Who is Kali AKA Eight in Stranger Things season 5?

by

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 episode 4.

After a three-year wait, the fifth season of Stranger Things has arrived, and episode 4 delivered a surprising and unexpected return.

The last season of the popular Netflix show revisits familiar characters like Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). It begins with a jump forward in time, revealing that Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has been secretly planning his return for months.

While Eleven and her adoptive dad, Jim Hopper, are hunting for Vecna in the Upside Down, they unexpectedly encounter a face from the past.

Who is Kali AKA Eight in Stranger Things season 5?

Kali, also known as Eight, is one of the children who was experimented on at Hawkins Lab, and she shares a sisterly bond with Eleven. Like Eleven, she has psychic powers, but she never developed the ability to move things with her mind. After escaping the lab, she’s been focused on getting revenge on those who hurt her.

When they were young, Eleven and Kali often played together in the Rainbow Room at Hawkins Lab. Eventually, Kali managed to escape using her abilities. During the fight where Eleven sent One—also known as Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower)—to the Upside Down, Eleven also lost her memories of Kali.

Eventually, Eleven discovered Kali and located her, only to find Kali leading a group that took revenge on people who had hurt them previously. Kali was overjoyed to see Eleven, feeling like her family was finally complete now that her sister had found her.

While tracking down Ray Carroll – a Hawkins Lab employee who had harmed both Kali and Eleven – the two had a falling out. Eleven refused to let Kali kill him after seeing a picture of Ray with his family.

Even though Kali urged Eleven to remain with her, Eleven left to reunite with her friends. Kali was heartbroken by her sister’s decision, and it seemed unlikely they would ever cross paths again.

Season 5 shows that Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton) has been secretly keeping Kali captive in the Upside Down. She’s been experimenting on Kali, apparently trying to steal her powers and use them to weaken Eleven.

They meet again in the fourth episode of season five, and hopefully, they’ll escape together.

Ross Duffer explained to Deadline that they’ve always hoped to bring Kali back, praising Linnea Elsing as a fantastic actress. They regularly discuss the possibility of giving her another significant role, revisiting the idea each season.

We didn’t want to simply include her for the sake of it. Our goal was for her return to genuinely affect the story and Eleven’s development. As we approached the final season, it didn’t feel right to leave her out.

The writer has assured fans that Kali’s story will connect smoothly with the upcoming episodes. They explained, “You’ll understand how she fits into the larger story and Eleven’s path as the season progresses, and she’ll become a key character going forward.”

Who plays Kali AKA Eight in Stranger Things season 5?

Kali is played by actress Linnea Berthelsen.

Besides her role on Stranger Things, Berthelsen has been in several short films and TV shows, such as Teenland, What Tyler Did, and Devs.

In a 2017 interview with Coveteur, Shannon Purser, who played Kali, described the emotional scene where Kali watched Eleven leave, heartbroken as she looked out the car window.

She explained that the situation was fascinating because everyone reacted to it differently. It was a difficult experience for Kali, as she was feeling something completely new and hadn’t faced this kind of challenge before.

I think she’s probably just lost and disoriented. I don’t want to explain what happened during that moment, though, because it’s important that everyone is allowed to understand it in their own way.

Who could have predicted she’d be back for one last adventure?

Read More

2025-11-27 19:06