Stranger Things 5: What Does 'Shock Jock' Mean?

Ranking commencing in three...two...

We have officially entered volume two predictions! Shock Jock is the first episode of the second volume, and I am very curious to see what this episode entails. Obviously we expect Sorcerer to be a huge, finale-esc episode, so what is going to happen after that? Stranger Things loves to have huge events in its mid-season finales, so Shock Jock is going to deal with the aftermath of whatever happens at the end of volume one. So here are my predictions for one that aftermath may look like.

5. A Secret Name for a Death That Takes Place

Maybe volume two starts off with a "shock"

I highly doubt this is what the term "shock jock" actually means within the context of the show, but who knows? Maybe the Duffers made a really clever and secret hint at something terrible, like The Rains of Castamere hints at the Red Wedding. Maybe Will is a goner. Maybe we lose Mike or Steve. Hopefully not, but I do not feel like anyone is safe at this point. Honestly, I expect that we will have a major death in volume one, so we probably will already be dealing with losses. Maybe the shock jock is the second major death. We shall see.

4. The Destruction of the WSQK Radio Station

Vecna will probably be back at full strength by this episode

We know that the WSQK radio station will play a major role in this season. We don't know exactly how it will shake out, but I expect that it does not make it through the entire season. With all the destruction going on throughout the marketing, it does not seem like the radio station is long for this world. So maybe, in a way, Vecna is the shock jock and he ends up destroying the radio station, giving the party no place to hide. That could really up the stakes as we enter the final few episodes of this show.

3. A Major Event that Takes Place at the Radio Station

The team could rally in light of Vecna's return

If the WSQK radio station is going to be this big of a location, I expect there will be some major events that happen here. If Vecna has returned at this point, maybe he shows up to the station and wreaks some havoc but does not destroy it. I don't really know, to be honest. This is probably the toughest episode to predict or theorize about, because Shock Jock is just such an obscure title. But we will see in a little over a month!

2. A Plan Laid Out at the WSQK Radio Station

We know that there's going to be something like this based on the trailer

Like I said, Vecna will most likely be back at this point in the season. There's almost no way we go through all of volume one without witnessing his full return. This could thrust the party into crisis mode and "shock jock" could be the name of some master plan they have to take down Vecna. The first trailer for season five had Mike in a voiceover saying "Burn commencing in..." and then counting down. That could be in this episode. Maybe the "burn" they are referring to is a phase of this shock jock plan. Who knows? I will probably look ridiculous when this episode comes out, but it's fun to theorize.

1. Steve's Codename for the Season

Everyone's favorite babysitter is featured heavily in the WSQK van in marketing

Okay, okay. If Steve is going to die, this might be the episode. We have seen him in this van or in some vehicle that has the WSQK logo or a satellite attached so much in the marketing that it makes me think he is the titular shock jock. And if he is, that might not be a great sign for his survival. If he is this "shock jock", this episode could be named after him to honor his swan song. Look, obviously I have no idea, but I do think that this is a legitimately possible outcome. So I'm nervous, but if they find a way to kill off Steve that feels cathartic and true, then this will be a really emotional and powerful final few episodes.