S1E5: Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat

Alright, here's what goes down in "Stranger Things" Season 1, Episode 5. We pick up with Hopper, who is getting more suspicious by the minute. He breaks into Hawkins Lab and starts poking around, finding some seriously disturbing stuff that suggests Will might be connected to whatever shady business is going on there. Meanwhile, Nancy and Jonathan, both on their own monster hunts, decide to team up. They hit the woods together, armed with bear traps and a camera, hoping to catch the creature responsible for Barb's disappearance. But their little expedition takes a turn when they find a wounded deer — only for it to be suddenly dragged away by something unseen. Back in the realm of Hawkins Middle School, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas are still trying to track down Eleven. She's been laying low after an argument with Mike but eventually makes her way back to them. The reunion isn't all hugs and rainbows, though; tensions are high, especially between Mike and Lucas, who nearly come to blows before Eleven uses her powers to break up the fight. As the episode wraps up, Joyce is still clinging to the belief that Will is alive and communicating through the lights. She gets another glimpse of him through the wall of her house, confirming she's not just seeing things. Meanwhile, back in the Upside Down world that Joyce doesn't know about yet, Will is still very much trapped and trying to survive. And that's where we leave things — with everyone a little closer to finding answers but still miles away from solving the mystery.