The following contains spoilers from Stranger Things Season 4, Episode 6, "The Dive," streaming now on Netflix.
Earlier installments of the Netflix hit Stranger Things featured an excellent blend of warmth, horror and compelling mystery. While fan-favorite character Eleven was sweet, charming and undeniably powerful, the mysterious girl’s origins were largely unknown, and fans wanted answers. Unfortunately, these answers came in the form of a Season 2 installment that left much to be desired, and at first glance, Stranger Things’ latest season seemed to be avoiding these mistakes.
Entitled “The Lost Sister,” the episode sees Eleven take a road trip, discover her roots and reunite with an important figure from her past. While its premise seems like a recipe for success, the episode is far from a fan favorite and might be the most divisive installment to date. As horror and suspense build in Hawkins, Eleven meets her mother, travels to Chicago and pals around with loveable troublemakers Axel, Funshine and Kali -- also known as Eight.
An early childhood friend of Eleven’s and a former test subject at Hawkins Laboratory, Kali forms an instantaneous bond with El, dubbing her a “soul sister.” While the episode is entertaining and serves to bridge several gaps in Eleven’s history, fans felt that it was a major departure from what made Stranger Things so successful. Taking place in an unfamiliar setting with an entirely new cast of characters, the episode’s odd placement only alienated it further from the bulk of the season.
Despite her lukewarm reception, fans did wonder what became of Kali, especially after the beginning of Season 4, which seemed to avoid all mention of her. Diving headfirst into the horror genre, the opening of Stranger Things’ penultimate season sees a much younger Eleven massacre both her captors and fellow test subjects for initially unknown reasons. While the terrible fate of an asset called Ten unfolds before viewers, Kali -- and her loving bond with Eleven -- is seemingly erased.
It is initially unclear to viewers when, how or even whether or not Kali escaped her “sister’s” wrath. And assuming she did, it remains unclear why this horrific event wasn’t mentioned upon their reunion. Fans point out, however, that Kali found her freedom long before El’s massacre took place. While this is never stated outright, it is alluded to.
In the infamous episode featuring her first appearance, Kali says that she entered the rainbow room one day to find that Eleven was gone. She later reveals that her own grand escape occurred after that once her powers became strong enough. The reason for El’s disappearance is never made clear, but fans have long speculated that El was moved after her birth mother, Terry Ives, attempted to rescue her.
After having been seemingly dropped for a full season, Kali is finally mentioned in Season 4’s sixth episode. Eleven is taken through several early childhood memories as the sinister Dr. Brenner attempts to bring her powers back. An attendant who seems to favor Eleven mentions Terry’s rescue attempt, which occurred "when Eight was still here," calling the viewer back to an image of a younger El and Kali innocently playing together in a rainbow-splattered room.
While it initially seemed as though Stranger Things was avoiding its largest black mark and damaging continuity as a result, there does seem to be a reasonable, sound and cut-and-dry explanation for Kali’s absence during Season 4’s horrific opening. While the show avoids delving too deeply into the relationship, perhaps out of fear that it will not be well-received, these minor details help to paint a more complete picture of Eleven’s complicated past.
Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 is now available to stream on Netflix.
