Summary

Ted Wheeler has yet to encounter anything supernatural in the show, unlike other family members.
Ted Wheeler has mostly been a quasi-comic relief character in Stranger Things.
A tragic death in the Wheeler family, potentially Ted, could set the plot in motion for Stranger Things season 5.

Stranger Things has never shied away from killing off characters, even those close to the fans’ hearts. With the Upside Down finally breaking through and spreading in the small town of Hawkins, more casualties will happen in the battle between the heroes and Vecna. Among these victims could be someone who has been there since the beginning of Stranger Things. Of course, it’s none other than Ted Wheeler (Joe Chrest), Mike and Nancy’s father.

Although Ted Wheeler has been a recurring character throughout the series, he has yet to play an active role in the narrative. He represents the traditional dad of an ideal American nuclear family in the 80s. In Stranger Things: The First Shadow, he and Karen (Cara Buono) are stereotypical popular kids and high school sweethearts. The trajectory of their relationship and how they are in the show emphasizes how far removed Ted Wheeler is from the ongoing supernatural events in Hawkins. However, that could all change by season 5.

Eleven, Mike, and Will staring intently in Stranger Things

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By Aya Tsintziras

Ted Wheeler Has Yet to Encounter Anything Supernatural

Everyone in the Wheeler family has been involved or at least come close to something supernatural. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) are actively part of the fight against the Upside Down. Holly (Anniston and Tinsley Price) had her own encounter with the flickering lights in the Byers’ house in season 1, episode 3, “Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly.” Meanwhile, Karen almost has a brush with the supernatural when she talks to a “flayed” Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) in season 3, episode 2, “Chapter Two: The Mall Rats.”

Ted is the only one who hasn’t experienced anything similar. The closest he has ever been to being an active participant in the supernatural events in Hawkins happens in a flashback in season 2, episode 2, “Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak.” The authorities try to get information about Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) from Mike while instructing his parents that what happened in their house must remain confidential. Ted promises and mentions that their household is a family of patriots, a comment that upholds the characteristics of a traditional American man.

Ted Wheeler Has Mostly Been Comic Relief

Ted Wheeler’s scenes in Stranger Things often highlight his traits as an average middle-aged suburban dad, especially when he’s around his family. On the other hand, he has also been something of a comic relief character whenever he interacts with Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo). Arguably, his character was pigeonholed while other adults in the series evolved. Fortunately, fans saw a subtle change in his character from the previous season.

In season 4, episode 9, “Chapter Nine: The Piggyback,” Ted Wheeler watches the news coverage about the earthquake and how it’s linked to the supposed “Munson murders.” He talks to Karen about what’s being reported and makes a comment unlike him, but still in typical Ted fashion, before turning off the TV.

Well, it’s the news. Now indistinguishable from the tabloids.

In the past, Ted would have easily agreed with the comments made in the news. In season 4, episode 1, “Chapter One: The Hellfire Club,” he even made a jab at the Hellfire Club, which Mike is a part of, calling it the “High School Dropout Club.” However, in light of the town hall meeting where Jason Carver (Mason Dye) made dangerous claims about this D&D club and fueled the rage of the Hawkins citizens, Ted seems to have changed his tone.

He Was Excluded From the Vision Vecna Gave Nancy Wheeler

In season 4, episode 8, “Chapter Eight: Papa,” Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) gives Nancy terrifying visions of what he would do to Hawkins. After she gets rescued by her friends, a crying Nancy recalls what Vecna made her see. Aside from the onslaught of monsters and the complete destruction of Hawkins, Nancy was also forced to see the unthinkable happen to her mother, Holly, and Mike.

It’s interesting to see that Ted Wheeler was not included on the list of casualties in Nancy’s vision. Some might argue that it simply means she is not attached to her father. However, that would be a disservice to Nancy as a character. Although she is not as close to her father as she is with her mother, Nancy doesn’t seem to have any issues with Ted the way Jonathan and Will have with their dad.

A more interesting take would be the show's writers intentionally not including Ted in the list because he is actually the Wheeler who will die because of the invasion of the Upside Down. After all, it seems unlikely that Mike will die. The same logic would apply to Karen and Holly, two characters who seem to be set up for something bigger in Stranger Things season 5.

A Tragic Death in the Wheeler Family Will Set the Wheels in Motion

The Wheelers are one of the main families featured in Stranger Things, but only Mike and Nancy are actually part of the fight against Vecna. However, with some fans speculating that Holly is the missing character referred to in the title of season 5, episode 2, “Chapter Two: The Vanishing of …,” it’s highly likely that Ted and Karen will finally be involved. Joe Chrest has shared that Ted would likely want “a shot at the Upside Down.”

Of course, this change of heart and character development by Ted would endear him to the audience and bring him closer to his family. But as mentioned, Stranger Things doesn’t shy away from killing characters, even if they become fan favorites. If Ted Wheeler dies in action trying to save his family, it would make a statement. And as heartbreaking as his death would be, his sacrifice would change everything for the Wheelers.

It would be interesting to see the audience, most of whom likely don’t have strong opinions or feelings about Ted Wheeler, suddenly have a change of heart about him right as he turns a new leaf. He could even cement a place as one of the most beloved characters lost along the way in the show. All will be revealed once Stranger Things season 5 gets released later this year.

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