Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5, Episodes 4 and 8. Will can influence Vecna and the Demogorgons by harnessing his long-standing connection to Vecna and the Upside Down. In the finale, he overpowers Henry long enough to create an opening; Eleven attacks, and Joyce delivers the fatal blow to Vecna.
What are Will’s powers in Stranger Things Season 5?
At the end of Episode 4, Will takes control of the Demogorgons and affects Vecna’s mind, freeing his friends during Vecna’s attack. The clearest way to describe the ability is connection-based influence: Will channels a link to Vecna and the Upside Down that the story has been building since earlier seasons.
In a Netflix Tudum interview published December 5, 2025, co-creator Ross Duffer said the writers had long understood Will to have a connection to Vecna and the Upside Down. One early idea for Season 5 was, “What if Will were able to harness this connection and use it against our villains?” Co-creator Matt Duffer also ties Will’s ability to his accepting who he is.
The official explanation does not establish that Will has Eleven’s independent telekinetic abilities, or that he can use his power without a connection to the Upside Down. The scene is a payoff to Will’s established link, not evidence that he has become a second Eleven.
#1 Best Overall
How can Will control the Demogorgons?
The show presents Will’s move as an extension of his connection to Vecna and the Upside Down: he turns that link against the creatures and Vecna long enough to save his friends. The creators describe it as Will harnessing a connection, rather than gaining an unrelated power. Netflix’s interview does not specify a complete set of rules—such as a range, duration, or whether Will can repeat the feat at will—so those mechanics remain unstated.
The scene also completes a character arc. The Duffers describe the series as circling back to the boy taken in Season 1. Actor Noah Schnapp called the moment a “Holy Grail moment” for Will; that is his reaction to the scene, not a separate explanation of how the power works.
Rank #2
- Stranger Things 5 - TV Show Poster (Regular Style - The Whole Season 5 Cast) (Size: 24" x 36") - Unframed
- All Characters - The Whole Kit 'N Kaboodle
- Vecna, Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Eleven, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington, Jonathan Byers...
- READY TO HANG OR FRAME: Fit standard 24" x 36" frames, making display quick and easy.
- VIBRANT, HIGH-RESOLUTION PRINT: Printed on high-quality paper with bold colors and sharp detail that pop in any lighting - creating a professional, premium look.
Does Will kill Vecna in the finale?
No. Will disrupts Henry at a crucial moment, but Joyce kills Vecna. Netflix’s finale explainer describes the sequence: Will overpowers Henry as Henry seems to gain the upper hand, giving Eleven time to drive him through a spire. Joyce then beheads Vecna with her axe. Ross Duffer says the choice of Joyce connects to her being the first person in Season 1 to act on the belief that something strange was happening.
It is a group victory, not a duel settled by Will’s new ability alone. The finale’s battle also gives meaningful roles to the other characters. Matt Duffer compares the teamwork to a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in which each character brings a special skill to the final fight.
Recommended Free Tools
Did Henry choose the Mind Flayer, or was he controlled?
Henry’s final allegiance is clear: he rejects Will’s appeal to resist the Mind Flayer and says he chose its side. The Duffers considered whether Henry might turn against it, but decided he had gone too far. As Ross Duffer put it, “Ultimately, in terms of where Henry goes, it doesn’t matter because he chooses the side of the Mind Flayer at the end of the day.”
What remains open is how that relationship began. The finale’s cave memory shows young Henry finding a rock containing Mind Flayer particles in a scientist’s briefcase, after which the particles possess him. The creators leave viewers to decide whether Henry chose that initial connection or was controlled from the start. His final choice should not be mistaken for a definitive answer about his first encounter.
Rank #4
The stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow offers more insight into Henry’s psychology, according to the creators, but they describe it as a standalone story that is not essential to understanding Season 5.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the ending resolve the Vecna cliffhanger?
The central conflict reaches a resolution: the group defeats the Mind Flayer, Will helps interrupt Henry, Joyce kills Vecna, and the interdimensional bridge collapses. The series then moves from the battle to a quieter ending, with the surviving friends finishing one last Dungeons & Dragons campaign in the Wheelers’ basement before leaving childhood behind. Holly and her friends begin a game of their own, creating a generational handoff. The Duffers describe this full-circle ending in Netflix’s series-ending explainer.
Best Value
What happens to Will after the finale?
Will’s last scene points toward a life beyond Hawkins and greater acceptance after he comes out to his friends and family in Episode 7. Ross Duffer says the creators liked the idea of him finding a bigger city where he could be more accepted. Netflix’s account does not name the city or establish a future partner, so neither should be treated as part of the confirmed ending. Netflix’s January 1, 2026 global coverage guide also describes the final season’s release and coverage.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
