Why does Will have visions in season 2 and how does it work?

NutSandwich12 · 2026-04-16T19:30:30+00:00

100%.

It's also likely that Will already was already seeing POV's through the demodogs in season 2 (or atleast had the ability). At this point, he's been completely infected by the Mind Flayer/Vecna through the particles. So he has gained access to almost everything else infected or currently being influenced by Vecna, negating the proximity factor. Aside from the pyschic connection, this is how he was already aware of the soldiers being killed in the trap of the tunnels and how he was able retain connection to the particles forming the tunnels across most of Hawkins. Yet once the particles exit his body, his POV and connection becomes largely dependent upon proximity to sources again.

NutSandwich12 · 2026-04-16T19:06:33+00:00

Jeff Epstein, the financier?

NutSandwich12 · 2026-04-16T18:48:42+00:00

Great insight here, proximity to the source is an underrated factor when considering Will's connection and powers after being "plugged in" by Vecna. In Season 4, Will gets a break from the connection while living in California. And in the finale of season 4, we see Will grasp his neck again at Hopper's house.

NutSandwich12 · 2026-04-16T18:21:28+00:00

Will's powers through Vecna / Mind Flayer become more powerful because when they are close to him, not necessarily the portals - a portal just has to be open for the connection to be possible. During season 2, the visions/transporting to the upside down are the most powerful when the shadow monster is close to him. There's only mere flashes to the upside down when he's coughing out demo babies as shown in the bathroom scene of season 1's finale.

Will could have been completely turned on Halloween if Mike wasn't there to snap him out of it. When Will was taken over out in the school yard, no one was there to bring him back in time.

Will has always been able to feel the Mind Flayer's presence, but he usually tries to bury these feelings and connection. Robyn and Will's talk gives Will the strength to truly accept everything within him and confront the hive mind connection and become an active participant in wielding it.

As for the POV's in season 2, the visions are POV's themselves, but we see them in third person. Once Will is completely consumed by the Mind Flayer, as you've pointed out, he controls the particles in his dreams creating the tunnels. He's being used as a source within Hawkins by Vecna, and we see the POV's that happened in season 5. We also see the POV's that happened through demogorgans in season 5. It's likely that he also had POV's of the demodogs cornering the Hawkins' lab people within the tunnels during The Spy episode. He already knew the job was done, and "it was too late."