He’s fighting to protect the world from Vecna and the Upside Down should be worried about what he can do next.
