Stranger Things: The First Shadow disproves major final season fan theory

There are a lot of theories floating around about the final season of Stranger Things. 

From theories about school counselor Ms. Kelley helping Vecna select his victims to speculation that Joseph Quinn will return as Eddie Munson either as a vampire or as Kas the Bloody-Handed, there are some insane theories floating around. Some of these theories may prove to be correct, but there is one particular theory that Stranger Things: The First Shadow seems to disprove. 

One of the biggest theories to have emerged since the fourth season of the show is the “Karen is Vecna’s sister” theory. The theory particularly originates from the season 4 character posters which depict each key character from the season against the backdrop of the setting their character’s story unfolded. For example, Will, Mike, and Jonathan’s posters were set against the backdrop of California; Hopper, Joyce, and Murray’s posters were set against the backdrop of Russia; and Nancy, Steve, Robin, Dustin, Lucas, and Max’s were set against the backdrop of Creel House. 

Fans know that each of these locations indeed played a major role in the characters’ season 4 storylines and this is where the theory about Karen comes into play. Karen’s character poster was also set against the backdrop of Creel House. The only problem is that Karen was not involved in any way with the Creel House storyline in the season and never once appeared at the location. This gave birth to the theory that the poster was an Easter Egg hinting that Karen was actually Vecna’s sister, Alice Creel. 

While Alice Creel was said to have died at Vecna/Henry’s hands, the theory suggests that she survived somehow and that she changed her identity, becoming Karen. The problem is that Stranger Things: The First Shadow disproves this theory. 

Karen Wheeler and Alice Creel are separate characters in The First Shadow

The Karen is Vecna’s sister theory is largely built on the assumption that Karen is actually Alice Creel. In the show, there is ground for this theory to thrive, as we never see Karen and Young Henry cross paths. However, in the play, it is firmly established that Alice and Karen are two separate characters. 

The First Shadow transports audiences back to 1959 as the Creel family move to Hawkins for a new beginning. This includes Henry, Alice, and their parents, who all play key roles in the play to varying degrees. Also included in the cast is a young Karen, who we learn attended Hawkins High with Henry back in the day, putting them closer in age and disproving the theory that Karen is actually his little sister Alice. 

While we don’t see Alice and Karen interact in the play, the fact that the pair are separate characters proves that Karen is not an older version of Henry’s sister, Alice. Sadly, just like in the show, it’s confirmed that Alice dies at Henry’s hands in the play. 

It was a fun theory and one that would have led the way for an unexpected and epic twist in the show, but knowing The First Shadow makes it clear there is no truth to the theory.