I Hope Ted Wheeler Is the Only Character to Survive STRANGER THINGS 5

by

Throughout its run, Stranger Things has generally protected its main characters. However, as the show nears its conclusion, it feels more likely that some key players might die. I’m okay with that, and even wouldn’t mind if the villain, Vecna, defeated everyone in Hawkins—as long as one character survives. Specifically, I hope Ted Wheeler, Mike and Nancy’s consistently tired and somewhat ineffective father, is the sole survivor of Stranger Things 5. It would be a surprisingly perfect ending.

From the beginning of Stranger Things, the father in the Wheeler family has been present. However, throughout the entire series, he’s never actually been helpful. He hasn’t rescued anyone from the monsters, stopped any of the shady government agents from harming children, or even realized when his own kids were gone.

Okay, so this guy… honestly, he’s just completely checked out. Most of the time, he’s either asleep or glued to the TV. It’s like all the work of raising their kids, both the practical stuff and the emotional support, falls entirely on his wife. And it’s baffling because she’s amazing – seriously gorgeous and kind, she really reminds me of Cara Buono – and he doesn’t even seem to realize how lucky he is. He looks so…tired, almost like a frumpy old computer, and just doesn’t seem to appreciate everything she does for him.

He’s a deeply flawed person, and a terrible father to top it off. The problem isn’t a lack of love for his family, but a complete unwillingness to show it, even in small ways. The most affection anyone’s ever witnessed from him was a nap with his daughter, Holly. Otherwise, Ted Wheeler sees his role as a husband and father as simply providing financially. He also tends to dismiss his children’s feelings and interests. Even when his kids were in genuine danger – a situation the entire town believed involved demonic activity – Ted’s reaction was barely more than annoyance. He’s consistently irritated by having to deal with anything at all.

He’s a brilliantly funny character who perfectly captures an outdated idea – that mothers should do all the housework and childcare. Ted’s consistent lack of concern is what makes him so hilarious. His extreme laziness, complete detachment from reality, and annoyance with everything from small problems to serious threats have made him a standout comedic element in Stranger Things. He’s basically a sleepy, bespectacled clown.

I’m rooting for Ted Wheeler to make it through the final battle against the Upside Down, but not because of the show’s storyline or Joe Chrest’s great acting. It’s a much simpler, and honestly more interesting, reason. I want to know if Ted would even notice if everyone around him disappeared. Would he realize if Vecna took his children, Mike and Nancy? Would he even be aware if his wife, Karen, was gone? We need to see if he’d just keep reading his newspaper, completely oblivious to interdimensional monsters. It’s a silly thought, but we deserve to see it play out.

I’m really curious to see how long it would take Ted to figure things out and what finally gets through to him. Would he notice if dinner suddenly stopped appearing? (He definitely wouldn’t notice vines growing over the table, though.) Or would it take something like his morning coffee not being ready? (He can’t even make coffee himself!) I want to know what it would take for Ted Wheeler to realize something is seriously wrong, to notice that the distant red lightning isn’t normal. (But let’s be honest, he probably never will.)

It seems strange to say, but Ted Wheeler might actually be the most compelling character to survive. He’s arguably the least equipped to handle the dangers Hawkins faces, making a hopeful outcome for him surprisingly satisfying.

Mikey Walsh writes for TopMob. Unlike the character Ted Wheeler, he’s a very different kind of dad. You can find him on Bluesky at @burgermike, and he’s always participating in discussions about ranking the Targaryen kings.

Read More

2025-11-18 22:33