‘Stranger Things’ Brings Back Maligned Season 2 Character; Here’s How Fans Are Reacting

Season 5 of Stranger Things is off to a bang, and among the big surprises for the season already is the fact that 008 (also known as Kali) from the much-maligned season 2 episode The Lost Sister (still sits as the worst reviewed episode all these years later). Her big return has been a bit of a shock. Let’s break down the return, why it’s happened, and how early fans’ reactions have been coming in. 

Warning: The following section contains spoilers. Proceed with caution!

While we won’t delve too deeply into the plot (we’ve got an ending explained and a preview for volume 2 in due course), if you got to the end of volume 1, there are some explosive twists that very few could’ve predicted. We won’t delve into all of them, but one particularly huge reveal is that 008 was captured sometime between the events of that season 2 episode and now. She’s being held captive by the military, which has taken root across Hawkins. We get a small flashback to when Eleven was a young child putting her arm against Kali’s, and a flashback to that season 2 episode.

What happens next is anyone’s guess; the series then cuts to Will, who rounds out that final episode, but we think it’s safe to say we’ve not seen the last of 008 yet.

Of course, there were some hints that 008 could be returning. Linnea Berthelsen attended the Los Angeles premiere of season 5, though she was notably tight-lipped about any involvement in the final season. Her attendance was muddied by the fact that numerous other actors from prior seasons who would not go on to feature in season 5 also attended.

Speaking about the return of the character to Variety, the Duffer Brothers said, “We want when someone watches through the entire show, it doesn’t feel like we dropped a storyline or a thread. That it all connects. You see how everything fits together. And that was definitely a loose plot strand.”

Ross explained that bringing her back gives a chance of redemption for the actress who wasn’t able to show what she was capable of, saying, “As we were breaking the season, we realized that bringing her back really helped us with the Eleven storyline and how we wanted to wrap her story up. So there was a real reason to do it beyond just not to leave this dangling plot thread.”

Matt Duffer said the original episode was partly their fault because they had to meet a deadline very quickly back in season 2, which made it feel unfinished, and that it’s a perfect redemption arc.

Ross further teased that Kali will play a big role in volume 2, saying, “As you get into the second volume, you really see how she fits into the narrative and Eleven’s journey, and she plays a really important role moving forward. Linnea’s awesome, so it’s definitely a big swing for this season, but one we’re excited about.”

Picture: Netflix

Why has Kali been captured? From that discovery sequence, it’s clear Kay and her team have figured out a way to siphon Kali’s abilities and convert them into the satellite tech designed to suppress Eleven’s power. Strapped into the machinery with her head shaved, Kali opens her eyes and locks in on Eleven, the two of them reconnecting without a single word.

So how are fans responding? I’ve got to admit, when I first heard about Kali returning several weeks back (and murmurs long before then), I was shocked (and struggled to keep it a secret!). However, as the Duffers have said numerous times throughout the press tour, they don’t want any stone left unturned or any character to feel like they’ve been dealt a bad set of cards.

One Stranger Things fan account, The Starcourt Foodcourt, was glad the Duffer Brothers reintroduced her, writing, “Respect to the Duffers for taking the known blunder in the show in S2 and going for it, trying to right the wrong. They are full sending, taking big swings.”

One fan said, “I’m sorry, but is anyone going to talk about the fact that fucking KALI AKA 008 IS BACK?!?! CAUSE I CALLED THAT SHIT! I KNEW IT!! LIKE OH MY GOD,” and another added, “Kali being back was the best part of this episode.”

One fan predicted that Vecna is now f***ed, writing, “I don’t think you guys understand how INSANE their powers are combined, el with her usual powers but stronger than ever, kali being able to control minds and will being connected with vecna, giving him the same powers he has, being able to control them from distance.”

What did you think of Kalis’ big return in season 5? Let us know in the comments.