You knew Stranger Things 5 volume 1 was going to end on a cliffhanger, but having it be Will’s secret (and consider this your spoiler warning!) was exactly the right reveal to take viewers into the last half of the series. More so, Will’s secret was hiding in plain sight all along—in the Stranger Things 5 poster.
So what is Will’s secret? It turns out he has similar powers as Eleven, complete with that signature nose bleed. And it couldn’t come at a better time, as a bunch of Demogorgons are about to eat Lucas, Mike and Robin for dinner.
But first, Mike says Will is like a sorcerer and they really need some magic if they’re going to take down Vecna. Later, Vecna tries to get into Will’s mind (and frankly, he already has) by telling him that he (Will) broke so easily, which showed him what he could achieve. “Certain minds don’t belong in this world,” Vecna says. “They belong in mine.”
Will recalls what Robin said earlier in the episode: 1) that he needs to stop looking for answers in someone else when he has the answers all along, 2) to stop being so scared of who he is really is, and 3) once he does that, he’ll be free.
It all comes together as Mike, Lucas and Robin’s lives are in danger, and Will is able to channel his newfound super-human strength and save his friends. The kid who always felt a little bit behind in life is now the one who comes through when everything is on the line.
But what does this all mean going forward? Does Will have a number like Eleven (011) and her sister (008)? Did he always have these powers and just didn’t know it? Or did he somehow get them when he was first taken captive in the Upside Down?
According to Noah Schnapp—who has played Will since that first episode in 2016—we’re not exactly supposed to know. And if you think what you just saw was mind-blowing, then get ready for the four remaining episodes later next month.
Those are just some of the reveals Schnapp shared with Glamour while wrapping up a few days in Tokyo (with his castmates for the world press tour); the 21-year-old also opened up about the more heartfelt moments in the series still to come, his favorite scene partner (you might be surprised), and his series finale plans. Settle in; there’s a lot to get to.