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After a three-long wait, Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 has finally arrived on Netflix, and the return of Vecna is everything we hoped for. But co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer say the Big Bad’s entrance was actually inspired by one of Star Wars’ most iconic scenes.
WARNING: Major spoilers follow for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1So if you haven’t seen it, come back now, and check out our Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 review.
Credit: Netflix
Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 4 marked the midseason finale in the most spectacular way, (for more on that, read our Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1 ending explanation), but the most exciting part was Vecna’s dramatic entrance. After hiding behind her imaginary friend ‘Mr. Whatsit’ persona of one of hers, aka Holly Wheeler, the last few minutes of episode 4 finally showed Vecna in all her glory. As Vecna moves from the Upside Down into the real world, we see that Vecna has become stronger and has taken on a new form, and is able to take shots from soldiers like it was nothing.
However, this view was given no further consideration. Ross Duffer told Tudum, “We knew that when he came on, we wanted it to feel like a really big moment.” “The moment he walked out of that gate, you realized the power of Vecna. You felt how scary he was.” In fact, this scene was inspired by Darth Vader’s iconic entrance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (click here to see that memorable scene and compare it to Vecna’s walk in).
At the end of the 2016 Star Wars film, a group of Rebel soldiers investigate a dark corridor, only to encounter Darth Vader, who easily dodges shots and is able to best the group without breaking a sweat. However, we also see similarities between Vecna and the Night King from Game of Thrones, both in his edgy appearance and his spontaneous expressions.
So, what does Vecna want? Throughout Volume 1, Vecna has been collecting children in the Upside Down, beginning with Holly Wheeler. He tells Will that he wants to “reshape” the world and that he needs 12 children, i.e. “weak” and “perfect vessels” that he can easily shape and control. However, we don’t think Vecna will get away with it that easily, because at the end of the episode, we see that Will is able to harness Vecna’s powers and kill the Demogorgons, making him a worthy opponent for Henry Creel.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 has arrived on Netflix, with Volume 2 arriving on Christmas Day. Check out our Stranger Things Season 5 season release schedule for exact times. For more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows to stream right now.
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