How Harry Potter May Predict the Ending of Stranger Things

Season 5 of Stranger Things is set to continue with Volume 2 on Christmas Day on Netflix. There will be four new episodes, following Volume 1 which became available to stream on Thanksgiving Day. The Netflix phenomenon first came to our screens in July 2016 (when Obama was still president!). Now, the show that follows four young outcasts and their families into the Upside Down is coming to a highly anticipated conclusion.

*Spoiler Alert for Season 5 Volume 1*

In a twist that no one saw coming, Will Byers brought Volume 1 to an epic conclusion, taking down three demogorgons with his own telepathic powers which he channels through his arch nemesis Vecna. No longer the scared little kid who needed rescuing from the Mind Flayer, Will has discovered his superpower that rivals his friend Eleven.

Fans have taken this epic moment which included a telling smile from his best friend Mike Wheeler as further proof that the Duffer Brothers have had something big planned from the beginning. Season 4 gave insight into Will's struggle with accepting his own sexuality, including his feelings for Mike. It also featured a lesbian relationship between Robin and her bandmate crush Vickie which was further developed in Volume 1 of this season.

However, even before Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, confirmed that his character is gay, many fans were under the impression from as early as Season 1 that Mike secretly has feelings for Will. While this is all speculation, many are tuning in Christmas Day with expectations of a love confession.

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So what does Harry Potter have to do with any of this?

Many viewers have pointed out the similarities between this new season of Stranger Things and the Harry Potter series. A conversation Will has with his mother explaining how he can see through the eyes of Vecna is very reminiscent of Harry's conversation with his godfather Sirius in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix who similarly could see real life events as they were happening through the eyes of a snake. Others have also noted the lack of a nose from both villains, Voldemort and Vecna. (Both names starting with 'V' as well!)

The parallels go even deeper when you compare the fact that both Voldemort and Vecna were once regular people, though still outcasts. Voldemort was born Tom Riddle, and Vecna was born Henry Creel. Others have noted the similarity between the vines in the Upside Down and Devil's Snare, a plant from the wizarding world that also has an aversion to heat and sunlight.

It is nothing new for the Duffer Brothers to find inspiration from films of the past, but this time, it could possibly reveal a very big plot point that determines the fate of Will Byers.

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The Fate of Will Byers

As was stated earlier, Will and Harry both have a similar experience of being seemingly "possessed" by their arch enemies. This comes with a fear, that both Harry and Will speak of, that Voldemort (or Vecna) might be able to spy back through their minds.

In the Harry Potter series, Harry learns that his ability to read Voldemort's mind comes from him being the seventh Horcrux. A piece of Voldemort's soul lives in Harry. He learns through a memory shared by Professor Snape that in order to defeat Voldemort, Harry must sacrifice his own life. His death is the only way to kill the piece of Voldemort's soul that lives inside him.

It is possible that something similar is happening to Will. He may be so connected to Vecna that the only way to defeat him is to sacrifice himself. If the parallels revealed so far hold true, the only way for Vecna to be fully defeated is for Will to die, too.

We will see on New Year's Eve if this fate comes to pass. But have hope! Once that piece of Voldemort's soul was destroyed, Harry had a choice to come back from the dead. He became the boy who lived twice. Will may similarly find a way to bring himself back.