With one week away from the premiere of Stranger Things season five Volume two, perhaps there is time for some reflection on what has transpired. With hints and theories dropping left and right there is one source that should not be overlooked, that being the stage play called The First Shadow. Spoiler warning for readers who have not seen the the first volume and the play.

In the show there was scene with Max Mayfield played by Sadie Sink (O’Dessa, The Whale), who is trapped in Henry aka Vecna’s memories. The memory takes place in the year 1959 in a high school where two characters are seen briefly, Joyce Byers played by Winnoa Ryder (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Gone in the Night) and Jim Hopper played by David Harbour (Thunderbolts*, Creature Commandos). According to TVLine, the stage play focused on the origin of Henry aka Vecna, and the early days of Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers. The play also dives into Henry’s powers and his connection to the Upside Down. This can serve as a reference part as to why and how Henry became the monster that we know today.

Another scene that also needs acknowledgment is the scene where Vecna doesn’t follow Max into the canyon. If this confused some viewers then here is some context as to why Vecna doesn’t follow Max. According to TVLine, during Vecna’s childhood he and his family lived near a military facility in Nevada that conducted test into Dimension X aka the Upside Down. In the Upside Down Vecna encountered the Mind Flayer and experiences some severe changes on a molecular level. In the show Henry’s fear towards the canyon should make more sense now. It is also important to know that the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things, Wayward Pines) were closely involved with the play and is apart of the Stranger Things canon.

Make sure to mark your calendars for Volume Two when it comes out on December 25, 2025. Also don’t forget about the finale on December 31, 2025.