[Video] ‘Stranger Things’ Cast Was Shocked by Will Byers’ Epic Twist at Table Read
Stranger Things fans were left stunned at the end of Volume 1 of Season 5 when Will Byers revealed a surprising new power. In the episode “Sorcerer,” the battle against Vecna and the Upside Down’s creatures reaches a critical point.
The Demogorgons are attacking Hawkins and seem unstoppable. Just when it looks like the main characters and soldiers are doomed, Will taps into an ability fans had never seen before. He uses Vecna’s power to stop the Demogorgons and protect Mike, Lucas, and Robin. In the final scene, Will wipes a nosebleed and stares with determination, echoing the signature look of Eleven.
A video shared on X shows the cast reacting to this huge twist, revealing their shock and excitement.
Watch the cast of Stranger Things react to THAT Will Byers plot twist at the table read. pic.twitter.com/7m9Yab2A8M
— Netflix (@netflix) December 4, 2025
According to Variety, showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer explained that Will’s new powers are different from Eleven’s. “Will is siphoning his power directly from Vecna,” Ross Duffer said. “Vecna and Eleven have similar powers because the abilities come from within, but Will’s powers are different. His expression of his powers is like puppeteering.”
In the episode, Vecna taunts Will, calling the children “perfect vessels” and saying, “And you, Will, you were the first. And you broke so easily. You showed me what was possible, what I could achieve. Some minds, it turns out, simply do not belong in this world. They belong in mine.” But Will’s memories of his family and friends give him strength. He recalls moments with Mike, Joyce, Jonathan, and building Castle Byers, which help him fight back and channel Vecna’s powers effectively.
The Duffer brothers also explained that Will’s abilities depend on his proximity to the Upside Down’s hive mind. “Will needs to be near the hive mind to use Vecna’s powers,” they said. “If he’s close to a Demogorgon, he can use them, but the further he is, the weaker the powers get. At a certain distance, he can’t tap into them at all.”
Unlike Eleven and Vecna, Will can’t use his powers freely; his strength comes from the creatures around him.
This twist puts Will in a new and powerful role in the story. Fans now have a lot of questions about how far he can go with these abilities and what challenges he will face in the next episodes.
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