"Didn’t feel like we could end the story": Duffer Brothers explain Kali's return at the end of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 

After a long wait, Stranger Things Season 5 finally arrived. The first volume dropped on Netflix on November 26, 2025.

For longtime fans, the return of Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) was a big surprise. She was last seen in Season 2. Her return is a major turning point. It connects to Eleven’s past and unresolved threads of lab experiments.

Now, the Duffer Brothers have explained in interviews why they brought her back after all this time.

Duffer Brothers on Kali’s return in Stranger Things Season 5

Speaking with Deadline, Ross Duffer said:

“We didn’t feel like we could end the story of Stranger Things without bringing her back into the fold. And I think as you get into the second volume, you really see how she fits into the narrative and Eleven’s journey. She plays a really important role moving forward, and Linnea’s awesome, so it’s definitely a big swing for this season, but one we’re excited about.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Matt Duffer said bringing back Kali was not just for fans. It was a way to close a “loose end” that had stayed since Season 2.

“We've talked about bringing her back before, but there was not a narrative or thematic reason to bring her back. She'd served her purpose in season 2, but it still felt like this loose end where Eleven just left her there. What happened to her?”

The creators said Kali’s return is linked to Eleven’s journey. It lets them explore the lab experiments’ effects. It also shows the impact on Eleven’s “found family” and the bigger stakes for Season 5’s showdown. They said her return “was planned early in the writing process.” This was a deliberate part of the story, not a last-minute idea.

Kali’s return in Stranger Things Season 5: What actually happens (so far)

In Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5, the first four episodes air. Viewers see Kali again in a dramatic way. She is called “Eight” in the credits and appears in Episode 4, titled Sorcerer.

In this episode, Eleven and her friends storm a secret military lab run by Dr. Kay. They expect to find Vecna, the old villain. Instead, they find Kali locked up.

This is a big emotional shock. Kali was in the same experiment group as Eleven. She has been secretly detained. This shows that dark experiments are still happening. The reveal reminds viewers that Hawkins, the lab, and the Upside Down are not finished yet.

When Kali returns, her loyalties are unclear. In Stranger Things Season 2, she rejected Eleven and chose revenge. This raises big questions. Is she a friend or an enemy? Has she been manipulated, broken, or changed? Being imprisoned shows she might not be able to help Eleven at first.

By the end of Stranger Things Volume 1, nothing is settled. Kali’s story is left unresolved. This sets up suspense for Volume 2 and the finale. Her return ends on a cliffhanger. This was the Duffers’ plan to keep the stakes high.

Why Kali’s return in Stranger Things matters

Kali’s return is more than a surprise. It matters for several reasons.

Closure on an old story. Kali first appeared in Stranger Things Season 2. She was Eleven’s psychic “sister” and a test subject from the lab. Her story ended after one episode. Fans felt it was abandoned, a loose end. Bringing her back shows the Duffers remembered. They want the final season to finish all storylines. They said they didn’t want to drop a storyline.

Emotional complexity for Eleven. Kali’s return makes Eleven face her dark past. She must remember the lab experiments and betrayals. She wonders about the person she could have been. It’s not just fighting monsters now. It’s about identity, trauma, redemption, and maybe reconciliation. This gives emotional depth to the finale.

Strategic importance in the final fight. Kali has illusion-based powers. She was one of the original “numbered” lab children. She could be a strong ally or a dangerous wild card. Her knowledge of the lab, experiments, and psychic abilities could be key. She might help fight the Upside Down, a villain, or another threat.

Story stakes and suspense. Ending Volume 1 with Kali locked up keeps fans on edge. Many questions remain. Will she join Eleven? Will she turn against them? Was she manipulated? Is she a threat? This cliffhanger keeps tension high. It makes the rest of Season 5 feel important.

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Because of her past with Eleven, Kali might understand the bigger threat. She could choose to help. Her powers could be key in fighting supernatural enemies or tricking them.

As Volume 2 and the finale near, fans are excited. Kali’s fate is unknown. How she connects to Eleven and Hawkins could shape Stranger Things’ legacy.

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