Overview
- Bower says he looked to real-world cult leaders, naming Jim Jones as an early reference for crafting Mr. WhatsIt.
- He tuned the character’s language to cult dynamics, weighing inclusive phrasing like “we” over “you” to suggest control.
- For Season 5 he emphasized deceptive kindness toward child characters, calling the approach frightening because his intentions stayed hidden.
- He drew on the stage prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow and sought guarded backstory from the Duffer brothers to anchor the role.
- He cautions that viewers are “probably wrong” about what comes next and hints at an unpredictable series finale set for Dec. 31 on Netflix.