Exclusive | Stranger Things star breaks down…
At long last, Ted and Karen Wheeler are in on the motion.
Spoilers forward for “Stranger Things” Season 5, Volume 1.
In the first 4 episodes of “Stranger Things” Season 5, now streaming on Netflix, Ted and Karen Wheeler finally study about the supernatural threats around them.
“When I read the first script [for Season 5] I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is going on!’ And then it just kept going and going and going. It was like a feeling of an upside down roller coaster, just reading the script,” Chrest completely told The Post.
Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler in “Stranger Things” Season 5. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Nell Fisher as Holly and Cara Buono as Karen in “Stranger Things” Season 5 during the assault scene. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
“Stranger Things,” which is at the moment airing its fifth and closing season, first premiered in 2016. The plot follows numerous pals and relations in Hawkins, Indiana, as they deal with supernatural monsters in the ‘80s.
Ted (Joe Chrest) and Karen (Cara Buono), who are the dad and mom of Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Holly (Nell Fisher), have been the beacons of normalcy.
An strange suburban couple, the Wheeler dad and mom have been oblivious to the sci-fi happenings in their city — until now.
When studying the Season 5 script, Chrest had to put the it down to shortly “call Cara [Buono], and then debrief,” he recalled.
Holly (Nell Fisher) in “Stranger Things” Season 5 during the assault scene. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025
Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler in “Stranger Things.” Netflix
Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler in “Stranger Things.” ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection
In Season 5, a Demogorgon, which is a monster from the Upside Down, comes to the Wheeler family, assaults Ted and Karen, and abducts their youngest little one, Holly.
At the start of the thrilling motion sequence, Ted is ignoring his household as typical, hitting golf balls in the yard, oblivious to the hazard. Karen is ingesting wine and taking a bathtub. Poor Holly is preventing for her life as the monster invades her room, while her dad and mom are absorbed in their own actions and unaware of what’s taking place.
However, when the monster rampages through their home and comes into the kitchen, Ted and Karen can’t ignore it. Finally, they’re uncovered to the sci-fi monsters that Mike and Nancy have been dealing with for 5 seasons.
“That was really awesome getting to do that,” said Chrest.
Dacre Montgomery as Billy and Cara Buono as Karen in “Stranger Things” Season 3. Everett Collection / Everett Collection
Nancy (Natalia Dyer) crying over her wounded mom in “Stranger Things” Season 5. Netflix
Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) in “Stranger Things.” Netflix
Despite their efforts preventing back, Holly finally will get kidnapped and taken to the Upside Down. Ted and Karen are badly wounded but still alive. They both end up in the hospital, while Mike and Nancy are frantic.
“Cara is one of those people I’ve gotten very close to, over the years,” Chrest said. “Man, I love working with her.”
The onscreen couple both have a theater background. And now that they’re completed with their decade-long stint on “Stranger Things,” he hopes they will share the stage together in the future.
“Stranger Things” Season 5 could have 8 episodes, dropping on Netflix in three volumes, releasing on Nov. 26, Dec. 25, and Dec. 31.
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