Stranger Things 5 Part 1 dropped on 26 November 2025, and portrays Mike's dad surviving the attack of the Demogorgon. Mike's dad, Ted Wheeler, who is always shown to be unaware, careless, and secluded from the supernatural events happening in society, has now fallen victim to it. Deeply injured, he is shown to be hospitalized post-attack.This event is meant to shake Ted Wheeler out of his casual behavior, given that his daughter is taken away by the creature. Wheeler's character must become more active in this "kid-only" problem, being the crucial witness. Ted's character could be more central in Part 2 and could witness a major change. The show is known for shocking deaths, and Part 2 will reportedly be darker and more character-focused. Read on to know more about the character and what happened to Ted Wheeler.Does Mike’s dad survive the events of Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1?Mike/Nancy’s dad in season 5 byu/saucegod207 inStrangerThingsMike's dad, Ted Wheeler in Stranger Things, is in quarantined Hawkins, and he is barely aware of the situation going on, as he has been throughout the show. On the other hand, a Demogorgon attacks Wheeler's house. When the Demogorgon enters their house, it enters Holly's room, stalking her, as usual, while Holly tries to escape. But being a kid, she has no real chance.Meanwhile, Ted is seen playing golf in the yard, completely unaware of the danger. When Holly makes some noise, it alerts Karen and Ted, and they rush towards her. The parents can no longer deny what is happening in the town. Ted grabs anything he gets in order to defend Holly while Karen also tries to reach her. They are both brutally attacked by the creature and get severely wounded, fighting to rescue their daughter.After the attack, Ted and Karen are hospitalized to recover from their injuries. Therefore, the show depicts no death scene or off-screen death of Ted Wheeler, and he is shown injured and hospitalized by the end of Stranger Things 5 Part 1.Joe Chrest, who plays Ted Wheeler, told the New York Post:“When I read the first script [for Season 5] I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is going on!’ And then it just kept going and going and going. It was like a feeling of an upside-down roller coaster, just reading the script.”This suggests the actor's shock about his character now becoming a direct victim in Stranger Things Season 5. Usually, Ted is shown to be not involved, unaware of the supernatural events going on in society. But Season 5 confirms his more active involvement in the coming episodes. He might realize the problem they are in, and for the first time, losing his daughter might transform him from being merely a bystander to an active participant in the ensuing events.Ted Wheeler's home is invaded, his daughter is abducted, and their ignorance about the Upside Down ends abruptly. Therefore, this creates a major emotional and narrative turning point for Mike and Nancy, and the rest of the group. Therefore, the reports confirm that Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1 doesn't kill off Ted Wheeler; he survives while his daughter is kidnapped by a Demogorgon. Ted is alive but hospitalized, and this suggests that something major is upcoming for the character, as he has gone through the much-needed transformation. What Part 2 holds is a mystery until then.