What Happened to Vecna's Nose? Stranger Things Fans Are Dying to Know
Stranger Things premiered on Netflix in 2016 and became an instant hit.
The sci-fi horror drama now spans four seasons, with the fifth and final instalment confirmed. Set in the 1980s, the show takes place in Hawkins, a fictional Indiana town that becomes intertwined with a dark alternate dimension called the Upside Down after a nearby laboratory inadvertently opens a gateway to it.
Besides its star-studded cast, 1980s references, and a blend of science fiction and investigative drama, Netflix's flagship series also includes a host of monsters and creatures that add a touch of horror.
One such creature is Vecna, an anthropomorphic entity that is the primary antagonist in season 4.
Initially, Vecna was a man named Henry Creel, the first test subject at the laboratory from which he escaped into the Upside Down, eventually transforming into the monster seen in the fourth season. The character underwent several changes in appearance, the most significant and noticeable being the loss of his nose, leaving fans curious about its whereabouts.
Naturally, jokes about the "got-your-nose" trick emerged, while a more plausible theory suggested that the nose might have fallen off like skin affected by leprosy. However, a knowledgeable fan debunked this idea, pointing out that leprosy does not cause skin exfoliation on its own.
A more unsettling hypothesis involves Vecna losing his connection to his human nature, resulting in the shedding of human features.
"His human & humanity [are] falling off. Becomes less who he was every day & more the monster. His distinct features of who he once was are lost more & more!" posits Redditor kikijane711.
Interestingly, some fans speculate a connection between Vecna's and Eleven's powers. Eleven's nose bleeds whenever she uses her abilities. Since Vecna has been around longer and likely used his powers more frequently, it's possible that this impacted his appearance.
"Nobody nose…" jokes user Scaredandalone22 in the same Reddit thread.
Regardless, this topic sparked a lively debate within the fandom. Hopefully, the fifth season of Stranger Things will answer all our lingering questions.