Now that we’ve all had a solid 48 hours to digest Stranger Things 4 Volume I, it’s time to look at some of the new characters. Stranger Things 4 introduces us to Henry Creel (Raphael Luce,) but his identity isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Here’s what we know about the character.
[WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things 4 Volume I.]
‘Stranger Things 4’ gives audiences a brief look at Henry Creel in ‘Dear Billy’
In Stranger Things 4 Episode 4, “Dear Billy,” fans finally meet Victor Creel, played by Robert Englund. Showrunners made sure audiences knew Victor played a crucial role this season and hinted at his backstory connecting to the Upside Down. When Robin (Maya Hawke) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) weasel their way into speaking with Victor at Pennhurst Insane Asylum, he tells them about his experience.
In 1959, Victor, his wife Virginia, and two children, Alice and Henry, moved to Hawkins, Indiana. Victor explains they wanted a fresh start, but the family begins to experience odd occurrences shortly after moving into the house. The lights flicker, the radio plays music out of nowhere, and Victor sees terrifying visions. One night at dinner, an unseen force murders Virginia in front of her family. As Victor tries to escape with Henry and Alice, he becomes entranced. When he comes out of the trance, he sees Alice dead on the floor with Henry unconscious but still alive. Victor tells Robin and Nancy that Henry slipped into a coma and died a week later.
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Vecna weaves a different tale about Henry Creel
Pieces of the Stranger Things 4 puzzle start to fall into place toward the end of episode 7, “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab.” As Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) memory returns, we see Peter Ballard (Jamie Campbell Bower) explain his true motives. His tale combines with Vecna’s, who shows Nancy how he came into existence.
Henry Creel never died all those years ago, as Victor believed. Instead, when authorities arrested Victor for the murder of his family, they placed Henry in the care of Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine.) Peter, originally named Henry, tells Eleven he never felt like he fit in as a child. He resented everyone else living everyday lives and took out his rage on his family using his supernatural powers. While Victor took the blame for his family’s murders, Henry actually committed them.
When Dr. Brenner took Henry into his care, he experimented on him. Peter/Henry explained to Eleven that Brenner only wanted to recreate children with his same supernatural abilities. At some point, Brenner began to fear Peter/Henry because he couldn’t control him or his powers. When Peter/Henry tried to get Eleven to join him on his murder spree, she banished him to the Upside Down, which somehow transformed him into Vecna.
Peter Ballard isn’t a reliable narrator in ‘Stranger Things 4’
Henry Creel’s origin story is told to the audience by Peter Ballard and Vecna in Stranger Things 4. The fatal flaw is that neither of these characters are necessarily reliable narrators. Each of their tales is told in a way that only gives their perspective. This leaves plenty of questions for the audience because we don’t know whether to trust their words or not.
On top of that, we only see Peter’s story from Eleven’s memory. We know her memory has the potential to be incorrect. Plus, there’s always a chance Dr. Brenner somehow manipulates her memory into what he wants her to see.
Hopefully, we get more answers in Stranger Things 4 Volume II. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for all your Stranger Things updates!
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*Spoilers for Stranger Things 4 below!*
Since we had a long weekend to take in every single detail of Stranger Things 4 (and inevitably stream Kate Bush on repeat — IYKYK), it's time to talk about One... and Henry Creel... and this season's terrifying new villain, Vecna. As one of the new characters on the beloved sci-fi series' fourth season, we saw many sides of One and learned a lot about his background in the volume 1 finale. If you need a refresher (or simply still trying to wrap your head around the entire thing — don't worry, we are too), read ahead for all the details on One.
- Watch Club Pick: "Stranger Things 4"
It seems like Jamie Campbell Bower has dipped his toes in... pretty much every major fandom. The 33-year-old British actor has had roles in Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Mortal Instruments and now, he plays One/Henry Creel on season 4 of Stranger Things. He's also the lead singer, guitarist, and founding member of the punk band, Counterfeit, which disbanded in 2020. Not gonna lie, we're suuuper impressed with his range.
Who is One/Henry Creel on Stranger Things 4?
The show's official Instagram account first introduced us to Henry as a character called "Peter Ballard" in November 2020. He was described as "a caring man who works as an orderly at a psychiatric hospital. Tired of the brutality he witnesses day after day, will Peter finally take a stand?"
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However, in a May 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jamie admitted that he had "no idea where the name Peter Ballard came from." "I can only apologize to fans of the show for being part of such a massive red herring," he told the outlet, as he was credited as "Friendly Orderly" in the early episodes of season 4. So, Henry is Peter, who also revealed he's One — a.k.a the first psychic/telekinetic who Dr. Brenner tried to model others, like Eleven, after. Let's break down his background and how this all came to be.
The son of Victor Creel, Henry figured out he had psychic and telekinetic abilities when he and his family first moved to Hawkins. He'd initially used his powers to scare his family before he became Dr. Brenner's first subject, a.k.a One. When he got older, Henry's powers grew intensely and his intentions weren't always harmless. This led Dr. Brenner to implant a chip in his neck that suppressed his powers. In the volume 1 finale, it's revealed that he manipulated Eleven — the only subject more powerful than he is — to remove it for him. He then goes on to kill all the other subjects at Brenner's facility before Eleven finds him and ultimately opens the first gate to the Upside Down on November 6, 1983 — the day Will went missing.
Is One/Henry Creel Vecna?
After Eleven opened the gate to the Upside Down, Henry and his newly restored powers grew into the terrifying monster we now know as Vecna. At the end of the volume 1 finale, the camera pans to Vecna's wrist, which still has the "001" tattoo inked inside. He told El that he became more powerful as he ruthlessly murdered more victims like Chrissy and Fred after putting them under his curse. He seems to target teens who are struggling with their mental health and traumas, as Max (who's still grieving the death of her brother, Billy) was one of his victims who eventually broke the curse. Now with Nancy stuck in the Upside Down, it seems like she's next on his list.
Is Eleven related to One/Henry?
As far as we know, Eleven isn't part of the Creel family. However, she and One could be considered "siblings" as Dr. Brenner is their "Papa." They also share the connection of having psychic and telekinetic powers, as we see in the volume 1 finale when One gaslights Eleven into trusting him by showing her his tattoo. We'll have wait until Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 drops to really see if these two are actually related.
Want to know more about Stranger Things 4, including exclusive cast interviews and fan theories? Stay tuned to Seventeen Watch Club for the latest on the series.
Samantha OlsonEditorial Assistant
Sam is the editorial assistant at Seventeen, covering pop culture, celebrity news, health, and beauty. When she isn't draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.