This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4 vol. 2For most people, villains are usually the least sympathetic characters in a story, but Stranger Things star Jamie Campbell Bower isn't most people. The actor, who portrayed the sinister antagonist in season 4 of the Netflix hit series, recently spoke about how he believes Vecna/Henry/One is the most humane character of the bunch.
In Stranger Things, which debuted the second volume of season 4 on July 1st, Bower's character was initially introduced as a friendly orderly who took Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven under his wing. However, as the series progressed, the audience learned that the orderly was the season's main villain: Vecna, an evil entity who preyed on his victim's biggest fears. Although Vecna (or Henry, as he was known before his gruesome transformation) is a cruel and violent character, Bower says there's more to him than meets the eye.
In a new interview with Variety, the actor discussed empathizing with Henry and understanding the Stranger Things villain's motivations. When asked if he believed there was any humanity left in Henry before turning into Vecna, Bower explained that his character grew up witnessing the injustice of war and the trauma that his father carried as a veteran, which enraged him. That resentment toward others increased after Eleven sent him to the Upside Down because she took "everything away from him — everything that he possibly could have had, is now gone because of her."
Bower also said that he relates to the experience of holding on to negative emotions for so long that "they become consuming." Therefore, he couldn't see Vecna/Henry as a villain. "I’m certainly able to view him as a point of conflict. But in terms of, like, is he evil or villainous? I mean, I understand him, and I love him. And I relate to him. I just got a pain in my eyes as I was saying that — maybe I should shut up! Like, I understand him, and so I’m always gonna be on his side," he told Variety.
Campbell Bower previously opened up about the intense process he underwent in preparation for the role, which involved meditation, drawing, and even staring at spiders for hours. "I would take four days before filming anything [to get into character], and those first two days are about clearing everything out," he explained to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year.
Since its release, season 4 has become one of the best in the Netflix show so far. Besides tackling difficult subjects such as grief with empathy, Stranger Things has successfully added depth to its characters without sacrificing the action that viewers love. The season finale ends with Will (Noah Schnapp) sensing Vecna's presence, which means that audiences will likely get to see more of the complex villain in season 5.
Stranger Things season 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.
Source: Variety