What That “Lost” Character’s Return Means For Stranger Things Season 5

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1!

Now that Stranger Things is ending with season 5, fans are curious about which characters will make an appearance. While the confirmed list of returning characters is already quite long, some haven’t been seen for a while. The show has a history of bringing back characters we thought were gone for good – like Dr. Brenner in season 4 – so anything is possible.

Many fans were hoping to see Eddie return in the first part of season 5, but that won’t happen. Though it’s still possible Joseph Quinn’s character could appear in a flashback or vision later in the season, the ending of Volume 1 will instead focus on the return of another character: Linnea Berthelsen as Eight.

Stranger Things Season 5 Confirms Kali’s Return

After a long absence, Kali unexpectedly reappears in Stranger Things. While exploring the Upside Down with Hopper, Eleven starts to suspect the military is secretly keeping Vecna locked away in a special laboratory. Noticing the soldiers have weapons that can neutralize Eleven’s powers, she believes they’ve found a way to counter her abilities. To uncover the source of this weakness, Eleven and Hopper decide to infiltrate the lab and investigate what’s hidden inside the vault – and they’re shocked to discover it’s Eleven’s “sister,” Kali.

Hopper braced himself for a dangerous confrontation when he tried to enter the vault, even willing to risk his own life to stop Vecna. But instead of a battle, he found Kali, restrained and connected to medical equipment, looking like one of Dr. Brenner’s childhood test subjects. Her shaved head made it clear she hadn’t fully escaped her history as Eight.

Why Dr. Kay & The Military Would Want Kali

In the first part of Stranger Things season 5, Dr. Kay, played by Linda Hamilton, repeatedly shows she’s focused on locating Eleven. Now, fans are wondering why she wants Eleven and how Kali fits into her plans. Because Eleven and Kali have different abilities, the military might be using something from Kali to create a weakness for Eleven. Alternatively, Dr. Kay could need both Kali and Eleven to achieve a larger goal.

Dr. Brenner’s Indigo project aimed to replicate the abilities of One. With Kali and Eleven being the only known survivors of the experiments, the military might try to use them to match One’s powers – who is also known as Henry Creel or Vecna. However, Dr. Kay could have other, more sinister plans for Eleven and Kali that haven’t been revealed yet.

Okay, so Eleven’s reunion with her… well, “sister,” Kali, could be a real turning point. Kali actually seems happy to see El, and I’m hoping Eleven can finally get through to her about working together to take down Vecna. They clearly clashed when they were in Chicago, because they had very different ideas about how to move forward. Maybe, just maybe, El can convince Kali that their shared past doesn’t have to define them – that they can escape the shadow of Hawkins Lab and leave the revenge behind. But honestly, all of this hinges on whether they can actually beat Vecna first.

Why Kali’s Return Will Be Controversial For Stranger Things Season 5

Ever since Kali first appeared in season 2, fans have wondered if she might return to the show. It seemed likely the storyline would be revisited, but the episode featuring her, “The Lost Sister,” wasn’t well-received. In fact, it’s currently the lowest-rated episode of Stranger Things on IMDb, scoring only a 6.0 out of 10, which led many to believe the show wouldn’t bring the character back.

Honestly, I think a lot of the frustration with “The Lost Sister” episode comes down to timing. We were on the edge of our seats with Will and the Mind Flayer, and seeing the Demodogs breach Hawkins Lab – it felt like everything was building to a huge climax! Then, suddenly, the story shifted to Eleven finding Kali and it felt… disconnected. It just didn’t flow, and a lot of us felt like it pulled away from the main story at a really crucial moment. Sadly, because of that, Kali herself has gotten a lot of the blame, which I think is unfair – it’s more about when the episode happened than the characters themselves.

Given the mixed reactions to her previous appearance, many viewers may not be thrilled to see Kali return to the show. With only four episodes remaining this season, her role will be small, but it arrives at a crucial moment. The question now is whether Stranger Things can make Kali’s return worthwhile and redeem the character after her introduction in season two.

The first part of Stranger Things season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. The second part comes out on December 25th, and the very last episode will be available on December 31st.

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2025-11-27 04:31