What's Inside the Case Henry Opens in Stranger Things?
During the bulk of season 5 of the popular Netflix show, Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield find themselves trapped within a psychic prison forged from the memories of Vecna. Their mission for freedom in the pivotal sixth episode has them relive a life-altering moment from Henry's youth—an event that could contain the key to defeating him permanently.
Spoiler Warning: This article details significant events for the concluding episodes.
The Discovery in the Tunnel
After locating Max in the world known as Camazotz, Max reveals she is taking refuge in a grotto that Henry avoids at all costs. By leaving the lens cap on a viewing device taken from Henry's old home helps Holly understand that the danger lies outside of the cave. By aligning her view to the cut-out, she and Max tumble into a deep mine shaft.
They watch a Henry as a boy encounter an injured and paranoid man. When Henry tries to help, the man panics and shoots, striking Henry in the hand. In a desperate act of self-defense, Henry strikes the man down with a rock. "Did this make Henry evil?" Holly wonders aloud. It was a factor, but the event involved more than a simple act of survival.
In keeping with mysteries in volume 2, the truth about the encounter is detailed in the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
A Naval Mystery and Stolen Research
*The First Shadow* opens with the legendary naval test, which allegedly sent a U.S. Navy ship into a plane dubbed the Abyss. The ship was attacked, and the only one to return was the ship's commander, who came back in a vegetative state with an entirely new blood.
That survivor's offspring, Martin Brenner, sought to replicate this dimensional breach in the Nevada desert. However, a treacherous employee stole research materials to sell to the Russian agents, who were eager to begin their version of the tests. This spy in the cavern is that employee.
The Briefcase's Contents
Based on what is understood of Brenner's work, the briefcase would assuredly have vials of the unique blood type. As shown, Henry is bleeding from his hand. Exposure likely occurred upon opening the case, causing the awakening of his powers—powers he would inadvertently transfer to the test subjects under Brenner's care.
A second theory, the case could have held strange particles that eventually found its way to the secret facility, where it maintains the stability of the parallel world. The prequel shows that young Henry was transported in the Abyss, returning 12 hours later with a new blood type and personality. As a youth, he fights the control of a dark entity, reminiscent of how the character Will was possessed by the entity in an earlier season.
The Power of Fear
His lasting fear associated with the mine shows how deeply scarring the incident was for him. Even as he controls the Hive Mind and works to collapse the Abyss into Hawkins, a part of him remains. Fear is his tool, and the series is building toward a showdown between him and Will, who has confronted his own deepest fears to gain strength.
Will's growth has effectively disarmed Vecna. Furthermore, Will now knows what his enemy truly fears, which could provide a key upper hand in the ultimate battle to come.