Stranger Things season 5 finally pays off Winona Ryder’s season 1 horror setup

Since the very beginning of the show, the emotional epicenter of Stranger Things has been Joyce Byers. From putting up Christmas lights to searching for her son, she has consistently provided the show’s nurturing voice. However, in season 5, Joyce is finally given the chance to strike back instead of remaining passively on the sidelines as she has done all this time.

Netflix unveiled the teaser trailer for the final season, and as promised, it offered much more than just the release dates for the three new volumes. Will appeared emotional, and Eleven was shown using her powers, while an infected wall suggests the ongoing threat of the Upside Down. However, the most striking image among the glimpses has to be Joyce wielding an ax, and this time for real.

This is a reference that fans will certainly remember. In Season 1, we witnessed Joyce use an axe to try to chop down a wall because she was deeply convinced that Will was trapped inside somewhere. Now, that axe is back, but it is no longer for the purpose of rescue; this time it is for defense. Joyce is not just a mom trying to hold the family together; she is now truly in a fight.

Joyce's ax isn't just a callback—it’s a symbol of how far she’s come

Joyce’s return to the axe in season 5 is not devoid of feeling; rather, it carries significant poetic meaning. In season 1, Joyce used it out of anguish, believing Will spoke to her through walls. She was alone, terrified, and utterly lost. Now, in stark contrast, she confronts an evolved threat in Vecna and the Upside Down with knowledge and context.

Breaking through barriers was merely seen as a left swing of the axe for Joyce, but as seen in season 5, she is using it as a shield and her means of defending herself. Sure, there is a sliver of The Shining movement, but unlike Jack Torrance, Joyce is not going bonkers. Instead, she is honing in on and strengthening her power.

Stranger Things is finally letting Joyce lead the charge

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After five seasons, Stranger Things has finally placed Joyce where she rightfully belongs: right in the middle of the action. In the previous seasons, we watched her face Russians, Demodogs, and conspiracies. She mainly endured the chaos around her rather than confronting it directly.

This new season completely alters that. The teaser reveals Joyce leading others instead of being shielded by them. This is a brand new, much-needed, thrilling shift. Winona Ryder has invested emotionally in the character for nearly a decade, and seeing her as both a mother and a warrior gives her role a more complete arc.

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