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Stranger Things season 5 Volume 1 premiered its first four episodes on November 26, 2025, and immediately shows that several characters in Hawkins face mortal danger from the Upside Down. In Volume 1, Karen Wheeler and Ted Wheeler are critically injured during an attack on their home by a Demogorgon. Karen sustains severe cuts to her torso and throat, while Ted is slashed across the chest and placed in an induced coma.
Other characters, including Holly Wheeler, are shown in life-threatening situations, with their fates left unresolved at the end of Volume 1. The episodes also depict multiple confrontations between the military, the Upside Down creatures, and the main cast. Volume 1 ends with several cliffhangers, leaving the outcomes of these dangerous situations uncertain.
Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers. Read at your own discretion.
Who are the main characters in immediate danger in Stranger Things season 5 Volume 1?
Despite the intensity of the threats in Stranger Things season 5, none of the main characters die in Volume 1. However, several face life-threatening situations.
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Karen Wheeler, for example, is critically injured in episode 2 when a Demogorgon attacks her home. She stabs the creature with a broken wine bottle, but it slashes her across the torso and throat. She is taken to the hospital and remains in stable condition at the end of the volume, though she is unable to speak due to throat injuries.
Ted Wheeler also faces severe injuries during the same Demogorgon attack. He confronts the creature with a golf club but is slashed across the chest and left bleeding. Ted is placed in an induced coma at the hospital, leaving his long-term survival unclear.
Holly Wheeler’s fate is more uncertain. In episode 4, Will Byers sees that she is trapped in the Upside Down. A vine is attached to her mouth, echoing Will’s own experience in 1983. While her consciousness remains active within Vecna’s influence, her physical body is in mortal danger.
In the latter part of Volume 1, it is revealed that Max is also trapped in Vecna's memories and she finds Holly. Together, they plan to escape and return to the real world.
Secondary characters and military threats
There are also many deaths among secondary characters and military personnel in Stranger Things season 5. In the first four episodes, a lot of the soldiers under Dr. Kay's command perish. A Demogorgon strikes a military convoy in episode 1, killing at least six troops. Hopper shoots a few troops in episode 3 while protecting Eleven in the Upside Down.
Moreover, deaths occurred at the military base in episode 4. Eleven kills one guard, and Hopper kills a few more. There are scenes where Lt. Akers and Lt. Colonel Sullivan are in danger, but it's unknown what happens to them.
Furthermore, Vecna and a lot of Demogorgons kill most of the soldiers in the MAC-Z facility. In Volume 1, Will Byers also defeats three Demogorgons in an important scene that shows the continuous fight between the Upside Down forces and Hawkins' defenders.
The children taken by the Demogorgons are also in danger.
Hopper and other close calls
Hopper continues to face significant threats in Stranger Things season 5. After surviving torture in Russia during season 4, he sustains injuries in episode 1 when shot by a stray bullet in the Upside Down. In episode 4, Hopper volunteers to sacrifice himself to protect Eleven during a mission in the military facility. He wears a bomb vest and confronts a hidden threat behind a secret door, which was eventually revealed to be where Kali is.
Other characters experience near-death moments without confirmed fatalities. While Volume 1 contains multiple attacks and injuries, the main cast survives. These close calls set up anticipation for Volume 2, which is expected to continue exploring who might be lost in the fight against Vecna.
Volume 2 of Stranger Things season 5 is scheduled for release on December 25, 2025, with the series finale dropping on December 31, 2025. Fans can watch the series exclusively on Netflix.
