With Stranger Things entering its final season, every interview, every soundbite, and every cast reaction is being dissected by fans looking for clues — and Noah Schnapp may have just sparked a major debate.

In a recent interview with TV Guide, Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown were asked a simple question: which Stranger Things villain do they think is “misunderstood”?

And Schnapp might have dropped a major clue about the final season with his somewhat mysterious answer, as he said,

“Low-key Vecna, because like…”.

Before he can finish that thought or potentially reveal too much, Millie Bobby Brown jumps in with a loud, laughing interruption:

“Really? No, shut up. That’s it, now be quiet.”

When the interviewer pressed them on whether Vecna could realistically be “misunderstood” after everything he did in Season 4, Brown smoothly steered the conversation away. With classic media-trained finesse, she dodged the question entirely:

“Let’s just not even go there, because today has been a day and we want to do so much for you, but we’re not smart enough to dance around these questions.”

Does This Mean Vecna Might Be Redeemed?

Schnapp’s half-answer immediately sent theory-hunters into full detective mode. Could he actually have been hinting at something? Could the show really attempt to redeem the biggest villain in the Stranger Things universe?

On paper, it seems absurd. Vecna aka Henry Creel has:

• Murdered innocent teenagers

• Trapped souls in the Upside Down

• Manipulated minds

• And reshaped Hawkins into his personal nightmare

He is, without question, the darkest villain the series has ever created.

But Stranger Things has a habit of recontextualizing its major threats. And we already know the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow dives deep into Henry Creel’s childhood and reveals a lot of emotional, complicated backstory that hasn’t yet appeared in the show.

Could Season 5 expand on that? Fans think so.

Vecna and Will: The Connection That Changes Everything

One of the longest-running theories is that Vecna will use Will as his primary weapon against Eleven and now, that theory looks practically confirmed.

The official Season 5 trailer shows Will seemingly under Vecna’s influence, echoing the connection first formed in Season 2 with the Mind Flayer. Will’s visions, chills, and lingering tether to the Upside Down have always hinted at something bigger. Now, it looks like Vecna plans to exploit it.

A newly released opening-scene clip from Season 5 also uncovers what actually happened to Will the night he disappeared in Season 1 — including his first terrifying encounter with Vecna. Fans are convinced this moment holds the key to understanding the true nature of their bond.

If the writers are exploring Will’s connection to Vecna more deeply, could that open the door to a redemption arc? Or at least a tragic reveal about what Henry Creel truly became?

It’s still unlikely that the series will fully “redeem” Vecna — but Stranger Things does love emotional gray areas.

Stranger Things Season 5 will be released in three parts, giving fans a month of continuous chaos:

• November 26 — Episodes 1–4

• December 25 (Christmas Day) — Episodes 5–7

• December 31 (New Year’s Eve) — Series finale

With Will’s storyline front and center and the cast clearly tiptoeing around spoilers, one thing is certain: Season 5 is about to deliver some of the most emotional and lore-heavy episodes Stranger Things has ever produced.

Whether Vecna gets a redemption arc or not… fans are ready.