Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 5 — Shock Jock — A Review

6th March, 2026: “Shock Jock”.

An Introduction.

If I’m being completely honest?

I’ll admit to a certain amount of glumness.

I suffer with depression, so you know: and, usually, the fluoxetine I take is a big help.

But Wednesday, just gone, was my birthday: and it’s … … 

Well, getting older has bitten: and left me feeling miserable.

More so than usual.

No: before you ask.

It’s not bad enough to want to do anything stupid!

But?

I’m very aware of some things:

Playing some of the sillier games on my computer keeps me busy, and helps lift my mood.

Buying unhealthy snacks does likewise: although I’m equally aware that’s not a good option, as I struggle with my weight.

That I should possibly make another appointment with my GP: and talk about upping the dosage.

Heigh … ho!

~≈🐙≈~

Something else that should keep me busy?

Or, at least, has, recently?

Is simply watching TV.

As you’re aware, I’ve recently been watching the last series of Stranger Things fifth season.

Last week?

I caught “Sorcerer”.

Tonight?

I’ll be settling in with Chapter five, “Shock Jock”: then finishing this review by this coming Monday, 9th March.

I hope you’ll be reading it!

~≈🐙≈~

Part One.

The Summary.

Chapter 5 — “Shock Jock” — opens in the wake of “Sorcerer”: showing us Vecna’s threats to Will, his menacing “Why I chose them” speech.

Then shifts to a few minutes later, showing us Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) telling his mother (Joyce, Winona Ryder) Mike and Lucas (Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin) that all twelve of the children they were trying to protect have been kidnapped by the monstrous Vecna.

In Vecna’s lair?

We see Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) attaching the children — including Holly and Derek (Nell Fisher and Jake Connelly) — to a monstrous thing that seems to be sucking the life out of them … until the scenes shifts, again: to the mental construct Vecna uses to store the children’s minds.

Where he tricks the children into thinking they’re safe in his home, that he needs their help … and that going into the monster infested woods is a bad idea … 

~≈🐙≈~

After the credits?

The scene shifts again, as Will, Joyce and Mike flee from the oncoming military, into the tunnels under Hawkins: only to find a seriously injured Lucas.

It’s only once the team have treated Lucas, and gotten to safety, that Lucas, Mike and Erica, come up with an idea.

All the team knows that that Vecna can pull Will into his Hive mind.

But both Lucas and Erica point out, that should work in reverse: Will should be able to connect to the hive mind, and see what Vecna’s planning, and do some damage.

The only problem?

They’re going to have to revive a dead demogorgon to do so.

The only way to do that … is with a lot of electricity … 

~≈🐙≈~

7th March, 2026.

Part Two.

Initial Thoughts.

So … what did I make of this episode … ?

Of “Shock Jock”?

If you’ve read — or watched — my reviews of “The Turnbow Trap”, and “Sorcerer”, you’ll know I felt the pair were good old fashioned heist movies.

The team’s assembled and introduced, the plan explained, and we watch as the heist goes slowly wrong.

“Shock Jock”?

Is possibly the third in a series of heist flicks.

It explains one plan — accessing Vecna by connecting to the hive mind — and shows the plan going wrong: whilst Vecna fails to kill Max, his evil plans are unhindered, and he leaves Will unconscious.

It shows us another — the Nancy-led team’s attempt to find the Shield Generator — going drastically wrong: with the team split up, and Jonathan and Nancy about to make a drastic mistake.

The question you’re probably wanting to ask?

Is this: “Paul, did you enjoy ‘Shock Jock’?”

~≈🐙≈~

Part Three.

Discoveries.

There’s possibly things I should tell you, first, though: things I noticed watching this episode.

For one thing … ?

The term ‘shock jock’ was one I recognised: as used in this episode’s title is an old term for the likes of James Whale or Howard Stern, who push the boundaries in an effort to get ratings.

I knew what it meant, even though I’ve never really listened to one: but can remember the fuss caused by James Whale’s shows.

Although I recognised the term?

It’s not, I suspect, why it’s used.

The one radio presenter in this series is Robin (Maya Hawke): and it’s she who’s the shock jock of the title.

She’s the main presenter of the Squark, WSQK 94.5 FM, Hawkins’ radio station, and she who activates the generator that shocks the Demogorgon back to life.

She is the reason for this shows title: not Howard Stern!

~≈🐙≈~

What else can we say?

I don’t know what ‘we’ can say … but I’m pretty certain of this.

That, as an ensemble piece, “Shock Jock” is a well done one: with set pieces for everyone.

One of the stand-out performers?

Has to be Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler.

We’ve seen the character grown from a besotted teenage schoolgirl in series one: to a confident, assertive, young woman, who is more than capable of leading a group in a guerrilla assault on a primeval thing: and of calmly pointing a gun at it.

Almost on a par?

Is Noah Schnapp, as Will.

We’ve seen his character grow in almost the same way: from a frightened child to a confident young man.

The major difference?   Is that Will is becoming a team wizard: rather than the leader we see Nancy becoming.

It’s their performances doing the work: and those performances are very good.

About the only disappointment?

Is that — in the midst of all the explosion — Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers seems to have taken something of a back seat in this series: Jonathan’s a second fiddle to Nancy, rather than an equal, as, say, Will and Joyce, or Steve and Dustin.

Which is possibly a shame: I feel the character deserves more.

As a piece of trivia, though?

Did you know Heaton is English?

His American accent had me convinced he was from the US: which says a lot about his craftsmanship … or my hearing … !

~≈🐙≈~

Part Four.

Other Thoughts.

What else can I tell you?

Probably plenty.

Including the simple fact that I made an assumption, last week: and assumed Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) would find the wall around Upside Down Hawkins was being generated by Kali.

But didn’t.

Instead, Eleven found Kali: and been told that Kali — Eight — has been used as a blood donor for Dr Kay (Linda Hamilton), blood donations used on imprisoned pregnant woman, in an attempt to repeat the procedure that saw the birth of both Eleven and Eight, and gave them their powers.

Instead?

Dustin’s found that the Wall … isn’t what the team thought it is.

And that shooting the Shield Generator could prove fatal.

His desperate, last minute, attempts to warn Nancy and Jonathan form the basis of possibly the best cliffhanger of Stranger Things five, so far.

~≈🐙≈~

Part Five.

A Sudden Occurence.

Just as a thought, one that’s literally occurred to me … 

Series four told us that, as a child, Vecna — Henry Creel, as he was, then — was instrumental in the creation of the psychic children we’ve seen throughout the series: it told us that Eleven, Eight, and their generation of psychic kids were, created by injecting pregnant women with Vecna’s blood.

“Shock Jock” tells us Dr Kay is doing the same with Eight’s blood: and we can assume — assume, I should stress — that Kay’s team are after Eleven for the same reason.

Kay wants to use Eleven as a donor, as well.

The thought literally occurs to me, that we’ve seen Will use his emerging powers.

And makes me ask this: has Dr Kay seen Will’s powers?

If she has?

If she has, will Will become a target: will Kay add Will to her list of potential donors?

I don’t know.

I really don’t know.

But if you do?

Don’t tell me: I hate spoilers!

~≈🐙≈~

Part Six.

Finally.

With all that said and done … ?

What did I make of this episode?

Of “Shock Jock”?

At the risk of sounding monotonous?

It’s fantastically watchable: and has one of the most gripping cliff hangers I’ve seen in a long time.

And it has great performances: Priah Ferguson puts in a witty, and assertive, performance as Erica, as does Maya Hawke as Robin.

Natalia Dyer and Noah Schnapp are as good as we’ve come to expect.

Overall … ?

“Shock Jock” is a stunner!

“Shock Jock”

★★★★⁺

~≈🐙≈~

Part Seven.

Last Words.

That is where I’m going to leave things.

But I will thank you for reading this post: or watched the video version, if that’s what you’ve done.

Before I go, I’ll tell you one last thing.

I’m going to be watching the six episode of Stranger Things Five, “Escape From Camazotz” Friday, 13th March: which seems the appropriate date

I’ll have my written and video reviews, up by next Monday, at the very latest.

Feel free to have a look at the rest of my content, to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

I’ll see you next time.