Vecna actor Jamie Campbell Bower ominously teases what the villain’s goals will be in Stranger Things season 5. Stranger Things season 4 wrapped up on July 1 with the release of volume 2. The show has already been renewed for season 5, which will also be its last. Little is known about Stranger Things‘ final season, though the Duffer brothers have indicated a time jump will take place. Meanwhile, the end of Stranger Things season 4 leaves it fairly clear that Vecna will be returning, and that the Hawkins gang will once more be dealing with the Upside Down leaking into their world.
While Stranger Things has dealt with the Upside Down, Demogorgons, and the Mind Flayer in the past, Vecna is a new and more lethal threat introduced in season 4. A string of dead bodies let the Hawkins gang know that they were up against something entirely different. As Stranger Things season 4 reveals, Vecna’s past stretches back to the Hawkins Lab, as he was also experimented on by Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine). This made the final battle extremely personal. Though Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) eventually manages to regain her missing powers, Hawkins still ends up suffering a stunning defeat, leaving viewers curious about Vecna’s motives and plan in Stranger Things season 5.
In an interview with TVLine, Bower reveals what Vecna’s motives might be in Stranger Things season 5. In response to a question about Vecna’s agenda, Bower’s answer is rather curious as he says the villain aims to make the world “1,000 times better.” Check out his statement below:
His experience has led him to this point of believing — actually, knowing, not necessarily believing — that people present a falsity and this world is just full of liars. He really wants to change that for the greater good.
Bower’s statement aligns with Vecna’s plan, revealed in Stranger Things season 4. When the bodies start showing up in Hawkins, at first glance, they appear to be completely random. However, it becomes pretty clear that all of Vecna’s victims share commonalities. They are all struggling with something emotionally – whether it is abusive parents, grieving a loss, or feeling guilt over hurting someone accidentally. Specifically, Vecna seems to prey on those who either deal with guilt or struggle with so much trauma that they express wishes to die. Based on his specific victims, Vecna does seem to think he’s doing good in some twisted way by ending one’s suffering or, alternatively, trying to expose their guilt.
Ultimately, Bower’s discussion of Vecna’s motives going forward is in line with what viewers have seen from the character on Stranger Things. However, that doesn’t make the statement any less ominous. It is one thing to have a villain who is pure evil and kills for no reason, but it is quite another thing for a villain to commit evil acts and to have such a strong conviction that what they’re doing is somehow right. This definitely adds a vigor and strength to Vecna, as there is power in self-assuredness. It also means things really don’t look good for Hawkins in Stranger Things season 5. Vecna seems very intent on ensuring that Hawkins falls completely. Now that he has a twisted motive to propel his actions, the town is likely to face even worse terror from him. From Bower’s comments, it seems Venca will only get more terrifying in Stranger Things season 5 as he lets his twisted motives guide him.
