The following contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1, now streaming on Netflix.
Stranger Things has always been coy about characters' backstories, building a mystique that's kept fans guessing over things like the history of Hawkins, Indiana, Dr. Brenner's shady program and the eerie Upside Down. That ongoing mystery has led to many conspiracy theories as avid followers try to stitch together the entire picture.
Some of the Netflix drama's gaps were filled in by tie-in novels and Dark Horse comics -- but then Season 4, Volume 1 left folks wondering if these stories were canon due to inconsistencies that emerged. That's made it impossible for viewers to know if anything is for certain. Even fan-favorite Eleven isn't safe from speculation, as a new Stranger Things theory suggests that she's actually a clone... of one of the show's most notable villains.
In the novel Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds, Eleven's mom Terry dated a man named Andrew Rich. However, Dr. Brenner wanted Terry focused on the drug project he was running, so he pulled strings and got Andrew shipped off to Vietnam -- where he ended up dying during the Vietnam War. To make matters worse, Terry was supposedly pregnant by Andrew; Brenner later took Eleven from her and ruined Terry's mind.
Eleven's paternity might be an issue, though, thanks to comments made by Brenner's orderly Peter Ballard. He turned out to be One, a telepath and telekinetic fiend initially known as Henry Creel. Henry was taken by Brenner in the '50s after killing his mom and sister, with Brenner secretly trying to harness his power. Unfortunately, after Brenner turned him into Peter, he couldn't control his abilities. The doctor became fearful of Peter and had a microchip implanted into him.
In Season 4, Volume 1, Peter claimed that Eleven and the others in the program were attempts by Brenner at recreating him. He said Eleven was just like him, so she could have been a physical copy as much as she was spiritual. Because Stranger Things is so secretive about the program, it's plausible that Brenner took DNA from Peter and tried to clone him. Not only does the timeline make sense, Brenner would have access to such technology, and cloning would fit the overall nature of the show.
Brenner could have placed Peter's genetic material into Terry, then had Andrew taken out of the picture to avoid any conflict. The clone idea would also explain why Brenner was especially interested in Eleven, why he let Peter take care of her and why Peter wanted her to join his bloody crusade purging humanity as the practically created Vecna. Eleven would be more than a sibling -- she'd be his female equivalent and kindred spirit. Such a plot twist would contextualize Eleven's violent streaks by making her a contemporary to the show's most violent villain. But that might be the biggest bombshell in Stranger Things history.
Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.