Stranger Things season 4 has the opportunity to fix the Lost Sister issue from season 2. The nostalgic sci-fi series, created by the Duffer Brothers, is gearing up for the fourth season of the Netflix series. The premiere was expected to be in early 2021 but the coronavirus-related shutdowns have most likely delayed the initial target date.
Mind Flayer infect dozens of Hawkins residents leading to their deaths. As the young group faced off with the Mind Flayer, Jim Hopper led the mission underground to turn off the machine which would, in turn, close the gate. In doing so, Hopper had presumably sacrificed himself, but as many viewers predicted, the chief of police survived the event and was revealed to be imprisoned in Russia. Season 4 will explain Hopper's situation while introducing a new problem that emerges back home.
Details surrounding the new season are few and far between. Aside from Brett Gelman's Murray being bumped to series regular and the addition of Stranger Things is adding four male characters in season 4, but any insight into those figures won't be released until production gets fully underway. With where the plot is heading, season 4 seems like the perfect time to introduce more Project Indigo test subjects while repairing a season 2 character's storyline.
Why The Lost Sister Was So Unpopular
With the positive reception surrounding Stranger Things season 1, the Duffer Brothers set themselves up with the difficult task of matching the success in a second season. Not only did they match the rhythm of season 1, but they managed to flesh out the characters while building on the elements that made the series so great the first time around. There was one episode, however, that seemed completely out of place: "The Lost Sister." The infamous seventh episode in season 2 was the target of criticism as it's widely known as the weakest in the series' history. In fact, it holds a mindblowing 6.1/10 rating on IMDb, demonstrating just how much fans despised the standalone episode.
"The Lost Sister" followed Eleven as she traveled to Chicago where she reunited with a fellow test subject, Kali Prasad (aka Eight). In their short time together, Kali taught Eleven how to embrace her powers through anger. She then convinced Eleven to her rag-tag team of outcasts to get revenge on Hawkins Lab employees. Viewers felt that the episode was random in placement since it messed with the pacing of the season leading up to the big showdown with the Mind Flayer. Kali had a lot of potential as a character, but she was left as a one-dimensional figure hellbent on revenge. In an otherwise spectacular season, "The Lost Sister" was deemed unnecessary, at least at that point in the plot.
Stranger Things Still Needs To Resolve The Other Test Subjects
Considering Eleven's history with Terry Ives, was a participant in Project MKUltra. The secret operation resulted in the birth of Jane (aka Eleven), a child with telekinetic powers. Terry lost her daughter and was left in a catatonic state but she was able to reunite with Eleven in season 2. Through their connection, Terry encouraged Eleven to find Kali, her "sister," who was also a test subject.
Seeing as Terry wasn't the only participant due to the number of other child test subjects for Project Indigo, Stranger Things should return to that storyline. The show already hinted at the existence of figures like Eleven, but season 3 lacked pieces to the puzzle. With Kali's introduction in Stranger Things season 2, there was thought she would return and other test subjects would appear for a greater purpose. Instead, the series never resolved any mysteries surrounding the numerous subjects. Even though the series has taken much effort in progressing the Project Indigo storyline, the Stranger Things "Expanded Universe" continues to lay the foundation.
How Stranger Things Has Setup The Other Test Subjects For Season 4
Since Stranger Things premiered in 2016, a number of tie-ins books and graphic novels have been released. The comic book miniseries, Stranger Things: SIX, introduced a handful of test subjects including Francine/Six Ricky/Three, Jamie/Nine, and Marcy/Nine-Point-Five. The miniseries served as prequel focused on a group of test subjects that tried to escape from Hawkins Lab. The most recent comic series, Into the Fire, brought some of the surviving test subjects back in focus while also explaining Kali's whereabouts during season 3.
The recent comics series took place three months before Stranger Things season 3. Francine didn't survive but Ricky and Marcy managed to escape from the lab. They reunite with Kali in 1985, who was hiding out in a barn where she revealed that Jamie, who was presumed dead, might actually be alive. Unfortunately, Jamie was being held in a facility and her powers were being suppressed. The trio then decided to band together to rescue their "sister." The facility could tie into Dr. Brenner or the Soviets which would give the series a reason to give the other test subjects a jump to the small screen. If a bigger threat emerges in Stranger Things season 4, it would be interesting to see Kali, Ricky, and the others team up with Eleven and her allies. Not only would they have Dr. Brenner to contend with, but they have the powers to fight whatever emerges from the Upside Down.
Why Including Other Test Subjects Is Good (& Can Fix The Lost Sister's Mistakes)
The idea of adding Kali was never a bad choice made by the Duffer Brothers. The problem with "The Lost Sister" and Kali's arc had to do with the execution of the subplot. The timing of the episode and the decision to inject the standalone story in the middle of a momentous story push resulted in the episode's poor reception. The tone didn't match the surrounding episodes, but Stranger Things still has a chance to fix its mistakes.
There's no doubt that fans would be interested in seeing other test subjects introduced on-screen. They each have interesting powers and motivations, but that doesn't mean they need to get standalone episodes. Stranger Things can keep their backstories in the comics while organically explaining their role in the TV series. Additions of Ricky, Marcy, and Jamie could also help build Kali's presence. She would no longer be a random outsider, and instead, one part of a group that shared the same traumatic experience. If the series did succeed in bringing back Kali while also including more test subjects, "The Lost Sister" might benefit since it would make more sense in hindsight. More importantly, the focus on other test subjects could finally lead to solving the mystery centered on Subject One's identity.