🔗 Share this article

Throughout a large portion of season 5 of *Stranger Things*, Holly Wheeler and Max are held captive within a psychic prison forged from the memories of the villain Henry. The search for a way out in episode 6 leads them to relive a defining event from Henry's youth—an event that may just hold the key to defeating him once and for all.

Heads Up: This article details significant events for *Stranger Things* season 5, volume 2.

A Journey Into the Tunnel

After locating Max in the psychic realm called Camazotz, it becomes clear she is hiding out in a cave that Henry strangely fears. A clever observation a spyglass taken from Henry's old home allows Holly to realize that the danger lies not within the cave. Matching her view through the cap, she and Max tumble into a subterranean passage.

They watch a child version of Henry find an man who is hurt and scared. As the boy offers aid, the man reacts violently, wounding the boy in the hand. In a desperate act of self-defense, Henry kills the man with a rock. "Is this what corrupted him?" Holly questions through tears. Essentially, yes, but the trauma involved more than a defensive killing.

Like many elements this season, the significance of the encounter was first explored the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

The Philadelphia Experiment and Secret Science

This backstory explains the legendary naval test, which allegedly sent a U.S. Navy ship into a plane later called the Abyss. Demogorgons assaulted it, and the sole survivor was the captain, who returned in a unresponsive state with an entirely new blood.

This man's son, Martin Brenner, attempted to recreate this dimensional breach in the Nevada desert. One of his scientists stole research materials to sell to the Soviets, who were keen to start their version of the tests. The man in the cavern is the one who stole the materials.

So, What's in the Case?

Considering what is revealed about Brenner's work, the container most likely held vials of the unique blood type. In the scene, Henry is already bleeding. It's probable he was infected upon opening the case, which triggered the origin of his telekinetic gifts—powers he would inadvertently transfer to the test subjects Brenner would experiment on.

A second theory, the box could have held dark matter that was destined to travel to the Hawkins lab, where it helps stabilize the mirror dimension. The prequel shows that Henry ended up in the Abyss, reappearing 12 hours later fundamentally changed. Throughout the play, he fights the control of a sinister presence, similar to how Will Byers was possessed by the entity in season 2.

The Power of Fear

The reason Henry avoids the cave associated with the mine demonstrates how deeply scarring the event was for him. While he commands the Hive Mind and seeks to merge the Abyss into Hawkins, a piece of the scared boy still exists. Vecna uses fear, and the show is setting up a showdown between Vecna and Will, who has overcome his personal demons to fortify himself.

This journey has neutralized a key tactic of Vecna. Crucially, Will now understands what the monster's own weakness, which could provide a critical advantage in the series finale that awaits.