Warning: This story contains spoilers from Stranger Things Season 4, Volumes1 and 2.
Stranger Things fans might not be able to agree on their favorite character or the series’ best ship, but one moment has united them in grief since the premiere of Season 4’s Volume 2: the heroic death of lovable rocker misfit Eddie Munson (Joe Quinn). Well, everyone is in agreement except for Jamie Campbell Bower, the man who plays Stranger Things’ villain-of-many-names. It just so happens Bower’s Vecna (or Henry Creel, or One, or “V-Man,” as he says) is the ultimate cause of Eddie’s death-by-Demobat. As Season 4 confirms, Vecna has molded the Upside Down in his own vision, for his express bidding.
“I know the fans are obviously devastated. I’ve seen some reactions already asking me to pay for therapy. Maybe [I’ll do] just one. But if I’m being honest, Eddie’s got to go. See you, Eddie,” Bower tells Tudum over Zoom, as he flashes an indulgent villainous smile; Bower is basking in playing the bad guy. But the British actor is still a much bigger softie than his on-screen alter ego. “I am sorry though. I didn’t write the show, everyone. It’s not my fault,” he says with a laugh.
If Vecna gets his way in Stranger Things’ already confirmed Season 5, Eddie won’t be the only one to get booted off the proverbial mortal coil. In the last seconds of Season 4 finale “The Piggyback,” our heroes realize their home of Hawkins is filling with dust — the same dust that plagues the Upside Down. From a hill overlooking their small Indiana town, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her loved ones watch the two dimensions converge. Clearly, opening four Upside Down gates in our reality — which causes a so-called “earthquake” — is only the beginning of Vecna’s attack.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Bower teases.
Viewers certainly haven’t seen the last of Vecna, who stalks off in the finale after getting shot and set aflame by Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke). Bower reveals to Tudum exactly what Vecna was doing after his fiery defeat and the baddie’s big plans for Season 5. Even reality-destroying villains have dreams.
Vecna gets burned to a crisp, but he’s still kicking. What is he thinking after what the heroes assume is a win for their side? He’s thinking, “Oh, it’s on. You thought this was done. No.”
Should Vecna have been able to open the final gate? He wasn’t able to kill Max in the Upside Down, like his other victims. She momentarily died in our dimension. That’s an interesting question. That’s so funny. You’re like, “Referee. Come on in.” [Co-creators] Matt and Ross are the referees. Call them in. [Laughs]
There is a two-day break between Vecna opening the gates and Hawkins seemingly starting to fall to the Upside Down. What do you think Vecna was doing in that time? Rebuilding. Stewing. Time in that Upside Down space, both emotionally and literally, moves at its own pace. I don’t think Vecna has a routine. He’s not brushing his teeth.
Vecna has his biggest monologue in the finale and explains to Eleven that Dr. Brenner [Matthew Modine] didn’t make him — that he’s always been this predator. Are there any nuggets in there that stick out to you? I’m replaying the monologue in my head now. I think one of the memorable things is that after Eleven sent Henry to his demise in Episode 7, hope is lost for him. She had taken everything away from him. And now he’s going to take everything away from her.
The way he talks about Brenner, just being an insignificant small little man... It’s like he’s describing him like he’s a bug. Like he could be squashed. That is very true and very honest to what Henry really believes. But also the way he tells Eleven, “It was you. You who have turned me into this. Nobody else. We could have had a better life. We could have done this together. You are making me do this.” It’s pretty toxic.
Vecna just might not be a good guy. It’s obvious his connection with Eleven is really important to him — if totally warped. Tell me about filming the Upside Down Snow Ball battle with Millie. It was great. Obviously, at the end of Episode 7, we have a spat. But that Snow Ball fight [which extends to the Upside Down] is most of Episode 9 for me if I’m being honest. So to draw that process out was really enjoyable for both Millie and me because the power play is very much shared. In Episode 7 she just about wins. But in Episode 9 it’s like this tennis match where it’s backward and forward. That is really a joy to play.
Was that the highlight of filming Volume 2 for you? You want to know the truth? I have 59 minutes and 58 seconds left of Episode 9. So I’m hoping that what I’m about to say ends up in the show, otherwise I’m going to look like a right moron. Is the shot of Vecna being thrown backward in slow motion in the final cut?
Yes! It’s toward the end of the episode, when Nancy buckshots Vecna out of a window. So that shot is so sick and it was so much fun to shoot. Ralph Scherer, who’s our dolly operator, and I had the best fun filming that because I’m literally on a wire and Ralph is pushing the dolly following me. We would watch playback, and we were like, “Oh my God, that looks so cool.” We did it a few times and [the first one] was just so perfect. It’s got a purity to it.
How do you now understand Vecna’s connection to the Upside Down? He created the Mind Flayer. That’s his creation, that’s his baby. That is an extension of his spiders that he loved growing up. The Upside Down itself feels like purgatory. It’s this never-ending desert of blood. It’s not blood, but you know what I mean?
It just feels like blood. That’s what it feels like if I’m trying to picture it in my mind. He’s able to create this multidimensional being that can travel through space and time. The Mind Flayer is, obviously, another extension of who he is, much as is Eleven.
The Upside Down infects our reality in the Season 4 finale. So what are you excited to explore in Season 5? Oh, God. Well, given the opportunity, there are a few of the kids I would like to see either for the first time and maybe one I’d like to see again, that I haven’t seen for some time. Yeah. I’d be very excited to tear our group apart once more. Again, this is not the end, or this is the end. Dun-dun- dun….
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
