Warning: Spoilers for Stranger Things season 4 volume 2
Instead of simply killing Eleven and being rid of her for good, Vecna wanted her to watch him kill Max and destroy Hawkins in the Stranger Things season 4 finale. Though Eleven was absent from the fight against Vecna for most of the season, she turned out to be his biggest enemy all along. Not only did she prove to be central to the final battle, but she was also the reason for how he became Vecna in the first place.
The reveal that Number One was Vecna made it clear just how important Eleven was to Stranger Things season 4’s overarching story. As expected, she got her powers back in time for the final showdown but was unable to make it to Hawkins. However, the kids’ “piggyback” plan made that unnecessary. Hitching a ride in Max’s mind provided her with a chance to face off with the villain. The problem, though, is that she couldn’t overpower him fast enough. For several minutes, Vecna had the upper hand and was in complete control of the situation. In fact, he could have killed her but let her live instead.
When Eleven was trapped in Vecna’s mindscape, this was his chance to kill her. But it was likely even before their battle that just killing her wouldn’t have satisfied Vecna. After all, it’s been apparent since episode 7 that she wasn’t just some nameless opponent to him. Because of his history with Eleven, he had a personal interest in fighting her. This was hinted at when he spoke to Nancy and conveyed a message to Eleven. It was his plan from the very beginning for the two to meet once more. Since this was something that he had been building to for a long time at this point, killing her at the earliest opportunity was never on the table.
Why Vecna Wanted Eleven To Watch Hawkins Be Destroyed
Before turning his attention to Sadie Sink's Max, Vecna admitted that he no longer thinks they can be on the same side and said, “now I just want you to watch”. It would seem that even though Henry Creel genuinely wanted to enter the Upside Down and become Vecna, there was a part of him that still greatly resented Eleven for turning down his offer. All those years ago, he felt a connection to Eleven because of their shared abilities and the pain that they had both endured at the hands of Dr. Brenner. But much to his disappointment, Eleven rejected him and his visions for the future. In the finale, Vecna wanted her to see with her own eyes what he was hoping to create by destroying Hawkins.
Fortunately, Vecna’s scheme was interrupted. By mustering enough power to fight him off, Eleven created an opening for her friends to make their big move. But since Vecna’s plan to bring the Upside Down to Hawkins is paying off, Eleven may ultimately have no choice but to watch as he gets what he wants anyway. Of course, she and her friends will have to ensure that Vecna is stopped before he gets too far in Stranger Things season 5.