🔗 Share this article

During the bulk of season 5 of *Stranger Things*, Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield are imprisoned in a realm of memories forged from the memories of the villain Henry. The search for an escape route in the pivotal sixth episode leads them to experience a life-altering moment from Henry's early years—a moment that could contain the secret to his downfall permanently.

Heads Up: This discussion reveals crucial plot points for *Stranger Things* season 5, volume 2.

A Journey Into the Cavern

When she finds Max in the mental landscape called Camazotz, Holly discovers she is hiding out in a cave that Henry avoids at all costs. An accidental discovery a viewing device found in Henry's old home allows Holly to realize that the danger lies outside of the cave. When she lines up her view with the shape, she and Max plummet into a abandoned tunnel.

There, they witness a child version of Henry come across an wounded, fearful individual. When Henry tries to help, the man reacts violently, striking Henry in the hand. To protect himself, Henry ends the threat with a rock. "Did this make Henry evil?" Holly asks tearfully. The answer is affirmative, but the act wasn't just a defensive killing.

In keeping with mysteries of the final season, the full story behind the mine shaft incident is detailed in the theatrical production the prequel play.

A Naval Mystery and Secret Science

This backstory explains the 1943 event, which transported a warship into a dimension dubbed the Abyss. The ship was attacked, and the lone returnee was the captain, who emerged in a catatonic condition with an altered blood type.

That survivor's offspring, a young Martin Brenner, sought to replicate this phenomenon in remote Nevada. One of his scientists took experimental components to give to the Soviets, who were keen to start their version of the tests. This spy in the mine shaft is that employee.

So, What's in the Case?

Considering what is revealed about Brenner's work, the case almost certainly contained some of the unique blood type. At that moment, Henry is already bleeding. Exposure likely occurred upon contact with the blood, which triggered the origin of his telekinetic gifts—abilities he would genetically impart to the test subjects in Hawkins Lab.

Another possibility, the case could have held dark matter that was destined to travel to Hawkins Laboratory, where it acts to anchor the parallel world. *The First Shadow* reveals that young Henry was transported in the Abyss, returning 12 hours later fundamentally changed. As a youth, he battles the control of a malevolent force, much like how the character Will was influenced by the Mind Flayer in season 2.

The Power of Fear

The reason Henry avoids the cave associated with the mine demonstrates how deeply scarring the encounter was for him. Even as he commands the collective consciousness and attempts to pull the Abyss into Hawkins, a part of him remains. Fear is his tool, and the series is building toward a climactic battle between the monster and Will, who has overcome his personal demons to become stronger.

Will's growth has neutralized a key tactic of Vecna. More importantly, Will now knows what the monster's own weakness, potentially giving him a critical advantage in the series finale ahead.