Who is 001 on "Stranger Things 4"?
*Spoilers for Stranger Things 4 below!*
Since we had a long weekend to take in every single detail of Stranger Things 4 (and inevitably stream Kate Bush on repeat — IYKYK), it's time to talk about One... and Henry Creel... and this season's terrifying new villain, Vecna. As one of the new characters on the beloved sci-fi series' fourth season, we saw many sides of One and learned a lot about his background in the volume 1 finale. If you need a refresher (or simply still trying to wrap your head around the entire thing — don't worry, we are too), read ahead for all the details on One.
Who plays One/Henry Creel on Stranger Things 4?
It seems like Jamie Campbell Bower has dipped his toes in... pretty much every major fandom. The 33-year-old British actor has had roles in Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Mortal Instruments and now, he plays One/Henry Creel on season 4 of Stranger Things. He's also the lead singer, guitarist, and founding member of the punk band, Counterfeit, which disbanded in 2020. Not gonna lie, we're suuuper impressed with his range.
Who is One/Henry Creel on Stranger Things 4?
The show's official Instagram account first introduced us to Henry as a character called "Peter Ballard" in November 2020. He was described as "a caring man who works as an orderly at a psychiatric hospital. Tired of the brutality he witnesses day after day, will Peter finally take a stand?"
However, in a May 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jamie admitted that he had "no idea where the name Peter Ballard came from." "I can only apologize to fans of the show for being part of such a massive red herring," he told the outlet, as he was credited as "Friendly Orderly" in the early episodes of season 4. So, Henry is Peter, who also revealed he's One — a.k.a the first psychic/telekinetic who Dr. Brenner tried to model others, like Eleven, after. Let's break down his background and how this all came to be.
The son of Victor Creel, Henry figured out he had psychic and telekinetic abilities when he and his family first moved to Hawkins. He'd initially used his powers to scare his family before he became Dr. Brenner's first subject, a.k.a One. When he got older, Henry's powers grew intensely and his intentions weren't always harmless. This led Dr. Brenner to implant a chip in his neck that suppressed his powers. In the volume 1 finale, it's revealed that he manipulated Eleven — the only subject more powerful than he is — to remove it for him. He then goes on to kill all the other subjects at Brenner's facility before Eleven finds him and ultimately opens the first gate to the Upside Down on November 6, 1983 — the day Will went missing.
Is One/Henry Creel Vecna?
After Eleven opened the gate to the Upside Down, Henry and his newly restored powers grew into the terrifying monster we now know as Vecna. At the end of the volume 1 finale, the camera pans to Vecna's wrist, which still has the "001" tattoo inked inside. He told El that he became more powerful as he ruthlessly murdered more victims like Chrissy and Fred after putting them under his curse. He seems to target teens who are struggling with their mental health and traumas, as Max (who's still grieving the death of her brother, Billy) was one of his victims who eventually broke the curse. Now with Nancy stuck in the Upside Down, it seems like she's next on his list.
Is Eleven related to One/Henry?
As far as we know, Eleven isn't part of the Creel family. However, she and One could be considered "siblings" as Dr. Brenner is their "Papa." They also share the connection of having psychic and telekinetic powers, as we see in the volume 1 finale when One gaslights Eleven into trusting him by showing her his tattoo. We'll have wait until Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 drops to really see if these two are actually related.
Want to know more about Stranger Things 4, including exclusive cast interviews and fan theories? Stay tuned to Seventeen Watch Club for the latest on the series.
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