Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Ending Explained

By Griff Griffin

Contributing Pop Culture Writer

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Volume 1 of the final season of "Stranger Things" is now out, and it's left viewers with a bunch of burning questions. In this article explaining the ending of Stranger Things Season 5, you’ll find answers to them all.

Being fully clued up will be crucial going into the next volume. "Stranger Things" Volume 2 arrives with three new episodes on December 25, followed by the finale episode on December 31. With the long-running Netflix supernatural drama coming to a head, no one wants to be left in the dark.

Who is Mr. Whatsit? Where does the Demogorgon take Holly? What is Vecna’s plan? Keep reading for everything you need to know.

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Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Ending

Volume 1 of "Stranger Things" Season 5 ends with the Demogorgons attacking. Suddenly, Will unleashes his psionic power by focusing on his happy memories and manages to defend his friends.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Ending Explained

“One of the earliest ideas in [Season 5] is, ‘What if Will were able to harness this connection and use it against our villains?’ ” Co-creator, executive producer, writer, and director Ross Duffer tells Tudum. “We also felt it very natural to re-center the story on Will. He was the kid who was taken in Season 1, so it felt right for the story to come full circle. If anyone [was] going to be the key to ending Vecna, it needed to be Will.”

“There is a lot that Will has been dealing with over the course of the four seasons prior to this — so many emotions and inner conflicts that remain unresolved,” co-creator, executive producer, writer, and director Matt Duffer explains. “So we wanted him to grow as a human and become a fully formed version of who he is...And once he’s able to do that, he’s able to harness these incredible powers.”

Is Will More Powerful Than Eleven?

Will has similar powers to Eleven, so it’s difficult to say who is more powerful. If he teams up with Eleven, however, it can only spell bad news for Vecna. Dustin actor Gaten Matarazzo says, “I think that puts us on more of [an even] playing field. I’m sure that’s objectively terrifying to Vecna.”

Where do Will’s Powers Come From?

Will’s powers come from Vecna. He channels the creature’s powers and uses them against it.

Will actor Noah Schnapp tells Tudum the hand motion he uses to attack Vecna was “originally supposed to be like an Eleven move” with his palm facing downward. However, he came up with “this move of the outstretched hand [facing] up” as though Will is “pulling the powers from Vecna.”

Who is Mr. Whatsit in Stranger Things?

The real identity of Mr. Whatsit is Vecna. He’s been appearing to Holly Wheeler as an imaginary friend, who takes the form of a character from her favorite book, "A Wrinkle in Time."

Where does the Demogorgon take Holly?

The Demogorgon takes Holly to the Creel House. While it looks charming on the outside, it’s really a mental prison. This is revealed by Will when he manages to pierce the creature’s illusion and see Holly, along with three other kids, are trapped inside giant spires.

What Happened to Max?

Max has been stuck in Vecna’s mental prison ever since the end of season 4 when she fell into a coma. After Vecna chased her through various memories, she fled to a cave Vecna is apprehensive to enter.

Max actor Sadie Sink likes how she “made it her own [with] this collection of things she found from memories.” “The patch on her jeans is actually a piece of fabric from one of the shirts you see young Henry Creel wear, which is such a cool detail.”

Is Max Dead?

No, Max is not dead. She is unconscious, and currently looked after by Lucas in hospital. This means she will appear in upcoming “Stranger Things” episodes. Trailers have revealed scenes of Demogorgons coming for Max's body in the hospital, with Lucas carrying her body away to hide.

Who is Eleven’s Sister?

Eleven’s sister is called Kali, or ‘Eight’, and she wields the power to create illusions. Like Eleven, she was also raised by Dr. Brenner. The pair first met in season 2 episode “The Lost Sister.”

Eleven and Hopper find her behind a giant steel door in Dr. Kay’s greenhouse when they infiltrate the military base. They initially expected to find Vecna, but what the military calls its “Kryptonite” might be even more powerful.

What is Vecna’s plan?

Vecna has a plan to refashion the world. To do that, he needs 12 children to act as vessels. Will was Vecna’s first vessel in 1983, and now Vecna intends to use him again. However, those plans are scuppered when Will fights back.