Stranger Things (Netflix show)

[chrisstbh]

Isn't that how Dustin explained it? Vecna is the Mind Flayer's 5-star general. The Mind Flayer is still the big bad.

Isn't that just from D&D? In Vecna's flashback it shows him controlling the Mind Flayer and altering it's form to suit him.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

According to the flashbacks of when they show young Henry drawing the Mind Flayer it establishes that Vecna/Henry/001 is and has been the Mind Flayer.

The one thing I haven’t been able to understand or I missed somewhere was the significance to Vecna needing a total of 4 victims to open the gate and also why he required specific victims that were experiencing problems from something that had happened in the past.
I also didn’t understand what it was that Chrissy was experiencing that Vecna latched onto.

 

[SwedishHeat]

According to the flashbacks of when they show young Henry drawing the Mind Flayer it establishes that Vecna/Henry/001 is and has been the Mind Flayer.

I remember that scene, but my interpretation was that the 'spider drawing' as an indicator to establish that Henry was already bad, and sort of 'infected' or under the influence of the Mind Flayer, and it wasn't Brenner or the experiments that turned him bad, as a contrasting element, since that was something Eleven was concerned about.

My assumption was that the Mind Flayer has existed since the creation of the Upside Down, which predates Henry even being born.

I also didn’t understand what it was that Chrissy was experiencing that Vecna latched onto.

Seemed like her mom was abusing her. I got the sense that she was a contestant in those child beauty pageants, and she had bulimia, hence why she was in the bathroom stall, and her 'mom' attacked her, questioning what she was doing in there ... that was just my read on the situation.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

I remember that scene, but my interpretation was that the 'spider drawing' as an indicator to establish that Henry was already bad, and sort of 'infected' or under the influence of the Mind Flayer, and it wasn't Brenner or the experiments that turned him bad, as a contrasting element, since that was something Eleven was concerned about.

My assumption was that the Mind Flayer has existed since the creation of the Upside Down, which predates Henry even being born.



Seemed like her mom was abusing her. I got the sense that she was a contestant in those child beauty pageants, and she had bulimia, hence why she was in the bathroom stall, and her 'mom' attacked her, questioning what she was doing in there ... that was just my read on the situation.

Thanks for this! I hadn’t considered that theory about the Mind Flayer influencing Henry like he did Will. Very possible.

That makes sense about Chrissy too.

I’m still wondering what the significance of Vecna needing to attack/use ones who have a troubled past and not just some random victim. If it was explained in the show I completely missed it.

 

[Alatar]

So pleased with season 4. Outstanding.

 

[chrisstbh]

I remember that scene, but my interpretation was that the 'spider drawing' as an indicator to establish that Henry was already bad, and sort of 'infected' or under the influence of the Mind Flayer, and it wasn't Brenner or the experiments that turned him bad, as a contrasting element, since that was something Eleven was concerned about.

My assumption was that the Mind Flayer has existed since the creation of the Upside Down, which predates Henry even being born.



Seemed like her mom was abusing her. I got the sense that she was a contestant in those child beauty pageants, and she had bulimia, hence why she was in the bathroom stall, and her 'mom' attacked her, questioning what she was doing in there ... that was just my read on the situation.

The Upside Down only exists as it does now because of Vecna though. It wasn’t always an alternate Earth, from what we’ve seen, it was just it’s one plane of reality. The Demogorgons just seemed to be going about their life and the shadow (Mind Flayer) was just floating around minding it’s own business. He shaped it into a Spider.

Hopefully it does turn out that the Mind Flayer is the big bad, it’s just so much more intimidating than Vecna. I get why Vecna exists, because it’s easier for the general audience to comprehend a walking, talking enemy with perceivable motivations.

I know which one of these would scare me more though.

 

[e30ernest]

There's a fair amount of stuff that isn't explained yet (or I didn't catch the explanation). Like why was "time" in the Hawkins Upside Down frozen at the point Will was abducted; or where Henry got his powers; or what happened to the other escapee shown from (I think?) Season 2.

From what I understand, the Mind Flayer is under Vecna's control. Everything in the Upside Down appears to be under his control. Maybe the Flayer is using him to get out but right now, it appears Vecna is indeed the big bad.

 

[SwedishHeat]

From what I understand, the Mind Flayer is under Vecna's control. Everything in the Upside Down appears to be under his control. Maybe the Flayer is using him to get out but right now, it appears Vecna is indeed the big bad.

It's hard to say anyone's wrong at this point, but I just took Dustin at his word when he explained that Vecna was the "five-star general." Granted, he could be wrong, but it's hard for me to imagine a being like the Mind Flayer, who seemed to be Lovecraftian in size and scope, would be subservient to a human being who was defeated by someone with mind powers.

To me, the power hierarchy in Stranger Things goes Mind Flayer -> Eleven -> Henry/Vecna. Presumably in Season 5, Eleven's power will grow to the point that she will eradicate the Mind Flayer or fully close the gate, bringing an end to the story.

 

[TaliBane]

Loved S1 but thought the other two seasons were anywhere from a bit weak to crap - looking forward to diving into this one, sounds like a return to form.

 

[greygoose]

Loved S1 but thought the other two seasons were anywhere from a bit weak to crap - looking forward to diving into this one, sounds like a return to form.

IMO, it feels like it's own thing (even though it links to what's come before). If that makes sense...

 

[e30ernest]

They were going for ESB here:

1. Group gets split up.
2. Main hero goes away to train.
3. Bad guy twist (I am your father/Vecna is One)
4. Main hero prematurely ends training to save friends in danger.
5. One of the main good guys is stuck in limbo echoing Han being frozen in carbonite.
6. Good guys reunited at the end but pretty much lose at the end of the season.

 

[greygoose]

They were going for ESB here:

1. Group gets split up.
2. Main hero goes away to train.
3. Bad guy twist (I am your father/Vecna is One)
4. Main hero prematurely ends training to save friends in danger.
5. One of the main good guys is stuck in limbo echoing Han being frozen in carbonite.
6. Good guys reunited at the end but pretty much lose at the end of the season.

So if season 5 is ROTJ - can we expect ewoks to show up in Hawkins?

 

[surforia]

They were going for ESB here:

1. Group gets split up.
2. Main hero goes away to train.
3. Bad guy twist (I am your father/Vecna is One)
4. Main hero prematurely ends training to save friends in danger.
5. One of the main good guys is stuck in limbo echoing Han being frozen in carbonite.
6. Good guys reunited at the end but pretty much lose at the end of the season.

Absolutely. You even forgot Henry’s speech to Eleven “join me”. Straight out of Vader’s speech on Bespin.

 

[e30ernest]

Absolutely. You even forgot Henry’s speech to Eleven “join me”. Straight out of Vader’s speech on Bespin.

Ah yes good catch! Also have to mention both Vecna and Eleven's powers are similar to the Force.

 

[slynger]

S1 set the standard and was amazing to me. The 80's gooni-style friends and I really liked the idea of the upside-down. S2 and 3 weren't quite at good but still enjoyable. I think 4 got it mostly right and I love how it looks like S5 (and final season) will kick off.

 

[greygoose]

Also have to mention both Vecna and Eleven's powers are similar to the Force.

 

[abake]

Yep, me too, they said they could help from there but did nothing . I'm sure Russia could have handled those ones.

Also who leaves a badass sword like that behind? That'd be over the mantle piece no doubt

Indeed, one does not leave Conan's sword behind...

 

[e30ernest]

Good point on Eleven not knowing how to talk in Season 1. I guess the trauma of her lab fight not only erased her memories but her ability to talk as well?

 

[Otomofan]

I'm being nit-picky here, but when Max "almost" died, Vecna snapped her arm IN HALF. I don't think a cast and a hospital bed would fix that. I know they wanted the tension of trying to trick the audience into thinking she might actually be in real danger, but snapping her arm IN HALF was too much. Even if she recovers somehow, she'd never use that arm again, assuming it wouldn't need to be amputated.

Eddie's fate, however, was telegraphed from outer space. His t-shirt may as well have said DEAD MEAT on it instead of "Hellfire Club."

Oh well...this is the show that had Hopper running for miles barefoot trough Siberia on broken and bloody feet, and in the next scene he's just fine.

Whatever. It's just a dumb fantasy show.

 

[ironwez20]

Yea that Eddie guy isn’t gonna stay gone but I hate how this show loves killing off nice characters