Netflix’s fourth season of ‘Stranger Things’ introduced a brand-new villain. The big bad of the season is Vecna who is the leader of the Mind Flayers, a race of telepathic creatures that seek to enslave and consume all life.
Eagle-eyed fans of the show noticed some striking similarities between Vecna and the Night King, the main antagonist of HBO’s ‘Game Of Thrones’. Night King commanded an army of undead zombies known as the White Walkers just like Vecna commanded the Mind Flayer. In this article, we will explore how the Night King inspired Vecna’s creation and what it means for the future of ‘Stranger Things’.
The Night King’s Influence On Vecna’s Character In ‘Stranger Things’
The showrunners of ‘Stranger Things’, Matt and Ross Duffer, are huge fans of ‘Game Of Thrones’ and wanted to pay homage to the Night King in their own way. The Duffer Brothers were fascinated by the Night King’s appearance, origin story and powers, and wanted to create a character somewhat similar for their show. They consulted with David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creators of ‘Game Of Thrones’, and got their blessing to use some elements from the Night King for Vecna.
Vecna and the Night King share many similar characteristics. The pale blue skin, glowing blue eyes, horned crown, and icy demeanor are common to both. He also has a backstory: he was once a human who was experimented on thus becoming attaining super-human telepathic and telekinetic powers. He also has a similar goal: to bring about an eternal winter and wipe out all life on Earth.
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The Night King’s Vs Vecna’s Fate
The Night King also influenced Vecna’s plot in ‘Stranger Things’. In season four, Vecna launches a massive invasion of Hawkins, Indiana, where the main characters live. He uses his Mind Flayers to attack and infect people, turning them into his mindless slaves. He also targets Eleven, who also has telekinetic powers and is the key to stopping him. He tries to lure her into a trap by sending visions of her past and future. He also reveals that he has a connection to her: he was there guiding Eleven while she was being experimented on in the Hawkins Lab. Vecna’s invasion is reminiscent of the Night King’s assault on Winterfell, the stronghold of the heroes in ‘Game Of Thrones’.
In season eight, the Night King leads his White Walkers and tries to attack Winterfell and kill everyone inside. He also targets Bran Stark, the psychic boy who is the key to stopping him. In season eight, the Night King was killed by Arya Stark. Just like The Night King, Vecna is felled by formidable opponents. We will have to wait and see how ‘Stranger Things’ will conclude its epic saga of horror and fantasy Season 5.
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