The anticipation for Stranger Things season 5's episode titles, have given hints about its plot.

Stranger Things season 4 ended with Max (Sadie Sink) still in a coma and the Upside Down creeping into the real world, it seems likely that the group will face even more challenging circumstances than ever, and for the first time could expand to include one underutilized original character.

Karen Wheeler Was Disappointingly Sidelined In Stranger Things Season 4

Karen Wheeler Got Less Focus Than In Season 3

Despite being a very fun character, Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) got far less attention in season 4 than she did in the previous season. Though she still does not fall into the same category as Joyce (Winona Ryder) or Hopper (David Harbour), Stranger Things season 3 gives her a more significant role and examines her dynamics with her family. Specifically, season 3 sets up a relationship between Mrs. Wheeler and Billy (Dacre Montgomery) that is well-balanced between humor and real family drama. Though their interactions mostly have a light tone, the scenes also reflect an internal struggle for the character.

The series largely deals with supernatural problems and the teen characters' dramas, but Karen's season 3 scenes offer a glimpse at her unhappy home life and disconnect with her kids. Because season 3 gave her a bigger role, it seemed that season 4 could continue down that same path, especially since she had her own character poster and the series had progressively focused on more adult issues. Then, when Karen went back into the role of a mother oblivious to her children's lives, it was a bit disappointing.

Stranger Things Season 5 Giving Holly Wheeler A Bigger Role Means Karen Should Also Have More Screen Time

Holly's Involvement Has Been Teased Multiple Times

Most details about Stranger Things season 5 have been kept under wraps so far, but that does not mean that teases and fan theories have not provided ample clues about what could happen in the installment. Though Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) has not been a huge character in the show so far, new Stranger Things set pictures have prompted audiences to speculate about her increased involvement. The pictures in question show Vecna standing near Holly, hinting that she could become integral to his final plan.

Even more interestingly, season 5, episode 2, is titled "The Vanishing of ____," leading many long-time fans of the show to note the similarity to the season 1 disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and speculate that the title will ultimately refer to Holly. If Stranger Things season 5 does see Holly become Vecna's next victim, Karen will likely become a much bigger character simply out of the necessity of finding her daughter, paralleling Joyce Byers' introduction in season 1 and her subsequent importance to the series.

Stranger Things Season 5 Can Make Up For Underutilizing The Wheeler Family's Dynamic

The Family Could Be A Bigger Focus This Season

Compared to the Byers family and later Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Hopper, the Wheeler family is not seen together that often. Even Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) are often separated in their fights against the Upside Down, so their sibling dynamic isn't focused on. Holly appears less often, popping in and out of scenes somewhat randomly, and their father Ted (Joe Chrest) is also mostly absent, creating some sporadic comic relief. Karen was the only other family member who had any story, but even she could have had more development.

However, knowing that teases for season 5 have included details about Holly and Karen, that dynamic could change in the final season. Especially if the theories about Holly are correct, the Wheeler family may finally get more screen time and more development. Since audiences have followed the show's characters for so long, Stranger Things season 5 would do well to round out all its original characters' journeys in a way that makes sense and feels complete, including the Wheeler family as a whole.