Stranger Things: In Defense of “The Lost Sister”

The first four episodes of Stranger Things‘ fifth and final season are dropping on Netflix this Thanksgiving. The promise of the long-awaited episodes has led many fans to rewatch the series. While those reactions are fun to see on social media, it also means old discourse is resurfacing. Fans are once again bashing the Season 2 episode “The Lost Sister,” so we’re here to defend it.

The second season of Stranger Things is arguably the weakest of the bunch, but it’s still a worthy entry to the show, and “The Lost Sister” is more important than people give it credit for. The episode sees Eleven/Jane (Millie Bobby Brown) going on an adventure to Chicago to meet her “sister” from Hawkins Lab, Kali (Linnea Berthelsen). People claim the episode is bad because it takes the story away from the main action happening in Hawkins. They argue it’s a “filler” episode that serves no real purpose. In truth, “The Lost Sister” is a huge part of Eleven’s character development.

When Eleven learns her caretaker, Jim Hopper (David Harbour), lied about her mother Terry (Aimee Mullins) being alive, Eleven sets out on a journey to find her. After discovering her “mama” is in a permanent state of catatonia, El uses her powers to communicate with her. Terry shows El memories of Hawkins Lab and encourages her to find Kali. El heads to Chicago and meets Kali and her gang of misfits.

Kali has special powers of her own. She can make people see whatever she wants, ranging from terrifying spiders and beautiful butterflies to massive roadblocks and people from your past. Kali and her friends have made it their mission to find and kill the people responsible for what happened to the kids at Hawkins Lab. She tells El she feels complete with her there, and wants El to use her remote viewing powers to find the “bad men” they’ve been looking for.

Becoming Jane

Kali and Eleven’s time together is anything but pointless. Kali teaches Eleven to hone her powers and helps her understand what she is capable of. She also helps her realize what kind of person she wants to be. When you have all the trauma and power El has, facing your dark side is healthier than burying it. Kali gives her the space to do that, and El comes out better for it. When Kali tells El to kill one of the men who hurt Terry, Eleven is unable to complete the job when she sees her potential victim has children. This encounter is a vital moment for Eleven. She could easily be a killer, especially since she’s killed before. However, she realizes that her path is not meant to be rooted in revenge.

A life with Kali is tempting. Eleven has finally connected to a piece of her past. For all intents and purposes, Kali is her family, but that doesn’t mean they’re meant to be together. When El learns that her friends in Hawkins are in trouble, she immediately wants to go protect them. She realizes she’s supposed to be with her found family. Sometimes it takes leaving home to fully understand that it’s where you belong.

In addition to learning about herself and her powers, El’s short-lived time in Chicago gives her insight into what life is like outside of a small town. She learns that there are different ways to think, dress, and talk. El having a greater understanding of the world is just as significant as understanding herself when she chooses to go home and embrace being Jane Hopper.

The “Filler” Curse

Television has changed in many ways due to the streaming era. People consume shows differently now than when the norm was getting 22 episodes a year. In the case of Stranger Things, it took nearly a decade to get through 42 episodes. That makes each episode feel precious and puts a lot of pressure on the creators. With only eight episodes per season, fans no longer want ones dedicated to a single character’s development. They feel that if an episode doesn’t progress the plot, time is being wasted. As a result, “filler” has become a dirty word.

Calling “The Lost Sister” a “filler episode” is technically correct because it veers from the main storyline. (This is not be be confused with a “bottle episode,” which typically takes place in one location and uses minimal resources to save on the budget.) However, “filler” did not originally mean “wasteful” or “pointless.” Episodes like “The Lost Sister” are meant to take viewers somewhere new. A standalone episode of television can do anything from develop a character to give insights into the fictional world at large. Sometimes they showcase good writing or new talents. Other times, they’re just fun. It’s a shame that so many shows are now forced to feel like long movies, because episodes like this are what make television unique.

It’s also worth noting that calling “The Lost Sister” a waste of time is inaccurate since it’s literally an extra episode. The first and third seasons of Stranger Things both had eight episodes, but the second season had nine. “The Lost Sister” is a gift. It sent our main character on a personal voyage of self-discovery while taking no time from the typical runtime. In a show about kids who love DND, a side quest episode should be praised.

Will Kali Return in Season 5?

Some fans feel that if Kali doesn’t show up in Season 5, it proves “The Lost Sister” was for nothing. While we believe the episode will remain important whether or not she returns, it would be cool to see her again. The folks in Hawkins could use all of the help they can get against Venca (Jamie Campbell Bower), and Kali’s powers could do some serious damage. It would also be nice to see El have a relationship with people from her past, even if she’s not meant to be with them all the time.

Ultimately, Berthelsen gave a great performance as Kali, so her return would be welcome. Either way, it’s exciting to know Stranger Things is almost back on our screens. Volume 1 of Season 5 drops on Netflix November 26th at 5 PM PT, Volume 2 releases on December 25th at 5 PM PT, and The Finale drops on December 31st at 5 PM PT.

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