The latest installment of Netflix’s popular series, Stranger Things Season 5, delivers a thrilling punch with its second volume, featuring three extended episodes that each run over an hour. The season culminates in a dramatic cliffhanger that leaves fans eagerly anticipating what comes next.

In the fifth episode, titled “Shock Jock,” viewers are hit with a startling revelation about Dr. Kay, portrayed by Linda Hamilton. Her true intentions in pursuing Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, are unveiled, adding a new layer to the show’s intricate narrative. Meanwhile, Dustin, portrayed by Gaten Matarazzo, stumbles upon a groundbreaking discovery that could alter everything we understand about the mysterious Upside Down. However, a crucial obstacle arises: Dustin is unable to communicate his findings to Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) before time runs out.

**Spoilers Ahead for Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 “Shock Jock,” now available on Netflix**

The episode concludes with a tense moment as Dustin uncovers Dr. Brenner’s (Matthew Modine) old office, trapped in the 1983 version of the Hawkins Research Lab within the Upside Down. Throughout the episode, Dustin had assured Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy, and Jonathan that destroying the “Deflector Shield” would dismantle the barrier between them and Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) hideout, where Holly (Nell Fisher) and other kidnapped children are held. However, Dustin’s confidence is shattered upon reading Brenner’s notes, revealing that tampering with the shield could ignite a catastrophic chain reaction threatening both the Upside Down and the real world.

As tensions rise, Dustin finds himself unable to warn Nancy and Jonathan, who are stationed on the roof with malfunctioning walkie-talkies. The duo, amidst their typical banter, discovers an entity resembling the “Deflector Shield” described by Dustin. Armed with her trusty shotgun, Nancy hesitantly prepares to take the shot. Despite her doubts and Jonathan’s concerns, she pulls the trigger on the ominous red sphere, setting off a sequence of events that leave audiences on the edge of their seats, wondering about the impending consequences.

Meanwhile, Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) reveals the real reason why Dr. Kay captured her and has her sights set on Eleven. It turns out that we didn’t know the whole truth about Dr. Brenner’s experiments on pregnant women…

So has Nancy single-handedly killed all of our heroes? What is the horrifying truth behind Eleven’s powers and the military’s Upside Down lab? And do Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly manage to escape Vecna in this episode?

Here’s everything you need to know about how Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 “Shock Jock” ends…

Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 Ending Explained: What Did Nancy Actually Shoot Above the Upside Down Hawkins Lab? What Did Dustin Discover in Dr. Brenner’s Journal?

Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 “Shock Jock” ends with Dustin discovering something massive in Dr. Brenner’s notes. He rushes through the bowels of the Hawkins Research Lab in absolute panic. His walkie talkie is broken and the stakes could not be higher. As he tells Steve, destroying the “Deflector Shield” could kill everyone, from Holly to all of Hawkins and the wider world.

Nevertheless, the episode ends with Nancy blithely shooting at what can only be described as an extradimensional sphere. The screen then cuts to black. So…is everyone dead? Hardly.

We don’t consider it a spoiler to confirm that Nancy did not destroy the world with a single shotgun shell, but that’s mostly because there are still three episodes of Stranger Things left. However, that doesn’t meant that Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Dustin are safe. In fact, Nancy and Jonathan are in dire danger next episode… Which is also when Dustin explains what the Upside Down really is.

Stranger Things Finally Reveals The Dark Truth Behind Eleven’s Powers and Kali’s Capture

Ever since Stranger Things Season 1, we’ve been led to believe that Eleven got her powers thanks to a secret military experiment run by Dr. Brenner. Her mother, Terry Ives (Aimee Mullins), allegedly joined a psychedelic drug study while pregnant. The mind-altering hallucinogens affected young Jane in utero, giving her powers. Dr. Brenner kidnapped her at birth, attempting to trick Terry into believing she miscarried.

Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 “Shock Jock” reveals that this isn’t totally true. Eleven’s mother was pregnant while Dr. Brenner ran experiments on her, but he didn’t ply her with drugs. Instead, he was injecting pregnant women with Henry Creel’s blood.

As Kali explains, Dr. Kay imprisoned her to repeat the same ghastly work. The one time Kali almost managed to escape the lab, she ran into a never-ending series of rooms where pregnant women were being given her blood. According to Kali, all these women were deathly ill. Similarly, Eleven was the only child to emerge from Brenner’s experiments on a level with Henry Creel.

Dr. Kay wants Eleven so she can successfully breed an army of psychic soldiers with Vecna and Eleven’s powers.

Do Max and Holly Escape Vecna in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5?

No, Max and Holly don’t escape Vecna in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5. Well, actually, they sort of do. The two attempt to escape through Holly’s memories, but Vecna finds them before they can locate the exit. Vecna attempts to murder Max and almost succeeds.

At this point, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) has hacked into the hive mind thanks to the gang’s idea to super charge a Demo corpse with the radio station’s power. Will is able to see Vecna and stop him. So Max and Holly do escape. Sort of.

However, Will’s plan backfires as Vecna fights back. The episode ends with Will possessed by Vecna.

So what happens next? You’ll have to hit play on Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 6 “Escape from Camazotz,” now streaming on Netflix.