Stranger Things Season 5: Kali’s Return Shakes Up Eleven’s World
The Duffer brothers open up about Kali’s comeback in Stranger Things season 5 Volume 1, hinting at a dramatic shift in the story and a long-awaited resolution to her character arc.
Fans were left reeling after the unexpected reappearance of Kali, known as Eleven ’s “sister,” in the first part of Stranger Things season 5. According to the Duffer brothers, this is just the start of a new chapter for her character. Matt Duffer shared in a recent interview with SFX magazine,
“It will be a very different dynamic going into the second volume. Kali shifts things a lot for Eleven, and I think it'll be surprising for people to see how she ultimately fits into the story. We're excited about that, because it immediately changes the tone. And obviously, the way things ended with Hopper leaves a lot of tension between them.”
Revisiting Kali’s Origins
Kali first appeared in a unique “bottle” episode, focusing solely on her and Eleven’s journey. During that episode, Eleven ventured out on her own, met Kali and her group, and discovered that she wasn’t the only one with extraordinary abilities. Like Eleven, Kali was subjected to experiments at Hawkins Lab and bears the number eight tattooed on her wrist. Her powers rival, and possibly surpass, those of Eleven.
Matt Duffer explained,
“Bringing back Kali was something we had always been talking about for a long time, but we had just never quite figured out how to do it. We were working on season five, and we were talking about making sure every storyline was finished. It was always nagging at us that the Kali storyline was hanging. So it was important to revisit it and complete her arc.”
Completing Unfinished Stories
Director Shawn Levy acknowledged that the original episode featuring Kali sparked mixed reactions, but he emphasized the importance of her return. Many fans speculated that after Eleven’s defeat by Vecna in season 4, Kali’s help would be crucial. Levy reflected,
“It was a risky bet to try a standalone episode with largely new characters in the middle of our second season. It worked for some viewers. It didn't work for others, but I respect the hell out of the Duffers for taking that big swing. But we never forgot about Kali. We never forgot about the plot strands that got established.”
With the first volume of season 5 now streaming, anticipation is building for the next installment, set to drop on Christmas Day. The return of Kali not only brings closure to her storyline but also promises to shift the entire dynamic as the series heads toward its conclusion.