In Season 2, Stranger Things introduced a new, powerful character meant to shed light on Eleven’s past. Besides Eleven and Henry Creel, Kali Prasad is the only surviving test subject of Hawkins National Laboratory, where she was deemed Eight by Dr. Martin Brenner. The character was featured in Season 2, Episode 7, “The Lost Sister,” which is known as one of the most controversial and hated episodes of the series for several reasons.

Critics and fans didn’t respond well to the episode because of its untimely placement in the season. While important to Eleven’s story, it interrupted the flow of the main storyline and took place right after the major cliffhanger that saw demogorgons invade Hawkins Lab with Joyce, Bob, Hopper, Mike, and Will trapped inside. Stranger Things scaled back on the intensity with a slow-burning episode solely led by Eleven as she meets Kali. After that episode, Kali was never seen again until the latest episode, Season 5, Episode 4, “Sorcerer.”

What Happened to Kali on Stranger Things?

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Early in Season 2, Eleven went on a road trip by herself to meet her mother, Terry Ives. At the home of Terry’s sister, Eleven found that Terry was in a state of severe catatonia. Eleven was mentally connected to her mother, who showed Eleven an image of Kali. Eleven took this as Terry encouraging Eleven to find Kali and reunite as a family.

Eleven eventually found Kali in Chicago, leading a group of criminal friends who would take revenge against the people who wronged them in the past. For Kali, this meant killing the scientists from Hawkins Lab. Kali was able to achieve all this without getting into too much trouble by using her perception manipulation powers, which allowed her to show people illusions. This is what helped her escape Hawkins Lab before Henry massacred all the test subjects except for Eleven.

Kali took in Eleven like she was her actual sister and guided her as Eleven struggled with her identity. Against what Hopper wanted for Eleven, Kali encouraged Eleven to break out of hiding and be proud of who she is, while also pursuing those who hurt her. Initially, Eleven was on board with this idea until it was put into action. The pair broke into the house of a former Hawkins Lab scientist with the intention of killing him. However, Eleven stopped Kali from doing so when she learned he had children.

Despite their disagreement over how to handle their past trauma, Kali and Eleven still cared for one another. When Eleven left to return to Hawkins and save her friends, both girls were distraught. Kali was never seen or heard of again, although Henry did mention her to Eleven in her memories in Season 4. Kali eventually returned in Season 5 as part of Vol. 1’s cliffhanger ending when it’s revealed she’s the powerful being Dr. Kay has been hiding in their Upside Down base all this time.

Kali Can Help Bring Down Vecna

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The Duffer Brothers made good on their promise that every storyline would be wrapped up this season. One of the biggest criticisms of Season 2 is that Kali dropped off the face of the Earth, and Eleven seemingly never cared to mention or find her ever again, along with her mother. As important as Kali was to Eleven’s growth in the second season, the series has to be careful with how much it uses her in Season 5.

Kali’s illusion powers are a special resource to help take down Vecna. She can show him his worst nightmare, trapping him in his scariest memories — likely the one in the cave that he refuses to enter. But making her an instrumental asset to his defeat runs the risk of backlogging other characters’ screentime. Kali has technically only been in one full episode of the series, and as supersized as the last four episodes are, there isn’t enough time to fully bring her into the fold without pushing other characters to the sidelines.

Bringing Kali back was a smart choice by the Duffer Brothers. Instead of just letting such an oddly placed storyline end prematurely, they’re bringing her back in the final season to prove that Eleven meeting her wasn’t worthless. But the show is also walking on very thin ice with so many characters already crammed into the season. In the end, maybe a small part in the fight against Vecna, ultimately sacrificing herself for Eleven, might be the best way to go for such a minor character.

Stranger Things Season 5, Vol. 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Vol. 2 premieres December 25, and the series finale premieres December 31.