Full spoilers for Episode 5 and everything prior in Stranger Things Season 3.

Stranger Things 3 — ‘Chapter Five: The Flayed’ Review

Synopsis

Strange surprises lurk inside an old farmhouse and deep beneath the Starcourt Mall. Meanwhile, the Mind Flayer is gathering strength.

Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Cara Buono, Jake Busey, Cary Elwes, Randy Havens, Priah Ferguson

Director: Uta Briesewitz
Writers: Paul Dichter (teleplay), Matt Duffer & Ross Duffer (created by)

As Jonathan is grabbed by Mr. Holloway, it feels like no one can really die here—until the show weaponises last season’s loss of Bob Newby. For a few seconds, I genuinely feared for Jonathan. That tension is what makes ‘The Flayed’ click: it’s the season’s most horror-forward hour so far, frequently putting characters in plausible danger and keeping me on edge.

It’s also one of the show’s more violent chapters. Bodies melting into viscous sludge—and that close-up face melt—push the gore further than usual. It makes me wonder how far they’ll lean into horror as the season (and series) goes on.

The squads continue to converge, and that momentum works. Jonathan’s protective big-brother mode flicks back on the moment Nancy mentions Will, a nice beat for Charlie Heaton. Seeing Nancy and Jonathan fold into the Will/Max/Eleven/Lucas/Mike unit feels like a natural evolution from S1’s “kids vs. teens vs. adults” split—everyone’s on more even footing now.

I’m mostly into how Mike/Eleven are handled here. Ideally we get a proper, mature conversation soon—apologies, boundaries, a kiss, the works—but not before the next cold open.

Hopper is tougher to love this week. The “Joyce’s new boyfriend” jabs bring out his worst impulses, and David Harbour leans into the loud, jealous buffoon side of Hop. Thankfully, Joyce won’t have it—Winona Ryder continues to be terrific, whether rolling with a commandeered-car bit or delivering that pitch to Murray. More Murray next episode, please.

Our Russian Terminator—Grigori—remains a fun, winking homage. Andrey Ivchenko isn’t especially scary, but he’s an entertaining brick wall to bounce action off of.

Down in the ducts, Steve/Robin/Dustin/Erica’s infiltration finally pays off. Steve unexpectedly winning a fistfight is as delightful for us as it is for Dustin. Because the premiere already told us what the Russians are doing, the tension here comes from the crew catching up rather than the mystery itself—and that works.

I could have used a cleaner apology from Jonathan in the elevator scene, but near-death excuses some awkwardness. Besides, it looks like he and Nancy are about to meet a Demogorgon in a hospital corridor, which is… less than ideal.

‘Chapter Five: The Flayed’ — Air Date: 04/07/2019
Availability: Stranger Things 3 is streaming on Netflix.