Eleven in Stranger Things season 5 episode 4Image via Netflix
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Published 52 minutes ago
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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1!
With Stranger Things season 5 marking the final installment of the Netflix show, there were bound to be some surprises regarding character appearances. Even though Stranger Things season 5's confirmed character list is big, there have been a few characters that haven't been seen in a while. The show has also been known to bring back characters thought to be dead, like the case with Dr. Brenner in season 4.
While there was a lot of hope that Eddie would make his grand return in season 5, that's not the case, at least not in Volume 1. Maybe Joseph Quinn's character will appear through a flashback or vision sequence before the show concludes. For now, the focus will be on another returning figure in Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1's ending: Linnea Berthelsen's Eight.
Stranger Things Season 5 Confirms Kali's Return
Kali in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
After eight years, Kali officially makes her return to Stranger Things in a shocking scene. While traveling through the Upside Down with Hopper, Eleven becomes convinced that the military is holding Vecna in their special lab. Seeing as Akers and the soldiers have weapons that can stop El in her tracks, blocking her powers, she believes that they have some kind of kryptonite. To find the source of the kryptonite, El and Hopper must break into the lab and find out what's being kept in the vault. It just so happens to be El's "sister," Kali.
When Hopper attempts to get into the vault, he expects the worst and is even prepared to sacrifice himself if it means taking out Vecna, too. Instead, he finds Kali, who is restrained and hooked up to machines and IVs, as if she were Dr. Brenner's test subjects as a kid again. In fact, her head is shaved, so it seems she wasn't able to escape her past as Eight.
Why Dr. Kay & The Military Would Want Kali
Eleven finding Kali in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
Throughout Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, Linda Hamilton's Dr. Kay makes it clear that her priority is finding Eleven. It's now a question of what she wants with Eleven and how Kali factors into the equation. El and Kali have different powers, so the military could be using something within Kali to form Eleven's "kryptonite." It's also possible that Dr. Kay needs both Kali and El to carry out a bigger plan.
Dr. Brenner used the Indigo project in an attempt to recreate One's powers. Considering Kali and Eleven are the only other surviving test subjects left, it would be up to them to give the military a chance at matching the powers of One, aka Henry Creel/Vecna. That's only one possibility, since Dr. Kay could have more nefarious reasons for needing Eleven and Kali that are yet to be revealed.
On the other hand, Eleven might be able to convince her "sister" that they need to team up to defeat Vecna once and for all, especially since Kali looks relieved to see El. While working together in Chicago, the former test subjects didn't see eye to eye based on their different paths. Perhaps El can finally convince Kali that their past didn't fully destroy hope for a future not tied to Hawkins Lab or seeking revenge. However, that all depends on whether Vecna is defeated.
Why Kali's Return Will Be Controversial For Stranger Things Season 5
Eleven uses her powers with Kali Stranger Things season 2
Kali's potential return has been discussed since her debut in season 2. At the time, it felt like Stranger Things would circle back to that subplot at some point down the line. That said, due to the negative reception surrounding Kali's episode, it would have made sense for the show to abandon any plans for the character. To this day, Stranger Things' "The Lost Sister" episode from season 2 remains the lowest-rated episode of the series, with a 6.0/10 score on IMDb.
The criticism surrounding "The Lost Sister" stems from the deviation from the main story, since Eleven leaves Hawkins to seek out a fellow test subject. The episode prior reveals that the Demodogs are breaking into Hawkins Lab, with Will under the Mind Flayer's control. Going from that to what can be considered a filler episode centered on new characters didn't go over too well with a large portion of the audience. Unfortunately, the poor reception has also been aimed at Kali as a character.
With her controversial history, those who disliked "The Lost Sister" probably won't be too excited to welcome Kali back to the show. The show only has four episodes left, so even though Kali is back, her presence will be limited, albeit coming when the stakes couldn't be higher. It's now a matter of whether Stranger Things can justify Kali's return and potentially repair the perception surrounding the character in a way that pays off her season 2 debut.
Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 is now available on Netflix. Volume 2 will be released on December 25, followed by the series finale on December 31.
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