Recap for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5
Check out ‘Stranger Things’ ahead of Season 5 with details on key plot developments and epic showdowns
Spoiler alert! Below you’ll find details about Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 3, “Turnbow’s Trap.”
These kids are doing it the old-fashioned way.
We’re talking barbed wire, a flaming Demogorgon, novelty weapons, telepathic interrogations, fleeting references to classic 1980s films, and an elaborate plan that goes awry at key moments. Yes, “Stranger Things” is finally gearing up for its final season, and it only took three episodes.
It’s been three long years since “The Stranger” Season 4, so it’s understandable that Season 5 started with so much preparation and exposition. But in the third episode, when the main characters finally start doing more and sitting around less, it’s a huge relief. And things get really exciting at the end of the episode with the big reveal that a comatose redhead is actually alive and well (at least in some kind of parallel dimension).
There’s only one episode left after “The Turnbow Trap,” and no new “Stranger” content will appear until Christmas Day. But we are clearly nearing the climax and ending.
Both sides of Upside Down
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Hopper (David Harbour) hit a literal wall while tracking down the Demogorgon that kidnapped young Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher). And it’s an absolutely hideous wall of self-healing flesh that neither of them can break through, no matter how hard they try. While trying to rebuild the organization, they suddenly find themselves in big trouble when the soldiers chasing Elle appear with a kind of satellite (the “hedgehog”) that acts like her kryptonite, paralyzing her instantly.
As she writhes in pain, the soldiers notice where she and Hopper are hiding and attack. When her surrogate father takes out a satellite dish, Elle is quickly able to scare away the grunts. The two capture a particularly punchable-looking operative, interrogate him using Elle’s telepathic abilities, and discover that Dr. Kay’s (Linda Hamilton) military base on the Upside Down is hiding something in a heavily guarded vault. Eleven is convinced it’s someone with powers like her, someone like our big bad Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
Whether his physical body is captured by the military or not, Holly remains trapped in the Leave It to Beaver fantasy of his childhood home when he was known as Henry Creel. He gives the vulnerable and impressionable Holly gifts and leaves her alone, but with strict instructions not to leave the house and go into the forest. This is all fine and normal and not creepy at all.
“We are saving children by kidnapping.”
Becna leaves Holly to pursue her next victim, Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly), a bully in her elementary school class. Will (Noah Schnapp) uses his psychic connections to figure out that Derek is next on Vecna’s list, and after reprimanding his mother for treating him like a child, he comes up with a plan to keep the unwanted child safe. They kidnap Derek.
Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) points out that he’s just buying Derek time without helping him find Holly. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) makes his plan both bizarre and effective. They kidnap Derek’s entire family with drugs, set a Demogorgon trap in Turnbow’s house, tag him with a tracker, and track him to where Holly is being kept.
The plan requires the gang to scout Lucas’ sister Erica (Priah Ferguson) to break into the Turnbow home (her best friend and nemesis Tina is Derek’s older sister) and drug the family. Erica’s appearance, along with a cameo from teacher Mr. Clark (Randy Havens), marks the final checkmark on the list of fan-favorite characters who should appear in the final season. Good luck Netflix.
The gang prepares for a major attack. Nancy (Natalia Dyer) takes target practice, Dustin ruins Steve’s (Joe Keery) BMW and Robin (Maya Hawke), and Will steals tranquilizers from the hospital. There are some heart-to-hearts in the lead-up to the big night, and we learn that Nancy’s sometimes unstable boyfriend Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) is planning to propose. Will asks Robin pointed questions about how he and his girlfriend Vicky (Amy-Beth McNulty) got together. Is he thinking about Mike? This series strongly hints at that.
Operation Turnbow Freedom
At dinner, Erica shows up at the Turnbow family with crocodile tears and a drug-laced pie, which most of the family eats and passes out. (Watching Erica violently inject her friend Tina may make you wonder if she’s the show’s real villain). The gang breaks in, blindfolds and ties up Turnbow, and takes him away to an abandoned barn before converting the house for demonstration destruction. This is a montage of trademark kicks that fans love. Steve also gains a new signature weapon: a chainsaw. I’m glad Demogorgon didn’t show up before I finished it. I also hope the Turnbows have good homeowners insurance.
Conveniently timed when everyone is ready, the Demogorgon shows up at Turnbow’s house and a “Home Alone”-esque trap begins to set off. Nancy shoots the monster with a tracker and he returns to the Upside Down. Steve, Dustin, Jonathan, and Nancy use a tracking system to follow him in their car, driving him relentlessly through fences and yards. I thought this town was under military control, but I guess no one cares about disturbing the public order or committing crimes such as damaging property.
While they are in pursuit, the monster makes a complete U-turn. And the gang can’t figure out why until they hear the sweet sounds of a properly upset Derek waking up and realizing he’s no longer home. Will understood – the Demogorgon was heading straight for them. And it’s not exactly the A-Team of fighters waiting to be picked up in a barn.
Heading into the woods to find Max Mayfield
Meanwhile, Holly, left alone in Henry’s big mansion, is partying like a 10-year-old (or should), wearing a 1950s dress and cloak, looking like Little Red Riding Hood (a little on the nose). It’s a fun chocolate cake until someone rings the doorbell. The mailbox contains mail, a map, and a note that seems to be from Henry, telling her to meet him at “X” through the woods because he needs her help.
Holly decides to go on an adventure, and the map leads her not to walking red flag Henry, but to everyone’s favorite skateboard queen Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), who is somehow trapped in the same sunny dimension as Holly.
Mad Max is back. Let’s try this.
