Introduction:
In season four of Stranger Things, viewers were introduced to two new characters: Peter Ballard and Henry Creel. While the two characters seemed like minor players in the show’s overarching narrative, there are hints that their backstory may be linked to the show’s greatest villain: Vecna.
Who is Vecna?
Vecna is a powerful and malevolent being from Dungeons & Dragons lore. In the show, Vecna is mentioned in passing by Dustin, but there are many reasons to believe that he could play a larger role in the show’s future.
Peter Ballard and Eleven: The Beginning of an Unlikely Partnership
When Stranger Things season four introduced Peter Ballard, it was in the unassuming role of Eleven’s only ally at Hawkins Lab. As an orderly, Ballard had access to the children, which gave him a front-row seat to Eleven’s treatment by her siblings and glimpses of her vulnerability and loneliness. In this article, we’ll explore how Ballard helped Eleven awaken her power and how their partnership developed throughout the season.
Recognizing Eleven’s Potential
Eleven was different from her siblings, more reserved and shy in her abilities. However, Ballard recognized her power and lent his aid in helping her awaken it to her advantage. When he told her that drawing from the emotions of traumatic memories would empower her, Eleven put his advice to the test and achieved mind-blowing results.
However, Papa punished Ballard for what he had done, and her jealous siblings became even more sinister and cruel, cornering her alone in the Rainbow Room and punishing her for shaming Two. Ballard’s punishment also did not go unnoticed by Eleven, who witnessed it while taking advantage of her extra time in the Rainbow Room.
Escaping Together
Ballard later began plotting with Eleven to escape together, telling her that Papa wasn’t going to come to her aid when her siblings attacked again. He claimed that Papa was actually urging them to destroy her, and he wanted to help her escape to safety. After slipping her his ID card and convincing her to remove the chip suppressing his power, Ballard’s true motives quickly became apparent.
Ballard’s Dark Side
After Ballard used his power to murder nearly everyone in the lab, including the other children, Eleven confronted him for lying to her. He told her he hated humanity and wanted to destroy every last bit of it, and he wanted Eleven to join her power with his to achieve this quest. Eleven refused him because she did not want to be a destroyer.
Who is Peter Ballard, Really?
Henry Creel, the son of convicted murderer Victor Creel, struggled mentally with the redundant nature of time and humanity’s tendency to simply move mindlessly through life. After discovering a nest of black widow spiders in the family’s new home, he became obsessed with their predatory nature and longed to emulate them.
Henry discovered his telekinetic power and began experimenting on small animals in the backyard as well as creating eerie occurrences in the family home. He realized he could use his power to dig into people’s memories and use them to haunt and manipulate his victims. Victor attributed these occurrences to a demon, but Henry’s mother Virginia recognized her son’s hand in it and wanted to send him away to get help. Knowing he had to quiet her, Henry distracted his father at dinner and murdered his mother and then his younger sister Alice. Victor emerged from the scene with a comatose Henry, who’d injured himself by overusing his ability, and was later told that Henry died.
Blamed for the massacre of his wife and daughter, Victor was imprisoned, and Henry was taken into Dr. Martin Brenner’s custody. Brenner wanted to study Henry’s power and eventually control it. He became the first subject in Brenner’s program, receiving the 001 tattoo and a device called Soteria inserted into his neck to suppress his power.
Peter Ballard and Henry Creel: The Vecna Connection
Peter Ballard and Henry Creel are both characters with a mysterious past. Ballard is a recovering addict who works as a counselor at the Hawkins National Laboratory, while Creel is a former psychiatric patient who is being held at the facility. While their backgrounds seem unrelated, there are a few key details that suggest a connection to Vecna.
Firstly, both characters have a connection to the Hawkins National Laboratory, which has a history of experimenting with psychic powers and other strange phenomena. This is the same facility where Eleven was kept and where the gate to the Upside Down was opened.
Secondly, both characters have had experiences that suggest they possess some level of psychic ability. Ballard has vivid dreams that seem to be prophetic, while Creel has shown an ability to influence the minds of others.
Finally, there are hints that both characters may have had encounters with Vecna in the past. In Ballard’s case, he mentions a “darkness” that seems to follow him wherever he goes. Creel, on the other hand, has a mysterious symbol tattooed on his neck that could be related to Vecna.
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The Vecna Connection and the Future of Stranger Things
While the Vecna connection is still largely speculative at this point, there are many reasons to believe that the character could play a significant role in the future of Stranger Things. With the show’s creators promising that season four will be the “biggest and most frightening” yet, it’s possible that Vecna could be the ultimate villain that our heroes must face.
How Did Peter Ballard Become Vecna?
When Ballard propositioned Eleven to join him, he pointed out that they were the same. Together, they could make the world a perfect place by destroying humanity. When Eleven refused to join him, he turned his power on her. Throwing her around the room, Eleven’s life began flashing before her eyes as he lifted her up and began his quest to destroy humanity.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Vecna connection is a fascinating theory that suggests a deeper, more complex backstory for two seemingly minor characters in Stranger Things. While the connection is still largely speculative at this point, there are many reasons to believe that it could play a significant role in the show’s future. With its mix of psychic powers, government conspiracies, and Lovecraftian horror, Stranger Things has always been a show that rewards close attention and speculation. The Vecna connection is just the latest example of how the show’s mysteries and conspiracies can keep fans engaged and guessing for seasons to come.
