Who is Mr. Whatsit in "Stranger Things" season 5? The truth about Holly's imaginary friend revealed

Season 5, Volume 1 of Stranger Things debuted on Netflix on November 26, plunging viewers back into a fractured Hawkins, Indiana. Among the seasons early mysteries is the enigmatic figure known as Mr. Whatsit, a character whose name nods to Madeleine LEngles renowned fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time.

Holly Wheeler, the youngest member of the Wheeler family, introduces this imaginary friend in the premiere episode, sparking curiosity about his true nature. Though he appears as a friendly companion, Mr. Whatsit is far more than he seems.

Who is Mr. Whatsit?

In the episode The Crawl, Holly excitedly discusses her new friend, Mr. Whatsit, while seen reading A Wrinkle in Time. The characters name is a clear reference to the mysterious guide in LEngles novel. Holly interacts with him outside her school, catching glimpses of him in a vintage brown suit. Her brother, Mike, remains wary, knowing that imaginary friends in Hawkins may not be trustworthy, but Holly insists hes there to protect her, warning about monsters lurking in the town.

Mr. Whatsits Link to Vecna

As the season unfolds, it becomes evident that Mr. Whatsit is not imaginaryhe is Vecna, manifesting as Henry Creel. Henry, a telepath once experimented on by Dr. Brenner like Eleven, was exiled to Dimension X and evolved into the monstrous Vecna. Using the guise of Mr. Whatsit, Vecna manipulates Hawkins children, presenting himself as a protector while drawing them into peril. Holly becomes one of his victims, attacked by a Demogorgon and taken to the Upside Down after her parents are gravely harmed.

In the Upside Down, Holly finds herself in a familiar, seemingly safe homethe Creel residence. She explores the area, which she names Camazotz, another nod to A Wrinkle in Time, and encounters Max Mayfield, who explains they are trapped within Vecnas memories, essentially a prison created by him.

Vecnas Plan for the Children

Will Byers connection to the Upside Down hive mind allows him to anticipate Vecnas movements. When Derek Turnbow becomes a target, Will and the group manage to save him from a Demogorgon. However, by the end of Volume 1, Vecna abandons the Mr. Whatsit persona entirely, appearing in his true monstrous form with a group of Demogorgons. They abduct remaining targets, including Derek, while Vecna outlines his ultimate objective: to reshape the world using twelve children he deems perfect vessels, molded to execute his plan. Wills earlier abduction in season 1 demonstrated what Vecna could achieve.

Where to Watch

Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 is available for streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 is set to release on Christmas Day, and the series finale, The Rightside Up, will premiere on New Years Eve in theaters across the U.S. and Canada.

Author: Natalie Monroe