Kali Prasad. Quite literally one of the most hated and underrated characters to have ever entered the Stranger Things universe. Today I wanted to share my unpopular opinion on Kali. Hopefully, through my perspective, I can stir at least a little sympathy for a grossly misunderstood character who has received nearly nothing but hatred and stereotypical bias.
Remember: this is an opinion piece. I have my opinions, and you have yours. Respect is a two-way street. If you show me respect for my views, then I’ll show you respect for yours. This is a fundamental concept that most of you should understand, so let’s ensure the comment section is a safe environment for those who RESPECTFULLY agree or disagree.
As most of you should know, Kali Prasad is a character who appears in season two of Stranger Things. She has never made an appearance since. There is no mention or regard for her name, let alone her existence for the rest of the show thus far. Fans have ruthlessly branded her as a rebellious, hot-headed, cold-blooded individual who lacks compassion, empathy, and understanding. But if we can just take a moment to recognize the significant potential Kali has as a character, then I believe more people would come to show her a little more respect. There are a lot of factors that play into why Kali is such a hated individual within the fanbase. In fact, I don’t fully understand all of the reasons, and I honestly may never know the full scope of why people hate on her so much—but I’m just going to describe what I’ve noticed throughout the past few years within the Stranger Things fandom as a whole in relation to Kali Prasad.
Because Kali Prasad is a mystery to most, it’s easy to understand why so many people dislike her, thus, despising season two. She’s a rebellious young adult with almost no known history except that she was once a patient who was experimented on in the Hawkins lab. When Kali met El, she instructed her to resurface memories of her mother that were uncomfortable and disturbing. She encouraged El to crawl out of her innocent shell and become a rebel—not just in appearance, but also in action: such as raiding a gas station and breaking into a man’s home with the intention of murder, among other things. Who could possibly like Kali Prasad—the misfit whose intentions are just as deadly as the power which she wields with her mind? People claim that because of Kali Prasad’s very presence in season two, the entire season is a bust—hardly shining a light to the other seasons—which is a very stupid reason to hate on an entire season, if I have to be blatantly clear.
Although we don’t know much about Kali Prasad nor her background in season two, there are LOTS of other great sources out there where we can learn a lot more about her. For example, the comic series pertaining to Kali Prasad details the trauma she endured throughout her childhood—particularly when she was in the hands of Dr. Brenner in the Hawkins lab. She was described as being a troubled child who desperately wanted a friend. Because of her traumatic experiences and the pain and torture she was subjected to, Kali Prasad grew up learning how to be cold and distant—constantly on survival mode—which makes perfect sense given the circumstances in which her childhood unfolded. It’s incredibly amusing to me that people will criticize Kali for being too ruthless, merciless, and heartless—because who can blame her? She’s been dragged through hell and back again, and a majority of the fanbase still manages to find the audacity to label Kali Prasad as being this cutthroat monster of her own making. But if anybody should be receiving all of this criticism generated towards her, it should be Dr. Brenner. He’s the true monster. But it seems like almost everyone loses sight of this, and it frustrates me so much.
But Kali Prasad has so much potential as a character. It pains me that the Duffer Brothers didn’t do her justice by giving her more screen time. More backstory. More action. More of anything, really. She was deprived of opportunities to prove herself. Because of this, most fans mercilessly attack her or ignore her altogether—tucking her away in a metaphorical closet and pretending she never existed. But it’s an unfair fight. Kali Prasad’s screen time was so limited. We know very little about her background. Think about her biological parents and where she came from. Think about the stories she never told, the experiences she never shared. Think about the incredible power she wields and the benefits it could bring to the others if she were to join them in Hawkins in season five. There is so much hidden potential behind this mysterious character we know so little about, yet most of the fandom seems to loathe her with every fiber of their being. The Duffer Brothers need to give Kali a second chance—but we as a fanbase need to give her a second chance, too.
The argument I’ve heard the most from fans is the classic, “Kali and El’s storyline in season two is weird. It just doesn’t flow with the story, and I hate it.” What defines “weird”? What defines “flow”? Was Kali and El’s storyline “weird” because El wasn’t battling demogorgons or kissing Mike instead? Did their storyline not “flow” because rather than flipping over vans or causing bullies to wet themselves, El was trying to find out who she was and discover the internal rebellion she desperately needed to harness in order to survive her future ordeals? Rather than thinking about your preferences and what you want to see on the screen, it’s best just to step back, examine Kali and El’s storyline, and notice the influences and benefits it has on other characters and Stranger Things as a whole.
This might come as a shock to some of you, but for the most part, the Duffer Brothers know what they’re doing. Every character they introduce, every scene they construct—it’s all carefully and methodically calculated—all part of an ever-expanding mechanism of storylines, plots, and subplots that have shaped Stranger Things into what we know it to be today. Kali Prasad isn’t just some random piece who doesn’t belong. She’s an important piece to the giant jigsaw puzzle of the Stranger Things story, but a lot of people choose to forget that. Character development doesn’t just come from violent action scenes or romantic interactions. Characters need emotional moments to connect with themselves in order to discover their capabilities. Without Kali’s encouragement as El strained her mental abilities trying to move a freight train car across the pavement, El wouldn’t have crossed the threshold she needed to cross in order to overcome the challenges ahead. The painful memories that enhance El’s power wouldn’t have materialized had she not left Hawkins to pursue answers pertaining to her mother back in season two, thus, finding and bonding with Kali Prasad.
Remember when El closed the Gate? At the end of season two? That iconic scene we know and love wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for Kali. Without Kali telling El to recall those traumatic memories of her mother—asking her to find a source deep within her recollections that would enhance her abilities—El wouldn’t have found the strength and power required to close the Gate. Without Kali’s endless pursuit for justice, we as an audience wouldn’t have seen the crucial—pivotal—character-defining moment in which El refused to kill a man who brought harm to her mother—a significant scene that so many fans choose to neglect. So no, I’m not going to settle for the weak argument: “Kali and El’s storyline is weird.” Because honestly? Their storyline is absolutely essential in so many ways.
I could go on, and I know there is obviously no question about it, but I think Kali Prasad is highly misunderstood and underrated. She deserves so much more, and I hope this shift in perspective has stirred some sympathy from readers who have hated Kali Prasad for reasons unknown to me.
Thank you for reading. 🤍
Stay safe.
