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Cathal Gunning
Published 29 minutes ago
Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies, television, culture, and politics online and in print since 2017. He worked as a Senior Editor in Adbusters Media Foundation from 2018-2019 and wrote for WhatCulture in early 2020. He has been a Senior Features Writer for ScreenRant since 2020.
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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1.
While Stranger Things heroine Joyce Byers might seem implicitly safe in the final outing of the Netflix series, season 5, volume 1 has me very worried about her fate. Stranger Things has a tendency to avoid killing major characters. Season 1 seemingly ended with Eleven’s death, but season 2 soon revealed this was a fake-out.
Similarly, season 3’s finale centered on Hopper’s heartbreaking sacrifice, but this was then undone in Stranger Things season 4. Season 5, volume 1, thankfully opted not to include another fake-out demise for Hopper, despite the vest full of explosives he wore as a contingency measure in episode 4.
Joyce Puts Herself In Serious Danger Twice In Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1
Joyce in Stranger Things season 5©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
As such, it can be tempting to assume that Stranger Things season 5, volumes 2 and 3 won’t kill off any of the show’s main characters. However, this seems unlikely for numerous reasons. For one thing, despite Holly and Derek’s sizable roles, season 5, volume 1 didn’t introduce a new supporting character that the finale could then sacrifice.
Season 2 had Bob Newby, season 3 had Dacre Montgomery’s tragic Stranger Things villain Billy, and season 4 had Eddie Munson, but season 5 has no such new star. Furthermore, one character who has never seemed to be in mortal danger ran straight into death traps not once, but twice in quick succession during the first four episodes of season 5.
Will and Jonathan’s mother, Joyce, walked straight up to the Demogorgon when Vecna’s monster came into the barn, and seemingly only survived the encounter because Will unknowingly overpowered the Demogorgon. Later on, Joyce made a similarly desperate attempt to save her son’s life when Vecna started heading toward Will at the military base.
Joyce's Death Would Be Sad, But It Makes Sense For Stranger Things' Ending
Winona Ryder as Joyce looking distraught in Will's messy room in Stranger Things season 1
Vecna flicked Joyce away as if she were a fly, and it was only a matter of luck that she wasn’t killed when he tossed her aside. While Will’s unexpected psychic link to Vecna allowed him to save his mother once, it wouldn’t be so shocking if she were less lucky later in season 5. After all, Joyce’s death makes a lot of thematic sense.
Joyce is protective of Will, so it would be fitting if she were killed while trying to protect him. It would also be devastating, but it could be the conduit that leads Will to overpower and defeat Vecna after years of suffering thanks to their psychic link. As such, this iconic Stranger Things heroine isn’t necessarily as safe as she seems.
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10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
7 Images
Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1
Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Eleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4
Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025)
Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflix
Stranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDB
The Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close
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Millie Bobby Brown
Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
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We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Do you think Stranger Things season 5 will kill off a main character, or will it continue the trend of fakeout deaths?
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29 minutes ago
Some fans might argue that Stranger Things has established a pattern of faking the deaths of main characters, so Joyce will likely survive. Others could counter that the show needs to raise the stakes and kill a major character for the final season to have a significant impact. A third perspective is that Joyce's death, while tragic, would serve a thematic purpose and provide the motivation for Will to finally defeat Vecna.
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