After a three year wait, Stranger Things season 5 has officially arrived and we are sat.
While we only have the first half of the season so far, we’re fully invested in the latest lore from the worlds of magic and spooky intrigue that the show explores.
Set in the year 1987, the show opened up the new season with a full-on battle with villain Vecna. But there are further *stranger things* afoot as the cast grapples with new characters and suspicious happenings.
Among these new characters is Mr Whatsit, the supposed imagined friend of Holly Wheeler, Mike and Nancy’s younger sister. But who is he? And how does he link to A Wrinkle in Time?
Who is Mr Whatsit?
Holly Wheeler takes a more central role in season 5, and her storyline revolves around a figure she begins seeing called Mr Whatsit.
In episode 1, she is seen waving to a figure in the playground, but then it transpires that no-one else seems to be able to see him.
In episode 2, however, it is revealed that he is actually Henry Creel, Vecna in human form.
As you may remember from season 4, Henry/Vecna is able to create visual hallucinations.
By appearing as an imaginary friend, he can manipulate children into fulfilling his plans. Holly explains to Mike that Mr Whatsit wants to protect her from “monsters”.
Mike and Nancy realise Mr Whatsit’s true identity when they visit their mum in hospital and she mentions that his name is Henry.
How does Mr Whatsit link to A Wrinkle in Time?
A Wrinkle in Time is a popular sci-fi novel published in 1962.
Holly is seen reading the book in episode 1. In episode 2, Mike sees the book in the hospital and connects the book to Mr Whatsit.
In A Wrinkle in Time, Mrs Whatsit is a trustworthy character, and it seems that Henry/Vecna is riffing off of the character’s name in order to give Holly the impression that he is trustworthy too.
Vecna begins to hint at his plan in episode 4 but the rest will be revealed in episode 5…
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