Jamie Campbell Bower on Vecna’s Final Bow in Stranger Things

Jamie Campbell Bower, who brought the menacing Vecna to life in the much-loved Netflix series, has come to terms with how things wrapped up for his character in the final chapter. For Bower, the outcome felt inevitable, and he’s convinced it was the only way things could have played out for the Hawkins gang.

Appearing on The Tonight Show, Bower didn’t shy away from his feelings about the series’ conclusion.

“It’s the ending the show deserves,”

he remarked, a touch of pride in his voice.

“I’ve been a fan of the show since the start, so even just joining the show was a huge achievement, and I felt very honored and blessed to be a part of it. Even as the actor who plays Vecna, it feels right. This show is so much about friendship and love and hope and joy and of course the person who is not that has to go. All he really needs is a hug, though.”

Discovering Vecna’s Fate

For those who followed the final series, Vecna’s demise came in the eighth and last episode, courtesy of Joyce Byers, played by Winona Ryder, wielding an axe. Yet, Bower himself was kept in the dark about his character’s fate until the very last moment. The revelation came during the table read for the finale, a moment that caught him off guard.

What made the experience even more peculiar was the fact that Bower had to attend the table read remotely. Struck down by COVID-19, he found himself isolated in his Atlanta flat, while the rest of the cast gathered in the studio. The irony wasn’t lost on him, as he quipped about the loneliness of the situation, drawing a parallel to Vecna’s own isolation.

Behind the Scenes: A Bittersweet Goodbye

Bower’s journey with the series was, by his own admission, a significant milestone. Joining a show he’d admired from the beginning, only to see his character meet a dramatic end, was a bittersweet experience. The actor’s acceptance of Vecna’s fate speaks to his understanding of the story’s broader themes—where darkness must eventually give way to the light, and the villain’s exit is not just expected, but necessary.

Despite the grim nature of Vecna’s storyline, Bower managed to inject a bit of humour into the conversation, suggesting that perhaps all his character ever needed was a bit of affection. It’s a wry observation, and one that fans of the show will no doubt appreciate, given the emotional rollercoaster that Stranger Things has delivered over the years.