The fearsome villain Vecna from Netflix's hit series 'Stranger Things' was designed to send chills down viewers' spines. However, the internet, in its quintessential style, has transformed him into something entirely unexpected and deliciously funny. The monstrous entity from the Upside Down is now being widely compared to a beloved Indian snack: the humble onion pakoda.
From Monster to Munchies: The Viral Food Comparison
What started as a solitary joke on social media rapidly snowballed into a full-blown online food festival. Fans who once cowered at Vecna's menacing presence are now bursting into laughter every time he appears on screen. The visual similarity between the character's gnarly, textured appearance and a crispy, golden-brown onion pakoda proved to be irresistible for netizens.
Social media platforms, especially Twitter, were flooded with witty comments and trolls. One user shared the revelation, writing, "Saw this on Twitter and can't unsee it!! Lol #StrangerThings." Another user simply declared, "Vecna️ CHAKNA️," equating the villain to a spicy side snack. The comparison hit some at the most inopportune times, with one fan stating, "I was just having onion pakora...and my first bite…and saw this."
The meme quickly adopted regional flavors. A Malayali user chimed in with "ULLIVADA ath mathi," drawing a parallel to Kerala's popular ullivada (onion fritters). The cravings were real, as another netizen confessed, "I’m suddenly craving onion pakoda." The requests got even spicier, with one asking for "Ek plate vecna with extra mirchi and ketchup."
Masala Humor Takes Over the Digital Sphere
This phenomenon is a classic example of peak internet culture, where a pop culture icon is remixed through a local, relatable lens. The scary villain slowly morphed into a tasty snack in the collective public imagination. Once the seed was planted, the comparison spread like wildfire, with memes, edits, and jokes dominating timelines.
Fans from different parts of India added their own culinary references, from North Indian onion pakoda and general chakna to South Indian ullivada. The humor was served hot and crispy, proving so infectious that even those attempting to take the show's suspense seriously found it impossible to escape the laughter.
Finale Fever Amidst the Laughter
While the jokes continue to circulate, excitement for the grand conclusion of 'Stranger Things 5' remains at a fever pitch. The series finale is scheduled to drop on Wednesday, December 31, at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT. For Indian audiences, this translates to an early morning release on New Year's Day, available from 6:30 am IST as part of the global rollout.
Season 5 was released in two volumes this year. The first installment of four episodes premiered on November 26. Volume 2, consisting of three more episodes, was released on Christmas. The finale episode is set to arrive on New Year's Eve, promising to conclude the epic saga.
An ETimes review of the season noted, "Is this the perfect farewell to Netflix’s most influential sci-fi series? Not yet. For now, Stranger Things Season 5 stands as a masterclass in suspense, compelling, frustrating, and deliberately incomplete, leaving everything riding on the finale." As fans gear up for the emotional ending, the hilarious pakoda meme has provided a perfect side of light-hearted relief to the intense narrative.
