Stranger Things 4: The Dark Phoenix theory is gaining steam

After the first episode title of Stranger Things 4 was revealed, many fans are getting Dark Phoenix and Jean Grey vibes. Some are revisiting the Dark Phoenix theory heading into season 4.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, Stranger Things officially shared the first episode title for season 4 to cap off a great Stranger Things Day. The first episode of Stranger Things 4 is titled “Chapter One: The Hellfire Club,” and obviously, that set off alarms for X-Men fans.

The Hellfire Club is a villainous organization that gets a lot of shine in The Dark Phoenix Saga, which started in 1980. It’s one of the most famous comic runs of all time, and it’s already been mentioned in the first season of the Netflix original series.

Why is this important? Well, there’s actually a theory pertaining to Eleven and Jean Grey. If you don’t want to know about The Dark Phoenix Saga and how it may pertain to the future of Stranger Things, please turn back now. Go check out our list of the 50 best TV shows on Netflix for more shows to watch.

So, let’s get back to the theory, which was reported by Vox years ago. This theory is all over the web and message boards, so I’ll try to keep it short. There are many parts to this theory, which includes duality and battle of good and evil inside a person or being.

Basically, many fans of the series have pointed out the similarities between Jean Grey and Eleven. Their powers are similar. Their names are similar. Remember, Eleven’s real name is actually Jane.  The show has referenced, on multiple occasions X-Men 134, which is the comic when Jean Grey becomes the Dark Phoenix.

So, there’s a lot of evidence there. What does it all mean? Well, there are some you believe that, in a similar way that Jean Grey is both the Phoenix and the Dark Phoenix, Eleven is the good, while the Demogorgon is the bad. They are connected in some way, and they are in conflict.

There’s a really good Uproxx video about this theory that you should check out.

The theory is that Eleven created the Demogorogon through all the trauma she suffered in the Hawkins Lab. It’s not a perfect theory, but the similarities between how the Demogorgon and Eleven act (the telekinetic abilities, raising its arm when Eleven raises hers) and how Eleven recognizes Will and Barb without knowing them raises interesting questions.

So, how does this all factor into Stranger Things 4?

Well, that’s when we go back to Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga. In the comics, Jean Grey is exposed to the Phoenix, which gives her ultimate power, but there’s catch. The Phoenix also has a dark side competing with the good aspect of this power, and, that’s where the Hellfire Club, which is referenced in the title of the first episode of season 4, comes in.

Mastermind, a villain who is part of the Hellfire Club, uses illusions to mess with Jean’s mind with the hope that she’ll turn bad and they can use her as the ultimate weapon. Eventually, the darkness overcomes Jean Grey, and she becomes the Dark Phoenix. She’s no longer on anyone’s side; she’s simply power.

I think we’ve met someone in Stranger Things with the capability to manipulate reality, haven’t we? Could that be what the episode title is referring to? Will Eleven be Masterminded in the new season? If this theory is to be believed, we’re well on the path to see Dark Eleven in Stranger Things 4.

Obviously, there’s too much evidence here for all these X-Men similarities here to be a big coincidence. The Duffer Brothers and writers might be leaning in to the Dark Phoenix theory as a nod to the creative fans for coming up with it. If so, that’d be really cool.

At this point, I really don’t know what to think. On the surface, I think it’s easy to write off all these similarities. The show is changed so much since the first season. The Demogorgon is no longer the major villain. We have the Mind Flayer to thank for that. There are many, many things that don’t connect with this theory, so there’s some hope for Eleven yet.

Yet, I see a clear path here if the Duffer Brothers and writers want to put their spin on Jean Grey and the Dark Phoenix, and that’s really intriguing moving forward, too.

What do you think about this theory? Do you think that Eleven is on the path to become bad like the Dark Phoenix? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!