Does the Mind Flayer Control Vecna? 'Stranger Things' Fan Theory Explores a Possibility

Throughout 'Stranger Things ', we have been introduced to two major Upside Down villains: the Mind Flayer and newly-revealed Vecna, a.k.a. Henry Creel, a.k.a. Dr. Brenner's Number One. But who is the main villain after all?

It seems that even though Vecna is currently the most dangerous threat to the Hawkins gang (well, to the entire town of Hawkins now, if we're being honest), the Mind Flayer might be a top dog in the Upside Down, potentially controlling him.

According to a viral fan theory on Reddit, if the Upside Down has been around for hundreds of years, then Henry Creel, who was just around 30 when Eleven banished him into the underworld, simply arrived into the Mind Flayer's world. Yes, he clearly became more powerful than he was in his human form, but it would seem that the Mind Flayer is way older and potentially more intimidating than Number One.

"The biggest piece of evidence is shown whenever the Mind Flayer is present — spiders. Since young Henry was infatuated with spiders, it's really intriguing to see how the Mind Flayer's illustration looks so much like a spider," the fan theory goes on.

The Mind Flayer might have corrupted Henry Creel's mind just like he did with Will Byers and Billy Hargrove at some point, which might explain Henry being keen on spiders.

Still, the relations between Vecna and the Mind Flayer might not necessarily be hierarchic: after all, the two might just combine their powers to unleash their fury on Hawkins. The Mind Flayer might have been around for a long time, but it was still Vecna who shaped the Upside Down into the intimidating entity it is now.

The issue will definitely be explored in season 5, which is due to start filming soon (next year, according to David Harbour ). Until then, there will be plenty of time to binge the previous seasons of 'Stranger Things' to revise everything we knew about the dangers of the Upside Down.