Karen & Ted's Big Stranger Things S5 Moment Went Exactly How We Should've Expected

Karen & Ted's Big Stranger Things S5 Moment Went Exactly How We Should've Expected By  Kevin Erdmann Published 44 minutes ago Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.  With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention. Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 5, Vol. 1

Stranger Things season 5 finally gives Karen and Ted Wheeler their time to shine in Volume One, and it went down exactly how we should have expected it to. While their kids and their friends have faced monsters, alternate dimensions, and major conspiracies for years, the parents have barely been directly involved...until now.

Serving as Karen and Ted's first real on-screen confrontation with danger, Vecna sending a Demogorgon to kidnap Holly in Stranger Things season 5, episode 2 unfolded exactly how longtime fans could have predicted. While Karen finally got the chance to step up and protect her youngest daughter, Ted...continued being Ted.

Karen Finally Got A Chance To Protect Her Family In Stranger Things

As seen in Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, Karen proved her fierce devotion to her family, hiding with Holly in the bathtub before shielding her daughter from the Demogorgon’s attack in the kitchen, hardly hesitating before smashing a wine bottle and stabbing the Demogorgon repeatedly.

Even after her throat was slashed, among other critical injuries, Karen refused to give up on her family, helping Nancy and Mike track down Holly after she was taken by Vecna.

After four seasons of largely being kept on the sidelines, Karen Wheeler finally got to have an epic hero moment, proving she’s been more capable than the show had ever allowed her to display previously. It seems the time was finally right for Karen to get her much-deserved spotlight after seeing her care for her family for years (and then there's Ted).

Ted's Fate Was Fitting For His Stranger Things Character

Ted, on the other hand, did pretty much exactly what we would expect from Ted. To his credit, the Wheeler Family patriarch did pick up a golf club to try and defend his family, only to be slashed and thrown across the house by the Demogorgon without harming the monster at all.

Although Ted did survive, it was said that he was in a coma, effectively maintaining his typical status quo of being on the sidelines, especially compared to Karen, who continued to play an active role in finding Holly despite her own hospitalization.

All in all, it very much continues the running joke that Ted contributes next to nothing, even as monsters tear his house apart and attack his family.

Throughout the series, Ted has mostly complained about noise, language, guests in his home eating his food, napping in his recliner, and has been largely oblivious to every supernatural event happening around him. His biggest impact on the franchise may genuinely be appearing in Target promotional ads more than his role in the show itself.

As a result, while Karen rises into a most welcome and deserved role of bravery, Ted remains unconscious and uninvolved. It’s funny, fitting, and perfectly in line with how the Duffers have depicted Ted Wheeler since the very first season.

All episodes of Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1 are now streaming on Netflix.

542 9.1/10 8/10

Stranger Things

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock 7 Images Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett CollectionEleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025)Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflixStranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDBThe Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close

Cast

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• Millie Bobby Brown Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
• Finn Wolfhard Mike Wheeler

Genres Drama, Mystery, Horror, Science Fiction Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Powered by Expand Collapse

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