Mind-bending Twist! Stranger Things Season 5's Epic Finale Hinges on Most Controversial Character

Summary

"The Lost Sister" episode of Stranger Things season 2 is divisive, but the hate towards Kali is misplaced; the real issue is the writing problem.

The episode appears disconnected from the rest of the season; however, it acts as a pivotal moment in Eleven's character development. Kali's teachings on facing pain are essential for Eleven and the other Stranger Things season 5 characters' survival.

The "The Lost Sister" episode of Stranger Things season 2 is widely known to be the most divisive, leading to Kali Prasad, also known as Eight, becoming one of the most disliked characters. However, the dislike towards Kali is somewhat misplaced as the real problem lies in the writing of the episode. Placed in the seventh slot of the slow-paced second season, the standalone episode follows Eleven as she encounters a group of outcasts led by Kali in the city. Despite the potential for an interesting storyline involving Eleven's long-lost sister, it feels disconnected from the rest of the season, particularly since the focus on the Hawkins lab kids isn't revisited until season 4. Nonetheless, the show's writers have hinted at a significant connection between season 2 and season 5, which suggests that Eleven's character arc and the overall series finale may depend on the controversial Kali.

Stranger Things Worst Episode Is Key To Eleven's Arc

In season 1, Eleven begins a straightforward journey, but as the Stranger Things timeline and narrative become more complex, the show explores themes of confronting one's past to find one's place and identity in the present. While the majority of the Hawkins crew embark on journeys of self-discovery, Eleven's story is the most straightforward and crucial. This trajectory begins in "The Lost Sister."

In season 2, Stranger Things struggles to match the success of season 1. The episode set in Chicago, episode 7, feels disconnected from the established story and characters that viewers care about. However, it does provide insight into the scale of the Hawkins lab project and showcases Eleven's life-changing encounters with Kali and her group. Kali attempts to make Eleven confront her past by conjuring a vision of Dr. Martin Brenner, the lead researcher at the Hawkins lab.

"Eleven, you have a grievous wound, a wound that is only getting worse," Kali declares as she uses her powers to speak through the conjured image of Brenner. "...and it will continue to worsen, spreading throughout you until it ultimately claims your life." Armed with her abilities and personal experiences, Kali is eager to demonstrate to El that avoiding her past is the root of the problem. "You must confront your pain," echoes throughout the episode, serving as a significant hint at the direction Stranger Things season 5 will take. The "wound" that poses a fatal threat to Eleven is not Vecna or any other super-powered being, but the painful memories left unresolved.

"I was once in your shoes. I held my anger within me, desperately trying to hide from it, but that only allowed the pain to fester," Kali confesses to El. "...It was only when I confronted my pain head-on that I began to heal." However, Kali presents Eleven with two potential outcomes for season 5: to live and fight against her sorrow or to avoid the pain and allow it to consume her. El's journey may be the most evident illustration of this dichotomy, but numerous other Stranger Things characters also face their own versions of this pivotal choice. In a nutshell, Kali's lesson in "The Lost Sister" holds the key to the survival of Eleven, as well as everyone else, in Stranger Things season 5.

Eleven Has The Power To Save (Or Destroy) Stranger Things

There is a multitude of intriguing Stranger Things season 5 theories regarding the party's triumph over Vecna, with Eleven at the center of many of them. In addition to Vecna and El, the sole remaining Hawkins Lab test subject is Kali, suggesting that Kali could play a pivotal role in the Eleven Vs. Vecna battle by joining forces with El. With her psychic ability to induce mental illusions, Eight possesses the necessary skills to defeat Stranger Things' formidable antagonist. However, Kali's significance to Eleven's ultimate fate and the destiny of Hawkins extends beyond her powers.

Stranger Things season 4 unequivocally establishes Eleven's immense power, surpassing even the standards set by Hawkins Lab. Consequently, El's willingness to follow Kali's counsel regarding confronting pain becomes even more crucial to the show's outcome. In season 2, Eleven channels her pain to fuel her abilities, while season 3 depicts her avoidance of her past and her true self, resulting in the loss of her powers. At the beginning of season 4, El allows this wound to fester, refusing to disclose it to anyone. Eventually, her pent-up pain manifests as anger, causing her to lash out at her classmates, who are truly awful.

After catching a glimpse of the dreaded monster she fears transforming into, Eleven makes the decision to venture out on her own and embark on a search for Brenner. In facing her past, she discovers that embracing the anger caused by her pain does not truly empower her. While Kali insists that El's friends cannot rescue her, Eleven realizes that she cannot simply choose happiness without addressing the sorrows of her past. El assures Kali that she is capable of saving her friends, a feat that has proven true so far. However, the Hawkins group did not succeed in defeating Vecna in season 4 solely because of Eleven's newfound healing journey.

Taking Kali's advice to heart, Eleven takes those initial challenging steps. However, she is not yet in the clear. Confronting her past and acknowledging her pain are vital to El's survival, but these actions also enable her to safeguard her friends, tap into her greatest abilities, and ultimately triumph over Vecna. Fully embracing her healing process will relieve Eleven of the burden of responsibility for the hardships endured in Hawkins, allowing her to gain confidence in herself. Kali's foundational guidance proves to be instrumental in saving Eleven and the other characters from Stranger Things.

Sources: Reddit