Stranger Things 5 Mothers: Decoding Joyce Byers, Karen Wheeler - Most Fearless Characters Who Don't Bat Eyelid Against Vecna

Stranger Things might be about a bunch of outcast children (now teens), who are out to fight Vecna and the demonic entities from the Upside Down that's been plaguing their hometown Hawkins, Indiana for

the past 10 years. However, to say that the Netflix smash hit is about these kids (and some grown-ups) would be an incomplete statement. The show now equally belongs to its MUMS!ALSO READ: Stranger Things 5: Will Byers Powers EXPLAINED - How Noah Schnapp's Awakening Is Cinematic Marvel Nobody Saw Coming

Karen Wheeler - the 'fistful' mom!

So when Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) screams "Stay. Away. From. My. Daughter," let's not forget she was seeing a Demogorgon for the first time. But she least got swayed. Largely drunk, with a wine bottle, she fought the monster to save her youngest born Holly Wheeler. Even though she almost gets killed, the brave front she puts up has now become one of the most thrilling and best moments of all its five seasons.

Nancy has Karen's fiery DNA

Many now attribute her elder daughter Nancy's bada** attitude to her. Nancy fearlessly picks up arms against these monsters, a reflection of her mother's fierceness. A user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "This scene is incredible, you can feel the tension and the fear, god, they did an amazing job the way Karen fights for her daughter, what a way to give the character a new twist for the better." Another one added, "say whatever you want about karen wheeler but when it’s time to do the right thing and protect her kids she doesn’t hesitate for even a second, nancy got her guts straight from her mom."Decoding Karen's fistfight with Demogorgon, Cara told Variety, "They really leaned into that mom ferocity — like, this quiet character that we sort of underestimated, and then just giving her this moment of courage."

Joyce Byers, the mother of all mothers

But Karen isn't the only mother there who doesn't bat an eyelid to guard her kids. If Karen found her moment in Stranger Things 5 Volume 1's episode The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler, another mum of the show has been doing that since season 1. Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) has time and again come in between her son Will and Vecna to save him.

Winona is an absolute pleasure to watch. The two-time Academy Award nominated actress was probably the biggest cast member when the show premiered. And with her, we knew Joyce isn't there just as a pretty face. She has all through, pulled Will out from the Upside Down and the Hive Mind whenever Vecna tries to make a connection. She picked up axe, smashed monsters, and even threatened Vecna even if we knew she'd barely succeed.

Joyce before Will

In season 5, episode 4's big fight at the military base, even before Vecna summons Will, she warns him. She's the perfect mother who reminds Will to wear his jacket because it's cold, stops the entire group from using him as a honeytrap, and not just Will and elder son Jonathan, her motherly instinct extents to even Eleven. One stare from Joyce builds a fort to guard all her children.ALSO READ: Stranger Things Season 5: Did Vecna S*xually Abuse Young Will Byers? Opening Scene Divides Fandom - Here's What It ImpliesBoth Cara Buono and Winona Ryder turned natural-born mothers for Stranger Things. They had their moments that proved why Karen and Joyce cannot be messed with, even if it was Vecna and his army at the other end.