Every Shocking Death and Near-Miss in ‘Stranger Things’ 5 Part 2 Fans Won’t Forget

Stranger Things fans, the wait is finally over, Part 2 of Season 5 has landed on Netflix, and it does not hold back. As the series races toward its epic finale, the latest episodes are packed with heart-pounding action, emotional moments, and shocking twists.

Several characters face deadly situations, with some meeting their end and others narrowly escaping. If you’re desperate to know who survives and who doesn’t, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of every death and close call in Stranger Things Season 5, Episodes 5 through 7. Spoilers ahead.

1. Axel and Kali’s Friends

In Episode 5, Kali opens up to Eleven about her traumatic past in Dr. Kay’s lab. During a flashback, we see Axel, one of her friends, brutally shot in the head by Dr. Kay’s soldiers. It’s also implied that the rest of her companions from The Lost Sister—Mick, Funshine, and Dottie—were similarly killed in the same operation.

This moment not only reveals the dangers Kali faced growing up but also emphasizes the high stakes of the lab’s cruel experiments and the tragic fates of secondary characters caught in the crossfire.

2. Dr. Kay’s Scientists

Also in Episode 5, Kali attempts to escape her captors, breaking free from her restraints in a tense moment of action. In the process, she kills two unnamed scientists working in the lab.

3. Derek’s Family (Visions)

Although Derek’s family is still alive in reality, Henry manipulates him using terrifying visions in Episode 5. Derek is shown hallucinations of his mother, father, and sister Tina being murdered.

The vision is a cruel psychological tactic, designed to intimidate Derek into following Henry’s commands.

4. Dr. Kay’s Soldiers

In Episode 6, Henry sends Demodogs to the Hawkins hospital in search of Max. As chaos erupts, two soldiers who attempt to intercept the creatures are caught in the onslaught. The Demodogs attack and kill the soldiers, showing just how dangerous these monsters have become.

5. Demodogs

After a tense chase through the hospital, three Demodogs nearly reach Lucas and Max in the elevator. However, a lucky twist of fate intervenes: an oxygen tank explodes in their path, instantly killing all three creatures.

6. The Man in the Mine

Episode 6 also delves into a flashback of Henry’s past. While exploring a cave, Holly and Max witness young Henry confronting a scientist in a mine shaft. The scientist, trembling and desperate, waves a gun at Henry while holding a briefcase. A struggle ensues, and Henry ultimately kills the man by bashing his head with a rock.

7. Jonathan and Nancy

After Nancy fires at the atomic matter, she and Jonathan are violently blown back and knocked unconscious. They wake to find themselves trapped in a room that appears to be melting around them, with walls and floors seemingly liquefying in real time.

The danger is intense, but just in time, the melting halts, preventing them from being trapped forever. With the timely help of Dustin and Steve, the pair are able to escape.

8. Eleven, Hopper, and Kali

Following the atomic matter incident, a tear opens in the wall of the Upside Down, creating a powerful vacuum that pulls debris into its void. Eleven quickly assesses the danger and uses her telekinetic abilities to keep herself and the group safe.

She guides them through the hazardous environment and back into Hawkins through a rift in the distance, showing once again the critical role her powers play in preventing deadly outcomes for her friends.

9. Steve

Steve experiences a near-death moment while trying to reach Nancy and Jonathan. He attempts to use a ladder to bridge a gap in the melting staircase, which could have sent him plummeting several stories below. Luckily, Dustin intervenes just in time and pulls him away from the ladder, preventing what could have been a fatal fall.

10. Will

While infiltrating Henry’s mind, Will becomes trapped in a temporal limbo, caught between moments in a disorienting and dangerous way. The situation is tense as he is unable to move or act, leaving him vulnerable. Eleven steps in and uses her powers to extract Will safely, preventing a potentially deadly outcome.

11. Max

Max faces a life-threatening encounter when Henry tracks her and Holly while they try to escape his mind prison. He nearly strangles Max to death in a horrifying moment of danger. Fortunately, Will enters Henry’s mind at the right time, providing Max and Holly with a crucial window to escape.

12. Lucas, Max, Vickie, and Robin

While at the hospital, this group is pursued by a pack of Demodogs sent by Henry. The situation is chaotic, and the creatures pose a deadly threat as they charge through the halls.

Thanks to Karen’s quick thinking and the group’s quick reactions, they narrowly escape the Demodogs unharmed.

13. Holly

Holly experiences multiple life-threatening situations across these episodes. She nearly falls into a mine shaft, plummets through the sky after breaking free from The Abyss, is dragged back into the Abyss by Henry, and is ambushed by other children Henry has taken, who strangle her with a necklace before sending her tumbling down the stairs.

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