I first watched Stranger Things when I was in middle school. I was 13 years old with little to no exposure to the sci-fi genre, yet I instantly fell in love with the show’s unique blend of interdimensional monsters, heartwarming characters, and—of course—a healthy dose of ‘80s nostalgia. So, of course, I binged part one of Stranger Things season 5 when it debuted on November 26, 2025 (the final four episodes of the series come out between Christmas and New Year’s.)
The Netflix show’s popularity has continued to grow, with Stranger Things now boasting over 140 million views in the wake of its new season. It’s rare that any show garners such a large audience, let alone maintains it. But Stranger Things’ success can largely be attributed to the ragtag group of kids that lie at the show’s heart. Those four nerdy, D&D-playing boys and their superhero best friend, Eleven, captured viewers from episode one and have remained the show’s most compelling ensemble. But Stranger Things isn’t just about a group of kids. It has an entire cast of adult characters that deserve just as much love from its audience. Especially the moms, who I think are just as much superheroes as Eleven.
They may not have telekinetic powers, but their willingness to protect their children drives the plot forward in each and every season. Every mom, whether a main character or a side character, always has their child’s well-being at the center of every decision. Season 5 of Stranger Things is no exception to this rule. In the newest season, the moms of Hawkins, Indiana, are back and better than ever—here’s why.
Editor’s Note: Light ‘Stranger Things’ spoilers ahead.
They will do anything to protect their children
In season one of Stranger Things, Joyce Byers—played by Winona Ryder—goes to the ends of the Earth to get her son back home. All around her, people are giving up. The government has faked Will’s death, and the police chief has accepted defeat, but Joyce doesn’t care if people think she’s crazy. By the end of the season, she infiltrates a government lab and travels to another dimension to retrieve her son. Why? Because that’s just what moms do.
In season 5 of Stranger Things, Joyce isn’t the only mom with a protective instinct. Karen Wheeler—mother of the central characters, Mike and Nancy Wheeler—was initially introduced as Joyce’s foil. Where Joyce is a single mom barely making ends meet, Karen is a suburban housewife with a beautiful two-story home and a wealthy (if useless) husband. For most of the series, she is blissfully unaware of the monsters her children are facing.
Until that monster comes for her daughter. When the demogorgon infiltrates the Wheeler household, Mama Wheeler will stop at nothing to save her child. In a truly cinematic sequence, she breaks an empty wine glass and wields it as a weapon against the monster. She even throws herself in its path in an attempt to save Holly. Despite knowing Karen from only a distance until now, viewers are left with a newfound respect for her character. She sacrificed her personal safety to protect her daughter, because that’s just what a mother does.
They are fighting silent battles, not just monsters
These mothers’ heroism extends beyond just life-or-death moments. Joyce Byers may seem badass when she’s going head-to-head with an interdimensional monster, but she’s also a hero in her day-to-day life. As a single mother, she works long hours to feed her boys, with no help from their absentee father. Her struggles are an ode to single mothers everywhere, who may look wild-eyed and crazed from afar, but would do it all over again for their children.
Karen Wheeler may not be a single parent like Joyce, but she might as well be. Though Ted Wheeler has limited screen time, his scenes always include him either asleep in his recliner or making snarky comments to his wife. Karen is, in all ways that one can be, the default parent. She cooks all the meals, keeps track of her children—or tries to, despite their tendencies to get involved in government conspiracies—and is a source of emotional comfort for Mike and Nancy as they face the grief and pain that comes with each season. She’s just as much a hero as Joyce or Eleven. Though her battles may not be as obvious to the audience, they are no less important.
And what better reflection of a parent than who their children are? Mike and Nancy are fan-favorites for a reason. They are selfless and caring individuals who are guided by a strong moral compass. In season one, Mike doesn’t hesitate to offer Eleven shelter when she needs it. He puts up a blanket fort in his basement and sneaks her food, all out of the goodness of his heart. In Stranger Things season 5, the Wheeler children will stop at nothing to defeat Vecna and get their sister, Holly, back home. Their keen ability to win over the audience can be credited to Karen, who managed to raise strong, kind children, despite her husband’s lack of involvement.
They trust their instincts, but also trust their kids
We all know that parenting isn’t just about the big acts of love. It’s the little things that have the largest impact. In Stranger Things season 5, Joyce isn’t just willing to sacrifice herself to protect her sons. She’s also willing to grow and change for them.
In the third episode of the fifth season, Joyce and Will share a heart-to-heart. Will laments about needing Joyce to trust him. He says that he’s growing up and needs space, especially as the threat over their town looms darker. The mother-son pair end up reaching a healthy conclusion—that trust is a two-way street, and that if Will can offer it to Joyce, she can give it back to him.
It’s the small moments like these that parents are able to connect with, even in a show about alternate dimensions. Joyce faces struggles common with teenagers, but does so gracefully, even in the face of danger. Moms who watch can be inspired by her choices, and general viewers can grow to appreciate her character even more.
Maternal love takes on many forms, but it’s always lifesaving
A key theme of Stranger Things is chosen family, especially for characters like Eleven, who grew up without traditional parental figures. Eleven’s mom was stolen from her at a young age. Her mother was subject to harsh government experiments that eventually left her severely disabled. Despite never getting the chance to truly know her, Eleven’s connection to her mother is one of her guiding forces. It is often the very thing that pushes her to fight back, despite years of torture at the hands of a government lab.
In lieu of a present mother, Eleven inevitably makes other connections. And who better for this role than Joyce Byers? Without hesitation, Joyce takes Eleven under her wing. She offers comfort in season one as Eleven searches for Will and eventually takes her in as her own in season four. Joyce may have her own children, but that doesn’t stop her from being a hero in Eleven’s life, and a highly needed one at that. Eleven may have superpowers, but she’s also just a young girl. Sometimes she needs a shoulder to cry on.
For those watching Stranger Things without a traditional maternal figure in their life, representation like this can be affirming. It also serves as another reminder of just how heroic the mothers in Stranger Things really are. Whether they’re fighting monsters or just making sure their kid gets off to school safely, they’ll do it all with their child’s well-being at heart. Even in media that seems so otherworldly, it’s important to recognize heroes we can resonate with—the moms of Stranger Things.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Intern
As editorial intern, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content, and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented by contributing to The Everymom.
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Source link: https://theeverymom.com/stranger-things-season-5/ by Rebecca Smith at theeverymom.com