Stranger Things (TV Series) Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat (2016) User Reviews

The Upside Down

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 31 December 2017]

Hopper breaks into the Hawkins laboratory and finds the gate; however he is attacked and wakes up home. He searches his home and finds a bug hidden in a light. Jonathan teams up with Nancy to investigate Barb´s disappearance and blows up his photo. They find the monster and decide to search the creature. Lonnie comes to Joyce´s home apparently for Will´s funeral but she finds he wants to sue the quarry to make money and she expels him. Mike, Dustin and Lucas ask Mr. Clake how to cross dimensions and decide to seek out the gate and Will following their compasses. However El interferes with the compasses. When they discover, El flees. Nancy finds a gate and crosses alone.

"Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" shows three groups investigating the same event: the boys, Hopper and Jonathan and Nancy. Joyce learns that she is not crazy about Will. El is scared with the possibility of returning to the lab. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat"

Characters make the story

[Fluke_Skywalker · 8/10 · 17 April 2017]

Though the kids get the lion's share of the media spotlight, this episode was a nice showcase for the grownups of Stranger Things. Wynona Ryder and David Harbour are particularly good here, and there are a lot of really good character moments throughout. A lot of these characters started out as deceptively simple archetypes that have since been revealed to be much more. With the bigger mystery starting to come into focus a bit, it's now about how much you care about these characters and seeing them through the rest of this journey. As of now, I find I care quite a bit.

Another addictive episode to the first season

[gavin-thelordofthefu-48-460297 · 9/10 · 17 November 2018]

While Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat may not be in the same league as the third and fourth episodes, it's still another great episode and shows a sign that things are getting better.

The story, while not in the same complexity as the previous episodes, is still well-written in a scene where Mike and Lucas argue whether or not El is reliable or not that she's still helping them find Will, the writing continues to be superb, the production values are well spent, the performances are still great and the child actors have been getting better each episode thanks to their chemistry while Hooper and Joyce continue to be interesting adult characters, the pacing never drags and the music score continues to respect the 1980s perfectly.

Overall, not in the same complexity as the third and fourth episodes, but still an addictive episode of the first season.

Let's Try the Other Side

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 30 December 2016]

Numerous things take place here. The Sheriff invades the facility where the experimenting is going on, but finds himself back at his trailer. He now knows that Will's body was a fake. It is a dummy, filled with cotton. Of course, the coroner was one of "their" guys. The boys explain the dark vale that is the parallel universe. They take El and start to look for a magnetic center. Will's father shows up for the funeral and we realize that he is after insurance money for the death of his son. After the funeral, Nancy and Jonathan go off on their own, looking for the faceless man. They make some startling discoveries. The boys get in a fight and El uses her power to separate them, but one of them is hurt. During all this, El is having flashbacks of how she was being used.

The Flea and the Acrobat

[matthewpitts5 · 8/10 · 21 March 2017]

This episode starts off where "The Body" left off, Hopper is trying to see what is going on at the Department of Energy, Mama and Papa Byers are reunited for Will's "funeral", but for what reason is Papa Byers back? The kids are tracking down a alternate dimension entrance (in a great nod to Stand By Me) and Jonathan and Nancy plan an assault on the "Faceless Man".

The Flea and the Acrobat wasn't as strong as the previous two entries, but still a strong episode that further shows the monster at play, the history of Eleven's torture, and a few hints on this shadow dimension. Plenty of cool Dustin moments too!!! On the downside there was a few clichés, but another fantastic episode from Stranger Things.

On a tight rope

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 20 April 2021]

Season 1 was a very promising first season to 'Stranger Things', and to me it's one of the show's better seasons. Of the previous four episodes only "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" disappointed a little while still being good. "Chapter Four: The Body" was especially outstanding, with everything that made the previous episodes as good as they were while executing the good things even better while managing to progress the plot.

While not quite as great as the third and fourth episodes, "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" is still great and the plot and character progression has far from stalled. If anything they expanded with each episode, and "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" once again does incredibly well at building upon what was set up from the very beginning, adding more layers and setting up what was to come in later episodes.

"Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" is not quite perfect, with a few lapses in logic. Including a big one mentioned by others that did strike me as rather silly and naive.

Everything else is done absolutely brilliantly however. The acting continues to impress, Millie Bobby Brown especially gives acting beyond her year and El is a character that is interesting and rootable. Finn Woolfhard is also on the road to great things if he keeps giving acting as good as in 'Stranger Things' and in 'IT'. The chemistry between the younger cast is beautifully handled, and has a 'Stand By Me' like nostalgia, one of the things most striking about 'Stranger Things'. Winona Ryder can be too melodramatic in some episodes and fine in others, she's fine here.

The production values are superb. Very stylish and atmospheric, with some truly beautiful images that one can't believe such high quality comes from a Netflix show. Not to mention the highly impressive special effects that put a good deal of big budget films in recent years to shame. The music has a wonderful 80s nostalgic vibe while also being quite haunting, enhancing the atmosphere beautifully.

Writing is thought-probing and has a lot of brains and heart. The humour is gentle but very subtly witty and funny, while there is a poignancy (without being too sentimental) and tension. Throughout "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" has creepiness, intriguing mystery, inventive sci-fi, affectionate nostalgia and emotional impact. The mystery again is even deeper and more complex than before but is always intriguing and never confusing. The ending is suspenseful and makes one excited for what happens next in subsequent episodes.

In summary, great. 9/10.

Uh oh

[danajs24 · 9/10 · 14 September 2016]

So it looks like El crossed too far over in her attempts at espionage for the department of energy. Sounds like they're just using the department as a good place to hide their experiments of the x- files nature. Nance travels over to the shadow vale and gets stuck there. Are the monsters the ones opening up the gates to and from the realm? How are they only staying open so long? The boys attempt to find one of these gates but El stops them, saying it isn't safe, then slamming one of them against a car. The kid made a good point, and I do think it's technically her fault the gates are opening, but was forced to by the government. My favorite sheriff is starting to act a bit bonkers as well as the mom unfortunately, and I hope they don't become super buds for the rest of the season.

I dont understand why they let jim live.

[CursedChico · 8/10 · 20 December 2020]

I dont understand why they let jim live.

They could send him to prison or could kill and noone would suspect. Noone knows where he was, what he was doing.

And they put also bug. Jim is so clever to think in such condition.

It is still mystery why monsters come to our dimension and how they are so clever to go back.

80s and they cant tweet when they see a monster or cant take photos instantly. Really hard days :)

Three fatal flaws

[bloopville · 28 October 2016]

This episode just committed three plot flaws that ruin a show for me.

1. Let's not tell anybody. Nobody will believe us.

2. Let's explore in small, easily defeatable groups.

3. I'm a plucky teenage girl and I am going to explore the blood dripping tree where an animal corpse has disappeared that opens up into an ethereal world with that great anti-monster device, the flashlight.

Combined with the tropes of "evil scientist". " government cover-up" and "Bullies and nerds", the show has a lot of lazy writing.

There is a photograph with a shadowy faceless figure right where the friend disappeared by the swimming pool. That would be sufficient to, at least, get someone's attention.

8

[Edvis-1997 · 8/10 · 7 May 2019]

Well it was pretty decent episode. Interesting plot but something was missing. Maybe it was a little bit too slow, lack of action

Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat (#1.5)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 18 May 2019]

A lot has happened but the best part was the ending. Nancy getting into the gate and what it looked like was very well done. People say it is illogical she went there on her own while Jonathan wasn't far away, but I think it is believable. She just didn't think much and went to look. But now that the gate is closed what will happen? Will the monster eat her or will she be hiding with Will?

Interesting.. I wonder how it's gonna end.

[ououzaza · 8/10 · 13 September 2019]

And again, entertaining episode, interesting story. everything are great! but Loser's logic is kinda weird.

Save Will!

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 7/10 · 12 December 2016]

"Stranger Things" gives the viewer a very entertaining episode, with some interesting plot developments, lots of tension and good characters' arcs. Sadly, we also get some random things, like the 'bad people' letting Hopper live after he breaks on their facility (and it's probable that they also know he knows Will's 'body' was not really he). If in the first episode they seemed so keen to kill anyone for their secrets, how come they just let him run away? (poor Benny).

On the other hand, everything else delivers. The group of kids does a great job trying to find Will. Their relationship rings real, the dialogue is good enough and it's nice to see them doing something and having interesting ideas (all the science is pretty basic stuff, but funny nonetheless). Jonathan and Nancy teaming up to search for Barb (a plot development that anyone could have seen coming) offers a good dynamic. And Joyce gets the help from 'strange survivor' Hooper.

Basically, that the show makes these three teams is what gives it life. It gives the characters things to do and someone to talk too, and even if everything keeps being very, but very, basic, at least it is quite entertaining.

Your political agendas are showing

[josephabraun · 5/10 · 9 January 2024]

While the show thrives in character development and suspense, it's essential to note potential critiques, including perceived subtle jabs at the nuclear family. Some argue these critiques hint at a broader political agenda, echoing concerns about societal dynamics.

Yet, amidst these interpretations, the episode excels in portraying friendships and resilience, placing characters at the forefront. The interplay of supernatural elements, particularly the enigmatic events in the Upside Down, sustains an engaging narrative.

In summary, episode five stands as a turning point, deftly balancing supernatural intrigue and human connections. Whether drawn in by '80s nostalgia or intrigued by the unfolding mysteries, Stranger Things offers a thrilling viewing experience, even as it sparks discussions about its underlying critiques.

Five down, three to go.

[BA_Harrison · 5 August 2016]

Having found the corpse of Will Byers to be a fake, cop Jim Hopper (David Harbour) decides to break into Hawkins Institute, where he discovers an inter-dimensional portal in their lab. Will's nerdy pals also resume their search for their missing friend after hearing his voice over the radio.

Netflix's supernatural series continues to entertain, with a little more exposition about the other-worldly realm into which Will has been cast, a few laughs at the expense of the 'mouth-breather' who has been bullying Mike and his pals, and some effective chills as Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) enter the woods in search of answers. With only three more episodes left, it'll be interesting to see how satisfyingly all of the plot threads are wrapped up. I hope they do it justice

Theoretically Awesome

[deepakdst · 10/10 · 11 June 2019]

This episode is really necessary to watch if you wants to understand what is going on in this series. It is just Extraordinarily Strange and interesting.

Down the Rabbit Hole

[hellraiser7 · 9/10 · 18 February 2018]

Warning do not read unless seen episode.

This is where were starting to gain some yardage in both plot but also even drama.

Really like how we see Dustin make a discovery with his compass which gives team 1 a lead to finding Will. Though we already know ahead of time where the compasses point to but all the same this lead gave this team some yardage. But unfortunately their expedition gets somewhat sabatoshed as we see El uses her scanner ablity to mislead the team. This unfortunately leads to some scuffling, I'll admit some of what Lucas says really boiled my blood; don't get me wrong I like the kid but he's really out of line. Granted what El did isn't totally cool but she had good reason and I don't blame her, and from the flashback you know what their all getting into is really dangerous and the scum organization put her though some really bad crap. We then see a scuffle between both Lucas and Mike and then El once again helps Mike and once again uses her scanner power to fling Lucas off but unfortunately almost seriously injures him and El feels bad about that as she didn't entirely mean it. And at this point it's all fraked up as things just fall apart for the team.

There is some drama with Joyce, I'll admit I really hate the character Lonnie that guy is a bum that is self serving and doesn't give a damn about Joyce and her sons. There was one moment that really boiled me blood hot when Lonnie is just talking crap toward Jonathan but then tells him to take down "The Evil Dead" poster saying it's not appropriate; I thought "FRAK YOU!" anyone that ever tells me not to hang up a movie poster of my favorate movie "Blade Runner" in my room can go frak themselves, this is my room, my rules I'll do whatever the hell I want in it. Already that guy just acts like he's already a part of the family and owns the whole house even though he hasn't been a part of their lives for years, he's lost that privlage once he gave up on them.

Joyce breaks out of her brief denial once she finds hard evidence of the real reason Lonnie came back and leads her to do the right and responsible thing for not just her sons but herself. Yeah, sure she's not perfect (who the heck is) but she admits it and she never gave up on her sons which makes her responsible and a good parient. It then lead her to saying one of my favorate quotes in the show and was just a crowd pleaser but also shows she is never giving up hope.

There is also some drama with Jonathan and Nancy which was soild, I really like what Jonathan says to Nancy. I can kinda see some of his mom in Jonathan as he also admits he's not perfect which makes him and Joyce truthful people. He states some observations about Nancy which are truly on the nose, to me the problem with Nancy is she's not being honest with herself, she's so busy trying to prove something to an incrowd by pretending to be something she's not. Nancy is fine the way she is, she doesn't have to prove anything to that incrowd, their all jerks their not worth it.

But I really like the suspense near the end when we see both Johnathan and Nancy get really close. I'll admit that moment when the deer gets pulled away made me jump, it's was something that just happened in a split second before I could even blink. But Nancy is able to pick up on the trail which leads to a small gateway in a tree which explains why it's hard to find the suckers, they can just form a gateway in any tree at any time. Nancy of course is going into the rabbit hole only it's not Wonderland she's venturing to.

Rating: 3 and a half stars

the up side down?

[AvionPrince16 · 8/10 · 18 February 2022]

Hopper find more but he will be find and know that someone took him at home and he is monitoring by the scientists. Hopper tell the truth about Will. Eleven describe the up side down. But she didnt want the guys discover the truth. Nancy and Jonahtan try to discover the truth. An intersting episode with some nice mysteries, some scientists explanation and an interesting plot to follow.

Not a fan of fantasy TV shows, but this show is epic

[funnycommentor · 9/10 · 6 July 2022]

The plot of the 5th episode was super intense and very suspenseful. The storyline is amazingly well-written, there aren't any plot holes and everything is explained really well. Nancy and Jonathan were both the highlight of that episode. I have to admit that, Nancy and Jonathan were an unexpected duo, that I really liked and I can't wait to see more of them! The ending scene was epic and totally unexpected. Episode 6, is gonna be epic. Winona's Ryder acting was astonishing as always (she's a perfect example of a mom). Moreover, I'm so happy that the "Upside Down" is seen more and there are many scenes taking place there!

You Were Right

[amongpixels · 8/10 · 9 June 2022]

'The Flea and the Acrobat' is filled with plenty of the show's typically great sequences: Hopper not allowing himself to be fooled by the government and subsequently telling Joyce she was right all along, Scott being such a great guy helping out the kids with a nice expository lesson, memorable visuals of the black "bath" void Eleven enters (akin to "Under the Skin"), Steve having a nice little redemptive scene, and Nancy and Jonathan have a great bonding scene together when training with the revolver (helping us get more of an insight into Nancy's family history).

However, there's still some minor choppy/inconsistent editing at times (Steve showing up out of nowhere in Nancy's garage, the deer being pulled into the bushes also out of nowhere?), and a lot of the drama in the final act feels a tad forced. Lonnie's "betrayal" makes sense but it is just a rather unnecessary minor setback for Joyce in the grand scheme of things, Lucas getting enraged at Eleven neither feels earned or warranted (it basically just relies on him being a total ignorant prick despite everything Eleven has done. His new plan is just to piss off the girl with superpowers and walk off to who knows where?), Jonathan and Nancy's argument just needlessly comes out of nowhere (they're both being rather annoying in this circumstance, particularly Jonathan, so it kills a lot of potential chemistry they may have had), and Nancy going into the tree alone without Jonathan is just stupid. I mean, come on, yeah you had a little squabble but there's also a faceless monster out there! You're really gonna pull this right now?

Anyway, it's still a great episode with some nice progression, but is unfortunately held back by a few elements.

Top tier

[Joshumms · 10/10 · 29 March 2022]

Many revelations and things coming together, one of my favorite episodes so far. Hopper and Joyce coming together, Eleven and the gang having a big argument, and Nancy and Johnathan together looking for the Demogorgon are all very interesting.

Good

[kwaggaskieters-65157 · 9/10 · 14 September 2020]

I like it didint get to wach it but hope they let me wach it

The Vale of Shadows

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 11 November 2016]

'The Flea and the Acrobat' continues the "holy crap" series of suspense endings, but it wasn't my favorite aspect. As good as this is, there's no topping that cold open. Hopper charging into the lab and ending up going full-on paranoid ... I don't want to spoil much here, but Joyce finally finds out about Will's fake body - after having just buried it - and I really hope he doesn't actually turn up dead at the end of the season; this woman's been through enough.

The search for Will continues (as intensely as always) but I found myself more interested in Hopper and Joyce. Didn't expect that.

7/10

Funeral and Looking For The Force

[vivianla · 25 August 2020]

Hopper does a lot of insane work in this episode. The three boys and El try to figure out how to get to the "upside down".

Eleven lies on the couch and the back of her legs stick out as she is lying on her front. The boys talk about theories and things they learned from games.

I like Nancy's outfit - teal sweater, dark jeans and a red jacket. She pairs up with Will's brother to go kill the force.

During shooting practice Nancy tells Will's brother her parents never loved each other. Her mom married her dad because he has a stable job and a good family. She shoots the can with the gun.

Will's brother hurts Nancy when he is angry by saying that she is a suburban girl trying to act like other suburban girls and will grow up to marry a one-time jock. They will live in a nice home at the end of a cul-de-sac just like her parents and she is wondering why her parents are the way they are today.

Hopper goes to Will's mom's home to tell her she was right. The body was a fake and authorities hid a microphone in a lightbulb in his home.

The three boys use their compasses and magnetic field. They walk amongst the woods. Will and the black boy get into a fight. The black boy says that Will is easygoing with El because she is the first girl who doesn't see him as gross. El gets angry and uses her powers to knock back the black boy.

Nancy goes into a hole in the dark and sees the monster. She screams and Will's brother finds her bag.

It begins to unravel

[Jakeybennett-007 · 10/10 · 24 November 2022]

Score: 95%

Where the separate storylines begin to get more focused and the concept of the show is unravelled. This is a slower more mystery and exposition building episode but its needed to further explore plot in depth. Nancy and Jonathan's monster hunting brings the suspense and discoveries, while Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Eleven continue their adventure and Hopper's search for clues grows intense.

While not the best or most emotional episode of the season, ends on a suspenseful cliff hanger and applies more of the sci-fi horror. Another compelling episode and satisfying to see it start to come together.