Duffer Brothers Reveal If Joyce & Hopper Knew Vecna Was Their Classmate

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Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Stranger Things series finale.

The creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, have shared whether the characters Joyce and Hopper ever knew that Vecna – also known as Henry Creel – was a classmate of theirs. The show’s recent finale, which lasted over two hours, saw Henry/Vecna ultimately defeated when Joyce delivered the final blow.

Following the release of the Stranger Things finale, the creators, the Duffer Brothers, discussed the ending with Variety, including the backstory connecting Henry to Joyce and Hopper. It was then revealed that a stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, shows all three characters attended school together years before the events of the Netflix series.

Ross thinks Joyce and Hopper likely discussed this between seasons four and five. The creators, the Duffers, had to be careful how they portrayed it, as most viewers haven’t seen the stage play it references.

If Joyce and Hopper had mentioned knowing Henry from school on the show, it would have likely confused viewers unfamiliar with the story’s background.

I’m certain that conversation happened. When creating the play, we had to be careful not to confuse people who hadn’t seen it, or frustrate those who couldn’t. If the audience had started discussing something that wasn’t clear within the play itself, it would have been confusing, but I’m sure they did talk about it anyway.

Matt Duffer said he and his brother, Ross, wrote the final season of Stranger Things as a standalone story, separate from the play The First Shadow. This means you don’t need to see the play to understand what happens in the show. He clarified that the season’s storyline was already decided, stating, “That’s how the season was always going to go.”

We wanted the last season to follow its original plan, even with the added scenes about Henry’s past after he became infected. Those scenes were important for understanding his story, but the main plot was always going to unfold this way.

“The First Shadow” expands on the world established by the creators of the show, offering a look into Henry’s history before he became connected to the Mind Flayer.

The new information presented in the play significantly deepens the story, particularly a scene in the Stranger Things finale where Joyce uses an axe to defeat Vecna. Because of what we learn about their past in The First Shadow, it’s revealed that Joyce unknowingly killed someone she used to go to school with.

As a huge fan, I always thought giving Joyce that scene was a brilliant move by the Duffers. They really thought about who should have it, but it just felt right for Winona Ryder. Plus, it was such a cool callback to the first season – remembering when she grabbed that axe? It brought her character’s journey full circle, and it was a really powerful moment because of it.

With Vecna/Henry’s defeat, life began to return to normal for everyone. The kids finished high school, and Joyce and Hopper became engaged.

The show didn’t definitively confirm Eleven’s death. While her sacrifice seemed final, Mike suggested a possibility that she could still be alive. The creators, the Duffer brothers, are comfortable with leaving her fate uncertain for viewers to interpret.

Joyce finally had a satisfying moment that felt earned, considering her character’s journey. While The First Shadow play isn’t essential to understanding the main show, it’s interesting to realize Joyce and Henry went to school together and how their lives ultimately connected in the finale.

Even though Stranger Things has finished, people are still talking about it and sharing their thoughts – and will be for a while! The creators, the Duffer brothers, ended the show with a lot of unanswered questions, giving fans plenty to discuss.

Stranger Things season 5 is available to stream on Netflix.

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2026-01-02 20:19