Eleven speaks as a child in Stranger Things season 4 flashbacks, which does not make sense with her characterization early on. Millie Bobby Brown was awarded the chance to explore even more of young Eleven in Stranger Things season 4. As part of her journey to regain her powers, Eleven underwent more experiments from Dr. Brenner and Sam Owens. The tests allowed her to re-experience forgotten memories and reawaken her powers, but Stranger Things season 4 did not waste the opportunity to feature a younger version of Eleven and further explore her past.

The Stranger Things season 4 flashbacks proved to be incredibly important to the plot beyond Eleven's powers. It was through the flashbacks that Vecna's origin was explained. The experience that Eleven had with Henry Creel (or 001) in Hawkins National Laboratory created a strong link between them that became even more important as the season's finale unfolded. However, Stranger Things season 4 flashbacks also raised a few notable questions. Viewers were quick to point out that Kali Prasad, also known as Eight from season 2, was missing from Hawkins Lab. Kali's absence was not the only plot hole viewers seemingly caught.

Related: How Old Stranger Things' Characters Are In Season 4

Throughout Eleven's new backstory in Stranger Things season 4's flashbacks, it is repeatedly made clear that she can talk perfectly fine in the past. However, this directly contradicts how Eleven is portrayed as a child during Stranger Things season 1. The show originally made it clear that Eleven had limited social skills and communication abilities due to how she was raised in Hawkins Lab. It seemed as though she never learned how to speak until after her escape. Eleven not speaking in the early seasons of the show is now a bit of a Stranger Things season 4 plot hole. After all, Stranger Things season 1 made it clear that Eleven did not even know the meaning of words like friend, so even her language comprehension seemed underdeveloped as a child.

Click here to watch Every Mistake You Missed in Stranger Things on YouTube

How Young Eleven Speaking Changes Her Stranger Things Story

Eleven in her pink dress and blue jacket in Stranger Things Season 1

Based on the revelations included in Stranger Things season 4, young Eleven speaking changes her story in some major ways. The first is that it forces viewers to completely rethink how they view Eleven not speaking much in season 1 and understand the real reason why that was the case. It is possible that Eleven losing her speech abilities is tied to one of her most traumatic moments, Eleven and One's first fight that turned Henry Creel into Vecna, and the likelihood that Brenner blamed her for the deaths of the other children. She is raised in total isolation for nearly two years after fighting Vecna, but she has little to no memory of what happened before. As a result, forgetting how to speak could be one of the effects.

Knowing that Eleven could speak as a child before Stranger Things season 1 also gives new meaning to her learning how to talk and socialize again. It would seem that after only interacting with Dr. Brenner for years and being treated poorly, it takes meeting someone who truly cares for her to begin to open up and relearn the necessary communication skills. Mike, Dustin, and Lucas play important roles in Eleven's growth, as does Hopper. With her speech abilities becoming better than ever before in season 4, every example of Eleven talking in Stranger Things can now be seen as growth for her after a particularly traumatic event.