Winona Ryder Discusses Filming the Climactic Scene in “Stranger Things” Series Finale
Winona Ryder recently shared some behind-the-scenes details about filming the climactic moment in the “Stranger Things” series finale with Netflix’s Tudum. In the scene, Ryder’s character, Joyce, beheads Vecna with an ax, marking her final scene with actor Jamie Campbell Bower, who portrayed Vecna.
Ryder expressed her admiration for Bower, stating, “I love Jamie so much. 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.”
The intense moment occurs after Joyce defiantly tells Vecna, “You messed with the wrong family,” a line that includes the rare use of the F-word in “Stranger Things” history.
Co-creator Matt Duffer explained the decision to incorporate strong language, stating, “We’ve been looking for a moment for it. I think Dacre [Montgomery] muttered it without us wanting him to in Season 3’s ‘The Sauna Test.’ 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.”
The writers room debated on the character who should deliver the final blow to Vecna, ultimately deciding on Joyce. Ross Duffer explained, “She is sort of the mother of this group, the protector. We never got to see her hit anything with that ax, so that felt like such a satisfying way to deliver the final blow to Vecna.”
Matt Duffer emphasized the emotional impact of the scene, stating, “Let’s make this the most emotional decapitation in history.” The scene was crafted to be both a triumphant moment and a cathartic release for the characters, who have endured significant trauma throughout the series.
“Stranger Things 5” is now available for streaming on Netflix, allowing fans to experience the epic finale and witness Ryder’s powerful performance firsthand.
