Vecna's Nancy Twist Creates A Stranger Things Screenwriting Problem
WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2!
Nancy Wheeler is the latest target of Vecna at the end of Stranger Things season 4, volume 1, but volume 2's twist that he doesn't kill her demonstrates a consistent screenwriting issue the series must overcome. Played by Natalia Dyer, Nancy has been a major character in Stranger Things since season 1. While she plays another large role in season 4 alongside Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), Nancy's biggest twist demonstrates one of the series' most enduring issues.
Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 ends with the ominous warning that Nancy Wheeler is the next victim of Henry Creel, otherwise known as One and Vecna. Seeing into his mind, Nancy witnesses Henry's transformation into Vecna, after Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) banished him to the Upside Down at the Hawkins Lab nearly a decade earlier. However, within the first five minutes of volume 2, Nancy is set free by Vecna, who tells her to tell Eleven what he has planned for Hawkins. She wakes up to see Steve and is never affected by the curse again, despite Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) escaping Vecna only to again be attacked by him later on.
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It feels out of character for Vecna to let Nancy go so easily, demonstrating that Stranger Things simply uses Henry's attack as a way to end volume 1 on a cliffhanger. Nancy is shown to have never been in any real danger, as Stranger Things rapidly rushes through her escape from Henry/One/Vecna before the opening credits even roll at the start of episode 8. It is clear that Vecna's assault on Nancy is used simply to increase tension and anticipation for
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