Just because Stranger Things is coming to an end doesn’t mean season 5 didn’t find a way to expand — and recast — with some new characters.
Stranger Things, which premiered in 2016, is set to conclude with its fifth and final season. While the stakes have never been higher as the group prepares for one final battle with Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the first part of the final season took time to reintroduce Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy’s (Natalia Dyer) sister, Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) surrogate sibling and more.
“Fans should feel like what they’re doing is holding onto their chairs going, ‘No, no, no.’ That’s how I want them to feel, particularly with what I’m up to,” Bower told Deadline on Wednesday, November 26, about the vision for the finale. “I think Volume 1 is, it’s funny, because it’s like, I want to call it a setup, but it is an explosive setup to what continues to happen in Volume 2 and subsequently [the finale].”
Executive producer Shawn Levy weighed in on the role that everyone will play ahead of the finale.
See the ‘Stranger Things’ Cast From Season 1 to Now
“Having watched the finale episode recently, it’s one of the best finale episodes of any show that I’ve ever seen,” Levy teased to Deadline. “And I am so knocked out by the mastery that the Duffers show in the finale episode. I can’t wait for the world to see it. I can’t wait for them to see it on the biggest, loudest screen possible, because that’s what it deserves.”
Keep scrolling to meet every newcomer from season 5 of Stranger Things:
Dr. Kay
Linda Hamilton‘s character works for the military and is determined to track down Eleven. It isn’t clear what Dr. Kay’s plan was — outside of researching the Upside Down — even when she finally caught Eleven. Dr. Kay seemed friendly to Eleven before turning the tables on her and Hopper (David Harbour).
“I’ve watched every season with relish. I just love it,” Hamilton exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2024. “So it’s kind of, like, imposter syndrome where I don’t [feel that I] fit in there. That’s a whole world set in the ’80s.”
Hamilton added: “When you really buy into something, you don’t see yourself in it. So I think in a way, it kind of ruined the show for me. I never watch [a project], once I’m in something. It would just completely take me out of the reality of it to see myself in there. So I won’t be watching [season 5].”
Derek Turnbow
Season 5 introduced Jake Connelly as Derek a.k.a “Dips*** Derek,” who started part 1 as a bully in Holly’s grade but ultimately turns into an unlikely hero. His belief in all things Vecna allowed him to play a huge role in rescuing other kids at risk of being kidnapped by the villain.
Tina Turnbow
Speaking of the Turnbow family, Tina has been mentioned in season 3 when Erica (Priah Ferguson) was determined to see her friend despite being stuck under the Starcourt Mall — which inspired Steve’s iconic line, “I don’t care about Tina!”
This time around, Erica also didn’t care about Tina since the pair were in a major fight over a guy. Caroline Elle Abrams brought the role to life of a high school girl who just wouldn’t eat Erica’s drug-laced pie — and paid the price for that.
Vickie Dunne
Amybeth McNulty was briefly introduced in season 4, but season 5 expands on her story as Robin’s secret girlfriend, Vickie.
See Photos of the ‘Stranger Things’ Cast’s Best BTS Moments From Season 5
Kali a.k.a Eight
Same as McNulty, season 5 of Stranger Things reintroduces Linnea Berthelsen as Kali after a failed backdoor pilot from season 2 originally introduced Eleven’s “sister” Eight. The duo were both altered to have powers that were then manipulated by Papa (Matthew Modine).
Eleven briefly teamed up with Eight and her friends but ultimately left them behind to return to Hawkins and save her friends. The attempt at a spinoff didn’t land, with fans and critics alike having a negative response to the episode.
Holly Wheeler
Twin sisters Anniston and Tinsley Price played Mike and Nancy’s younger sister before Nell Fisher was cast due to Holly getting a more prominent role once Vecna kidnapped her.
Stranger Things returns with Volume 2 on December 25, and the finale drops December 31 on Netflix.
