On Stranger Things Day, Netflix made a wealth of information about the fourth season of the popular series available to the public, including the titles of the new episodes. The second episode is called “Vecna’s Curse,” and though not all Stranger Things fans play Dungeons & Dragons, those who do will probably recognize the name Vecna, and those who are familiar with the character will be excited about the creative possibilities it portends
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons have shared a sort of special relationship since the show’s premiere episode, in which the audience meets the core group of four boys as they’re playing a campaign in Mike’s basement. The very premise of the series is that Will gets caught up in a real-life version of the type of supernatural danger that threatens players in the game.
D&D even released a Stranger Things edition that comes with a Demogorgon miniature as the creature is imagined by the show, while the game’s version has been around since 1976 and looks a little different. Similarly, Stranger Things used the Mind Flayer as the inspiration for its Season 2 and 3 big bad. Again, there isn’t an exact parallel between the Upside Down version and the in-game version, but it’s mostly the appearance that’s been changed, yet Demogorgons and Mind Flayers have similar intentions and functions in both cases.
Therefore, it’s significant that Stranger Things is not only drawing from Vecna, but advertising it by including the name in an episode title. This could mean that we’ll see some Upside Down-ified version of Vecna as a Season 4 villain, but it could also mean that Vecna’s backstory, personality and abilities will merely be represented by some existing human character. In fact, because of Vecna’s in-game biography, the latter might make for the more interesting turn of events.
Even people who aren’t well-versed in D&D lore may have heard of or seen Vecna without realizing it. Often represented by an eye in the palm of a hand, Vecna is a perfect choice for Stranger Things because his story is so mysterious and adaptable.
It’s said he began life as a human wizard, and that he sought knowledge to be able to cheat death. He did it by becoming a lich: an undead skeletal magic-user. Vecna’s a forerunner to characters like Darth Sidious and Voldemort, down to some very specific details. He had an apprentice that envied his power, he could preserve his essence in just the relic of his hand and eyeball, and people were afraid to speak his actual name. There’s even a parallel to Eternals‘ Ebony Blade in that his story involves a sword that makes its bearer progressively more evil.
Vecna eventually became a god-like figure to a cult, and as a purely evil immortal deity, he’s one of D&D’s ultimate villains. There’s plenty about him for Stranger Things to mine through, but the episode title refers to a curse. Though Dungeon Masters are able to use him and his legend however they choose, this curse basically applies to wizards who get a little too curious about dark arcane secrets. If they fall victim to him, they become creepy, hollow versions of their former selves, unable to remember who they were but haunted by the vague impression of their memories.
Will has role-played a wizard before, but he’s already almost lost himself to the Mind Flayer. Perhaps the Upside Down isn’t done with him, or perhaps someone new will be tempted by Vecna’s knowledge and power.
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