Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) is the main character on Stranger Things who often leads us to believe she might be insane. For much of its first season, people in town believed she’d lost her mind when her son Will disappeared.
She wasn’t going to let that stop her from searching for him, and she never gave up on finding him despite everyone else’s doubts. Even going into the Upside Down to save him proved she wasn’t crazy after all – something everyone else didn’t believe possible!
She’s a mom
Joyce Byers is a single mother, and there can be no doubt about how much she adores her boys. But she also has an enormous heart for her quirky neighborhood friends, and will go to great lengths to help them out.
Winona Ryder’s character Winona is one of the show’s most relatable, and her portrayal has earned her some critical acclaim. Not only is she unafraid to face monsters for her son, but she also takes care of herself and isn’t ashamed to speak up when something seems amiss. She takes responsibility for herself and others by speaking up when something feels off.
In season 3, Joyce is challenged to make some less-than-stellar parenting decisions. Yet it’s essential that she remembers these decisions are all part of her journey as a mother and not something to be ashamed of.
She’s a wife
Joyce may not be the most influential character on Stranger Things, but she is incredibly loving and caring. She takes Will to the laboratory for help with his visions of the Upside Down, buys him hundreds of Christmas lights for him to enjoy during his stay, and even strings them up in her home to make contact when he’s trapped there.
She is the only person who knows Will’s secret (that he communicates with her through lights). For two decades now, she has been a mother of three and still needs her son’s love and attention in order to survive.
Season 3 gave us a glimpse into their growing relationship, although it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Hopper pressured Joyce into an unromantic dinner date at Enzo’s (a chic Italian eatery in small-town Hawkins), and when she refused him he erupted with jealous immaturity.
After saving Hopper from being imprisoned in Russia during Season 4, it appears they may finally be on the same page – which is fantastic news for fans of the series, according to David Harbour! We can’t wait to see where their relationship takes them in Volume 2!
She’s a daughter
Joyce Byers is a mom who struggles with anxiety, exhaustion,Winona Ryder and disappointment. While she strives to be the best mom she can for her sons, Joyce finds that sometimes this effort fails her.
Her greatest achievements as a parent lie in her determination to stand up for what she believes in, even when unsure of the correct course of action. She’s an admirable individual who wants only what’s best for her family members.
She’s exactly the kind of mother we should all strive to be.
Stranger Things has long been an excellent exploration of relationships, and one of its strongest assets has been its realistic connections among characters. Unfortunately, due to a large cast and complicated plotlines this season, many of these important connections have been sidelined.
Joyce, a central character, has been largely ignored in the first few episodes. Instead of focusing on Joyce and her relationship with Eleven, the show has given her a small role in helping Jim Hopper escape from a Russian prison camp. It’s unfortunate because these two share an incredibly believable will-they-won’t-they love story that has been developing over time.
She’s a friend
Joyce Byers is an inspiring mother and friend. She truly believes in her sons and will do whatever it takes to protect them.
She and her husband Lonnie divorced years ago and moved to California so their children could lead a better life. Now working as a clerk at Melvaid’s General Store, all she cares about is finding Will and safely returning him home.
In season four, Joyce uncovers a ransom note from Hopper, imprisoned in Russia. The note instructs her to bring $40,000 to Alaska where an acquaintance named Yuri will fly her and Hopper back to California.
The only issue with this plotline is that it seems completely unrealistic and makes no sense to Joyce. After all, she’s a mother, not a spy, and certainly not an adept fighter – making it seem as if Joyce has no place on this show at all. Which is unfortunate as she has always been an integral part of its history.