As Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is sputtering and gasping for his last breaths in the finale of Stranger Things, it’s time to put him — and the whole town of Hawkins — out of his misery. Enter Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), ax in hand.

“You fucked with the wrong family,” she tells him, delivering one brutal blow after another until Vecna’s head literally rolls.

“I love Jamie so much,” Ryder remembers of filming her final scene with Vecna. “I remember when he was in that position and we were talking about bands, and he’s the most lovely person. I came in that day just for that. You can’t rehearse a scene like that. You just have to sort of save it for the take. I think I only did it twice.”

Aside from giving Joyce an instantly iconic quote, that scene is yet another heroic moment for the mothers of Stranger Things in Season 5, after Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) brandished a broken wine bottle to attack a Demogorgon in Episode 2 (never forget: “Stay away from my daughter!”) and then blew up a trio of Demodogs in Episode 7.

Of course, Vecna’s demise follows a harrowing battle waged by nearly all of our heroes in Episode 8, which capped the fifth and final season of the beloved series. 

So why did Joyce get to end Vecna once and for all? Co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer knew it had to be her.

“We talked a lot about who should deal the final blow to Vecna, and we really went through everyone. And at the end of the day it felt like it had to be Joyce because Joyce was the one in the first season who's the first one to really take action, to believe that something strange was going on,” Ross Duffer says. “And that fierce love she has for not only Will but her family and the others is a superpower in its own way. And so we thought if anyone is going to defeat this guy, it had to be Joyce.”

“And, of course, she uses the ax early on in the season, but she's just swiping at the Demogorgon and we wanted her to actually use that thing,” Ross Duffer adds. “Even back in Season 1, she's fierce and she was ready to use it, but she never got to use it against the monsters and so we thought that would be a nice payoff after nine years to actually see her use this ax and kill this guy.”

“I was always kind of curious how they were going to write that ending of who will really defeat Vecna," says Noah Schnapp, who appears in the scene with Ryder. “And I think it was so fitting and perfect that it was Joyce, and it's very reminiscent of Season 1and very full circle.”

Matt Duffer mentions another notable first reserved for Joyce.

“We haven't used the F-word in the show, and we've been looking for a moment for it,” he says. “I think Dacre [Montgomery, who played Billy] muttered it without us wanting him to in Season 3’s ‘The Sauna Test’ [Episode 4]. So I guess this technically doesn't count as the first time, but we were looking for a real moment that would deserve stronger language and we've been saving it and felt like, well, if we're going to go there, this is the moment for it. Let's give it to Winona.”

Below Ryder reflects on the final season’s bittersweet nostalgia and a decade of playing the wrong mom for Vecna to mess with.

What was the general feeling among the cast during the group scenes in the final season?

Winona Ryder: There was a general feeling of it being bittersweet. It was so beautiful to be with everybody, but we were all very aware this was the final season. After 10 years together, everyone just felt extremely close and it was really emotional. For me, the biggest gift this show has given me has been getting to watch these kids grow up.

Did those scenes bring back memories of earlier seasons for you?

Ryder: Yes. Anytime all of us are together, it’s really special. You form these close friendships, but you’re in separate parts of the story, so you don’t always get to be together. Being with everybody in those scenes definitely brought back memories and felt really meaningful.

How would you describe the overall bond between Joyce and Will (Noah Schnapp) throughout the series?

Ryder: The whole first season is Joyce searching for him, out of her mind with fear, fighting off even the possibility that he could be gone. I can’t imagine what that would be like in real life. Noah’s such a special kid and a great actor. We worked closely together this season. It was a joy to share those scenes together and watch him work.

Was there a specific scene with Will that was especially meaningful for you this season?

Ryder: I remember the scene where I encourage him to go find Vecna, and I trust him. When I read it, my instinct was, there’s no way I would encourage him to do something so dangerous. But then something clicked, and Joyce realizes he’s strong enough and smart enough to do this. That scene in particular was incredibly meaningful and significant for their relationship. 

What do you love most about the relationship between Joyce and Hopper (David Harbour)?

Ryder: Hopper is someone who knew Joyce back in high school, maybe even junior high. That sense of familiarity, of going so far back, has only grown over the years. Even after everything, there’s this comfort level, and I really credit David for being game to create that with me.

What has been the most rewarding part of playing Joyce for you?

Ryder: I’ve never played a character for 10 years. That was my fear going in… how will it be received? Will it keep going? I remember Season 1 so vividly; I was so raw and had to access my emotions fast. The response was incredible. I got to explore Joyce’s love for her kids, her understanding of them, her love for Bob. I wanted her to be as flawed as possible. Not perfect, just real. My favorite characters are the ones who aren’t perfect.

What was the most special part of this final season and saying goodbye to Joyce?

Ryder: The most profound, meaningful, special gift from this show has been these kids and watching them grow up and become the truly incredible people they are. They are magnificent actors, each one of them. They’re all completely unique, the way they work together, their passion. I am so proud and I love them so much. 

Watch the final season of Stranger Things now, only on Netflix.

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