Netflix Release Stranger Things Vol 1 Table Read Twist, We're All Gaten Matarazzo

Will’s mysterious disappearance in season one of Stranger Things is somewhat of a distant memory with the story having moved on quite substantially since that day back in 2016.

However, with the recently aired Volume 1 showing us a flashback of Will’s disappearance, fans suspected it was about time that we got that long-awaited explanation.

And got it we did.

It was back on 26 November that the first batch of Stranger Things Season 5 episodes were dropped on Netflix, with the rest of the fifth and final season expected to air on 25 and 31 December. A pretty nice end to the year's viewing habits.

With fans now getting access to the first four episodes of the season - spoiler warning from here on out - it was the final moments of the fourth episode that saw mass confusion and awe.

Yep, Will showcased for the first time that he had powers similar to Eleven.

In the scene, Will can be seen halting and eventually killing multiple demogorgons as they attack him and his friends in the Military Access Control Zone at the core of Hawkins.

Appearing through the smoke with white eyes, he throws out his hands and stops the demogorgons just as they deliver their killing blows and after halting them for quite some time, he clenches his fist and the monsters fall dead.

Where Did These Powers Come From?

In a recent interview with Esquire, series co-creators Ross and Matt Duffer shared the lore behind Will’s mysterious new powers.

Unlike Eleven and Vecna himself, Will is only able to harness and tap into Vecna’s powers as a result of his connection to the Upside Down and the hive mind.

“He’s able to channel these powers from Vecna and use it, sort of puppeteering,” Duffer explained.

“If he’s not close to the hive mind, he’s not able to access or tap it.”

It is an interesting concept to say the least and it seems as though the cast of Stranger Things were just as surprised over Will’s appearance as the viewers.

The Stranger Things cast react to the major twist in Volume One... 👀pic.twitter.com/Ewu1mXRriT

— GAMINGbible (@gamingbible) December 4, 2025

Table Read Footage

Now, in a recently shared video, we can see the cast hear the script read aloud for the first time and as you can see, they are pretty shocked at the unveiling, especially Gaten Matarazzo whose mouth drops open in surprise.

We get it.

With the episode ending on a cliffhanger, we will have to wait until Christmas day to see how the rest of the scene pans out but there is no denying that Will’s newly awakened abilities will turn the tides against the fight against Vecna.