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If you loved Harry Potter for its epic battle of destinies, brace yourself—Stranger Things 5 is about to give you déjà vu, with a twist as sharp as Eleven’s stare and just as electric.
When Hawkins Meets the Wizarding World (Sort Of)
Stranger Things has always rolled out the red carpet for 80s nostalgia—expect big hair, blaring synths, and pop culture references at every corner. Longtime fans will spot loving nods to movies like Alien and The Goonies, as if the Duffer Brothers built Hawkins as a shrine to that unforgettable decade. But now, in the show’s final season, there’s a new, fascinating influence lurking behind the curtain: the world of Harry Potter.
Now, don’t expect to see anyone grabbing a wand and casting Wingardium Leviosa, or an army of magical owls circling above Hawkins. That’s not on the schedule. Yet, as surprising as it sounds, there’s a compelling parallel—one that has even shaped the way the series’ actors have approached their roles.
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A Wicked Bond: Vecna and Will, Potter and the Dark Lord
Let’s face it: Stranger Things loves a dramatic hero-villain faceoff almost as much as Harry Potter did. Since its earliest episodes, Stranger Things has quietly built an uncanny link between Vecna (portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), reminiscent of the connection between Harry Potter and Voldemort. The parallel might make you do a double take, but it’s there, lurking in the narrative shadows.
Delving into Season 5, Volume 1 made it pretty clear that the event back in 1983—Vecna leaving his eerie mark on Will Byers—isn’t just for shivers. It’s foundational. That scar, both literal and emotional, is posed to become the key to overcoming the villain once and for all. Will’s spooky discovery? He’s able to see through the eyes of creatures from the Upside Down, and maybe even harness their unsettling powers through a strange, psychic connection—a connection Vecna is desperate to keep hidden.
More Than Just a Scar—A Fragment of Evil Inside
Sound a little magical? Here’s where Harry Potter fans might feel an extra jolt of recognition. In much the same fashion as the wizarding world’s Chosen One, Will is host to a fragment of evil. There’s a piece of Vecna inside him, calling back to how Voldemort accidentally made Harry a Horcrux—embedding a shard of his soul when he tried (and spectacularly failed) to kill the boy as a baby. Was this a deliberate reference from the Duffer Brothers? The truth is out, at least for Noah Schnapp. To truly step into Will’s shoes, Schnapp turned to none other than Harry Potter himself.
He explained to Deadline: “For Will, we started to see the parallels between him and Vecna. It made me think of Harry Potter so much that I had to re-watch the movies, because the relationship between Harry Potter and Voldemort felt very close to that between Will and Vecna. So we’re exploring these parallels and what they mean.”
That’s right. The Harry/Voldemort connection isn’t just fan theory—it’s a research tool for the cast! Will’s journey echoes Harry’s: both are marked, both carry part of their foes inside them, and both face the terrifying prospect that their inner bond is the key to victory—or downfall.
- Both heroes are linked to their mortal enemies by more than just bad luck.
- Their connection grants each insights into the villain’s world.
- Both relationships suggest that defeating evil may come at deep personal cost.
The Climax Awaits: Will’s Destiny and the Last Battle
If you recall the last Harry Potter film, Daniel Radcliffe’s bespectacled hero finally accepts that his deadly bond with Voldemort is the linchpin to ultimate victory. This revelation, as crucial as it is chilling, paved the way for the saga’s conclusion. Stranger Things now stands poised at the same kind of precipice. The big question: Will Byers and his psychic link to Vecna—will that be the key to Hawkins’ salvation, just as Harry’s connection was vital in the battle against darkness?
It’s a cliffhanger worthy of both Hogwarts and Hawkins, and for fans, it’s an irresistible prospect. As Season 5 draws to its epic climax, keep those comparisons close—just don’t go looking for broomsticks in the Upside Down. Instead, buckle up and let the magic (and the mayhem) take over, because this familiar-yet-fresh twist proves the Duffer Brothers have a few magical tricks of their own up their sleeves.
