'Stranger Things' Fans Are Convinced This Major Character Is Secretly A Villain
- - 'Stranger Things' Fans Are Convinced This Major Character Is Secretly A Villain
Liz DeclanDecember 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
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There's just one episode left of Stranger Things, and some fans are convinced that a major villain plot twist is coming. In fact, one theory suggests that a key (and shocking) villain may be hiding in plain sight.
SPOILER—This post includes spoilers from Stranger Things Season 5Volume 2.
Heading into the Stranger Things finale, all signs seem to point to Vecna/Henry Creel being the series 'big bad.' The show's heroes have all united to go on one last mission to take him down in the penultimate episode, and his plan to kidnap 12 children and use them to merge Hawkins and the Abyss has been the focal point of season 5 thus far.
Yet, the return of Kali, also known as 008/Eight, has some wondering if there may be more to the final showdown than this setup would have viewers believe. Kali was introduced in season 2 as another one of Dr. Brenner's 'numbers'—the children he experimented on. Like Eleven, Kali managed to escape Hawkins Lab.
Unlike Eleven, though, Kali didn't exactly find family and learn about love and safety. She found a group of friends who became a type of found family for her, but it's also clear she was (rightfully) angry and bent on revenge. She even encouraged El to kill someone involved in what happened to them in season 2.
Now, she's back, and although she has seemingly aligned herself with El and the rest of the group to take down Vecna, some fans believe she's up to no good. Narratively, there are a few signs that these hunches might be right.
STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. Linnea Berthelsen as Kali in Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025
For one, Jim Hopper doesn't trust Kali at all. He actually says he won't hesitate to kill her if she makes one wrong move. Hopper has been protective of El throughout the show, so that doesn't necessarily spell trouble. However, Kali's words to El in season 5, episode 7, might.
With Dr. Kay trying to recreate Dr. Brenner's program and bring about a new generation of superhuman kids, Kali tells Eleven that their only option is to end their own lives. It's possible that Kali truly believes this is the right thing to do, but it could be a sign that she's actually working against El.
Two main theories have developed from this. The first and slightly less likely is that Kali either is the Mind Flayer or is being controlled by it. This would explain why the Mind Flayer hasn't been mentioned all season (which is odd) and is something viewers have seen before, such as with Billy in season 3.
The more plausible theory is that Kali is working with Henry/Vecna in some capacity. For one, Henry would certainly benefit from El sacrificing herself, but it's also been odd that Kali consistently calls Henry their "brother."
Yes, Kali and Eleven refer to each other as sisters, but they share a bond. By contrast, El has never once called Henry "brother," even with him being 001. Kali's use of the word, which has something almost affectionate about it, has some theorizing that the two could be in cahoots.
Perhaps Kali is just a traumatized kid, the same as Eleven, and she really believes that the only way to end this cycle is for her and Eleven to sacrifice themselves. Or, perhaps fans are right, and Kali will reveal herself to be the ultimate traitor in the upcoming Stranger Things finale.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
