Throughout a large portion of season 5 of *Stranger Things*, Holly Wheeler and Max find themselves trapped in a realm of memories constructed from the recollections of Henry Creel. Their mission for freedom in episode 6 has them witness again a traumatic incident from Henry's early years—a discovery that potentially carries the means to overcome him for good.
Editor's Note: This article reveals crucial plot points for *Stranger Things* season 5, volume 2.
After locating Max in the world called Camazotz, Max reveals she is taking refuge in a cave that Henry is terrified of. An accidental discovery a telescope taken from Henry's old home helps Holly understand that the danger lies beyond the cave. By aligning her view through the cap, she and Max tumble into a subterranean passage.
They watch a young, eight-year-old Henry find an wounded, fearful individual. Attempting assistance, the man reacts violently, striking Henry in the hand. In a desperate act of self-defense, Henry kills the man with a rock. "Did this make Henry evil?" Holly wonders aloud. It was a factor, but the event went deeper than a fight for life.
Similar to other plot points in volume 2, the truth about the mine shaft incident originates in the theatrical production Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
This backstory explains the legendary naval test, which allegedly sent a warship into a plane dubbed the Abyss. The ship was attacked, and the only one to return was the captain, who returned in a vegetative state with an different blood composition.
That survivor's offspring, the future Dr. Brenner, attempted to recreate this experiment in remote Nevada. But a disloyal lab worker took experimental components to hand over to the Soviets, who were eager to begin their version of the tests. That traitor in the tunnel was that very thief.
Considering what is understood of Brenner's work, the container almost certainly contained some of Captain Brenner's infected blood. As shown, Henry is bleeding from his hand. Exposure likely occurred upon contact with the blood, causing the development of his psychic abilities—abilities he would inadvertently transfer to the test subjects in Hawkins Lab.
Alternatively, the container could have held strange particles that was destined to travel to Hawkins Laboratory, where it helps stabilize the Upside Down. The stage play explains that Henry was transported in the Abyss, coming back 12 hours later as a different person. From then on, he struggles with the control of a sinister presence, reminiscent of how Will was controlled by the shadow monster in an earlier season.
His lasting fear of that cave shows how profoundly traumatic the event was for him. Even as he commands the collective consciousness and seeks to merge the Abyss into Hawkins, a fragment of his psyche lingers. Vecna uses fear, and the series is building toward a showdown between Vecna and Will, who has deliberately faced his greatest terrors to fortify himself.
Will's growth has taken a weapon from Vecna. More importantly, Will now understands what Vecna himself fears, and this may grant a key upper hand in the series finale to come.
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