Warning: This article contains spoilers from Stranger Things season 5, volume 1.
Stranger Things season five has landed globally, introducing a mysterious new character named Mr Whatsit, who appears to be Holly Wheeler's imaginary friend. However, as viewers soon discover, Mr Whatsit is far from imaginary and proves to be a terrifying presence in classic Stranger Things style. Holly, the younger sister of Nancy Wheeler, insists that Mr Whatsit is real, despite her mother Karen's attempts to convince her otherwise.
In one scene, Holly lays the table and points towards an unknown presence outside the window, giving viewers their first glimpse of Mr Whatsit. Later, she is seen chatting with Mr Whatsit near the school fence, but when her teacher emerges, no one is visible. The true identity of Mr Whatsit is revealed to be Vecna, also known as Henry Creel, during a hospital scene involving Karen. A demogorgon snatches Holly into the Upside Down, prompting Nancy and Mike to frantically search for clues about Mr Whatsit's identity to save her.
Karen, who is attacked and unable to speak, communicates to the teenagers that Mr Whatsit is a tall, gentle man and a child with a pocketwatch and hat, and scribbles that his real name is Henry. It is speculated that Vecna uses the alias Mr Whatsit to infiltrate the minds of Hawkins' younger residents, drawing parallels with Mrs Whatsit from the novel A Wrinkle in Time. The Duffer Brothers are known for incorporating pop culture references, and this homage allows Vecna to manipulate children by lowering their defences.
Stranger Things season 5, volume 2 is released on Netflix UK and Ireland on Boxing Day (December 26) at 1am.
