Stranger Things has had its share of villains throughout its run. Still, no enemy matched the wrath and horror of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), Season 4’s main antagonist. Last season, he seemed to be an unstoppable and undefeatable force. However, in Stranger Things Season 4 episode “Chapter Four: Dear Billy,” his father, Victor Creel (Robert Englund), revealed how he got out of the trance he was in years ago through music. In the same episode, Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) is saved from certain death through this technique.

With the invasion of the Upside Down in Hawkins, Vecna’s reach has become wider than anyone could have imagined. The heroes are left wondering how to stop Vecna and his cruel plans for Hawkins. However, they do have something in their arsenal that they can use to counter his attacks. Since music was a primary element in the line of defense last season, chances are it will be used again for Hawkins’ survival. But how exactly will the protagonists use this knowledge to save the people in their small town?

Stranger Things Season 4 Establishes How Music Breaks Vecna’s Curse

Vecna’s curse works by triggering traumatic events or dark secrets that his victims don’t want others to know. And, of course, nearly everyone has skeletons in their closets. Vecna preys on those who are vulnerable and whose psyches are unstable. Those traits make it easier for him to access their minds. As seen in Season 4, he taunts his victims and puts them in a trance before gouging out their eyes, breaking their bones, and ultimately killing them.

The crucial step for Vecna’s curse to reach completion is for the victim to remain in a trance while he’s in the process of killing them. When Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) question Victor Creel and analyze his story, they realize that music was the key to getting him out of the trance. Music helps redirect the victim’s attention back to reality and away from Vecna’s mind games. With this knowledge, they managed to save Max before Vecna could successfully kill her.

Official Stranger Things Set Photos Prominently Show A Radio Station

When the cast and crew finally began production for Stranger Things Season 5, they shared photos of different sets and cast members in character. Although they didn’t show enough to spoil the plot, they did share just enough to give the fans an idea about what would happen next season. Ross Duffers, in particular, shared photos that more or less confirm there will be a radio station called WSQK 94.5 FM in Stranger Things Season 5.

Rumors online say that a lot of time was spent filming on this set, indicating that the radio station will be significant to the plot. Admittedly, it isn’t one of the first Stranger Things locations people would think of when discussing the series.

Introducing a radio station in Stranger Things Season 5 is intentional and serves a purpose. Simply put, there’s only one reason why a radio station would suddenly become relevant in the bigger picture next season. Radio stations are ideal for reaching the masses from a singular location. And if the main characters who gain control of the radio station are the ones who know the link between music and Vecna’s curse, then they can provide the citizens of Hawkins with constant protection in the guise of entertainment.

RUMOR: Steve And Robin Are The Main Hosts Of The Town’s Radio Show

A radio station wouldn’t be complete without a radio show. As seen in the official set photos, Hawkins’ radio station, WSQK 94.5 FM, will have one called “The Squawk.” And who else would be a better fit to fill in as the show’s host other than Robin herself? A Tweet shared by UpsideDownScoop reveals that the quirky queer icon of the show will be headlining the show as “Rockin’ Robin.” Of course, the show wouldn’t be complete without her partner in crime, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). With Robin’s knowledge of using music against Vecna, she is undoubtedly the perfect fit for the job.

The existence of the Upside Down and the monsters in it remain a mystery to the citizens of Hawkins. With how things are going down, the group in charge of the radio station will likely do their best to maintain a sense of normalcy in the first couple of episodes of Stranger Things Season 5. To achieve this, they will make “The Squawk” a seemingly ordinary radio show. As the other characters battle the ongoing horrors of the Upside Down behind the scenes, the radio station group will put up smoke and mirrors for the benefit of the citizens of Hawkins.

The Radio Show Will Be Hawkins’ Main Line of Defense Against Vecna

Music will not be the only defensive move up the heroes’ sleeves. However, it will be the first line of defense against the main antagonist of the story. As Vecna recuperates and tries to regain his power over the Upside Down and eventually Hawkins, the main characters are left to protect the citizens who have decided to stay in town. Although this initial line of defense would most likely be effective just as it was in the previous season, Vecna wouldn’t be so easily defeated by this strategy.

With the confirmed time skip, Vecna would have found new methods to refine his plans and make music as ineffective to his attacks as possible. His aim of becoming strong and getting back at Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends for foiling his plans will come into full force by the final season. Quite frankly, it would be anticlimactic if the solution to Vecna’s curse in Stranger Things season 4 remains the same in the final season. Narratively speaking, the story has to introduce new ways to combat and defeat Vecna.

Although music will be an effective line of defense, the heroes in Stranger Things still need to become creative about defending themselves and their town against Vecna. After all, music might not be effective in the long run. Since rumors say that Stranger Things Season 5 will have two volumes like its predecessor, Volume 1 could cover the initial inefficacy of the “music for survival” strategy they’ve been using for so long. Although this would make Vecna seem invincible, it would also make the journey of defeating him cement Stranger Things as a masterclass in storytelling.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things is a horror and supernatural franchise that was originally a popular show on Netflix. The viral success of the television program cause it to have its very own mobile game, Stranger Things 3: The Game, where you play one of 12 characters in a SNES-like version of Hawkins.