20 TV Storylines We Can't Believe Are Real

5. Meeting Kali - Stranger Things

Although it's refreshing for a TV series to step away from the main narrative every now and again, it can result in a subplot that's unnecessary and jarring.

Plenty of shows have succumbed to this trap, but Stranger Things is among the worst offenders. In The Lost Sister episode, Eleven encounters a teenager called Kali, who was given superpowers from the same government experiments as Eleven. After joining Kali's gang of outcasts, Eleven is tempted to embrace their revenge-driven mission.

On paper, it's obvious this episode is meant to explore Eleven's origins and create a new inner conflict. It's a compelling idea, but it falls flat. None of the core ensemble appears, save for Eleven, nor does the story take place in the established setting of Hawkins. Instead of maintaining the sci-fi horror qualities Stranger Things is renowned for, the episode leans into a gritty, angsty vibe, closer to the X-Men rather than Stranger Things.

Worse still, The Lost Sister doesn't hold up on its own, as the pacing drags and most of the new characters are forgettable.

Although Stranger Things attempts to course-correct by bringing Kali back in the final season, it doesn't make up for this filler episode.