Stranger Things Finally Remembered Who the Original Main Character Was (but Way Too Late)

by

The final season of Stranger Things circles back to its original protagonist in the series finale, though the focus comes quite late in the story. After nine years, Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 3 concludes the Netflix show, revealing the fates of Vecna, the Upside Down, and the group of friends from Hawkins. Please be aware that the following contains spoilers for Season 5, Volume 3. The final battle takes place in the Abyss, where Vecna faces off against the main characters—and the Mind Flayer makes a surprising return. Almost all of the key players have a moment to contribute during this climactic fight.

While everyone contributed to the battle, some characters were more central than others. Eleven and Will teamed up to defeat Vecna, and Nancy bravely distracted the Mind Flayer. Notably, a character who was the focus of the first season achieved a significant victory, but the moment felt underwhelming because the show hadn’t given her much to do recently.

Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 3 Finally Remembers Joyce Byers Was Season 1’s Lead

In the final battle of Stranger Things, Eleven and Will weaken Vecna with their powers, but it’s Joyce Byers who ultimately defeats him. Even after being impaled, Vecna is still alive, and the group gathers around after saving those he’d captured. Joyce then steps forward, angrily telling him he messed with the wrong family, and delivers the final blow with an ax to his neck. The scene shows flashbacks of all the suffering Vecna caused before Joyce completely decapitates him. This ending is particularly impactful, as the season’s central conflict echoes Will’s original disappearance in Season 1 – something Joyce has always sought to avenge.

Joyce killing Vecna emphasizes an important point: she was essentially the main character of Stranger Things in Season 1. While the show always featured a group of heroes, the story initially focused on Joyce’s desperate search for her missing son, Will. Only Eleven received as much attention at the start. Since Joyce’s determination to find Will is what brought everyone together, it’s a satisfying conclusion that she’s the one to finally defeat the villain, bringing the story full circle. It would have been even more impactful, however, if she had remained a central figure throughout the later seasons.

Stranger Things Sidelined Joyce After Its First Couple of Seasons

Joyce Byers starts as a key character in Stranger Things, but her importance gradually diminishes as the series goes on. She had a prominent role in Season 2, largely focused on supporting Will through his trauma and highlighting her strong maternal side. However, her involvement decreased in Season 3, and in Season 4, her storyline with Hopper became separate from the kids’ adventures – and the central plot. Her tendency to uncover conspiracies felt more like a quirk than a crucial part of the story, and this aspect of her character disappears completely as the focus shifts to defeating Vecna in the final season.

Okay, let’s talk about Joyce in the final season of Stranger Things. Honestly, the show kind of sidelines her. While she’s there, participating in the overall strategy, she doesn’t get the same hands-on role as Hopper, or even the kids. For most of the season, she’s largely there to support Will, which, sure, fits her character, but it doesn’t give the actress much to do, especially as Will starts to come into his own. It feels like a missed opportunity, frankly. She doesn’t really become central to the action until the very end.

Season 5, Volume 3’s Big Joyce Moment Arrives Too Late

While it feels right that Joyce defeats Vecna, the show doesn’t quite build up to that moment as effectively as it could. The impact would have been much stronger if Joyce had received the same level of character development as other characters throughout the series. It’s understandable the show has a large cast to manage, but exploring her past trauma in more detail – or drawing connections between her experiences and those of Karen Wheeler – could have made the ending even more powerful. The final scene is a good nod to the first season, but it relies too much on a storyline that hasn’t been a major focus recently.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/feature/stranger-things-series-finale-11-plot-holes-headscratcher-questions-from-the-last-ever-episode/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-03 22:40