Will Byers has been at the center of the Stranger Things story from the very beginning. Heading into the final run in Season 5, many fans have expected that this will now be Will’s time to truly shine. As many have stated, “It all started with Will, it will likely all end with Will”. With the first four episodes of Season 5 now released on Netflix, fans diving into the show will be quick to notice that Will is noticing more similarities and comparisons between himself and Vecna, to some level.
However, things took the ultimate turn at the end of Episode 4, where Will was pushed to his limits, thus unlocking new potential within himself. This has resulted in burning questions from fans, with many eager to find out if Will now has powers. If you’re seeking an explainer on these final moments, this guide has everything you’ll need to know.
SPOILER WARNING: This guide covers content that may be considered spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5. Proceed with caution.
Does Will Have Powers in Stranger Things Season 5?
Yes, it has been clear from the beginning of Stranger Things Season 5 that Will has some sort of powers/abilities, to a certain degree. Will has a connection with the Upside Down and Vecna, and as this connection has strengthened over time, Will has unlocked new abilities. The most crucial of these abilities, leading into Season 5, is the ability to sense Vecna’s presence.
At the beginning of Season 5, Will also discovers that he is able to see through Vecna’s eyes. This greatly assists in tracking leads after the disappearance of Holly Wheeler, as Will, with the help of Robin and his friends, is able to deduce the next victim of Henry/Veca, AKA “Mr. Whatsit”, and intervene with a plan before his arrival. This is the first indication that his powers are expanding, or growing alongside his connection.
However, this doesn’t stop Vecna for long. After classes of children are transported to the Upside Down by the military, Will and his friends embark on a rescue mission to try and save them, as they know Vecna and the Demogorgons are going after them. The military, which had planned to use the children as bait for Vecna and the monsters of the Upside Down, is ultimately outmatched when Vecna makes his arrival, and bloody, brutal chaos quickly breaks out.
During this time, Vecna himself confronts Will, revealing that he plans to use the children as his personal puppets, as he believes children to be ‘weak in body and mind’. Vecna tells Will that he was the first prototype, the original, and that these children will become vessels for his power just as he did.
It’s at this point that Will has a huge turning point, a flashback of memories across his life, which symbolizes him finally accepting his connection to Vecna/the Upside Down, the connection he has had since he was a little boy. This moment has been building across a couple of episodes now, with multiple conversations coming into play.
Robin previously spoke with Will about her sexuality and how she was never truly ‘free’ until she was openly herself. Following this, Will has a conversation with Mike where the latter makes a DND reference, telling him, “I know you’re a Wizard, but you seem like more of a Sorcerer to me. Your powers aren’t learned, they’re innate.”
Both of these were foreshadowing about Will finding freedom in his connection to the Upside Down and unlocking new innate powers within himself. As Vecna leaves through a rift, Will snaps up into action, his powers now having evolved. He can no longer simply see through Vecna, but is also able to control the Demogorgons.
Right as Mike, Robin, and Lucas are all about to meet their fates at the hands of three separate Demogorgons, the three monsters freeze, suspended in the air mid-strike. The camera pans over to Will, who is standing with his eyes rolled back into his skull, shaking, but standing in a firm stance.
Will, in a massive display of power, is then able to simultaneously fold the limbs of the Demogorgons through what appears to be a telekinetic mind control, killing them all in a crushing blow with just a few sharp arm gestures.
Will then collapses to his knees, exhausted from his use of the power, whilst Joyce and Mike stare at him in awe. The last shot of Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 4 shows Will’s nose bleeding, much like the Hawkins Lab children after they overuse their powers.
However, rather than being psychic in nature, it seems Will’s powers may only be linked to the Upside Down, meaning he is unlikely to be a second Eleven in terms of ability. Instead, these new powers give Will untapped potential and a huge, unique advantage for himself and his friends when it comes to navigating and controlling the Upside Down. Perhaps, this could be the strongest card in the hand of Hawkins, yet.