Stranger Things Season 5 introduces four highlighted newcomers: Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler, Jake Connelly as her classmate Derek Turnbow, Linda Hamilton as military scientist Dr. Kay, and Alex Breaux as Lt. Robert Akers. Holly and Derek bring the story into Hawkins’ school-age world; Kay and Akers are tied to the military operation searching for Eleven.
Who are the new characters in Stranger Things Season 5?
Netflix’s Season 5 cast guide identifies these four newcomers and describes how they fit into the story. The roles are not interchangeable: Holly and Derek are classmates, while Kay and Akers work within the military presence in Hawkins.
| Actor | Character | What Netflix says about the role | Connection to the story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nell Fisher | Holly Wheeler | The youngest Wheeler is having trouble at school and looking for a place to belong; she finds comfort in an imaginary friend. | Mike and Nancy’s younger sister takes a more prominent place in the season’s story. |
| Jake Connelly | Derek Turnbow | Holly’s classmate, though not someone she would call a friend. Netflix describes him as rude to adults, a bully to peers, spoiled, and foul-mouthed. | A school-age foil in Holly’s orbit. |
| Linda Hamilton | Dr. Kay | The head scientist overseeing the military occupation’s work in Hawkins, taking on Dr. Brenner’s work and seeking to find Eleven alive. | The most clearly established antagonist among the four newcomers. |
| Alex Breaux | Lt. Robert Akers | A military associate of Kay whose work is at the lab and includes hunting Eleven. | Akers is a new character; he is distinct from the returning Lt. Colonel Sullivan. |
What do Holly and Derek add to the story?
Holly Wheeler
Holly is no longer only a younger member of the Wheeler family in the background. Netflix’s guide places her school difficulties and search for belonging at the center of her character description, with an imaginary friend offering comfort. That setup links her personal life to the season’s wider atmosphere of danger without establishing more about the imaginary friend than the guide states.
Derek Turnbow
Derek is identified as Holly’s classmate, not as her friend. Netflix’s negative descriptors—rude, bullying, spoiled, and foul-mouthed—come from its official cast guide. His defined connection is to Holly’s school life rather than to the military plot.
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Who are Dr. Kay and Lt. Akers?
Dr. Kay
Dr. Kay leads the military’s scientific work in Hawkins and is pursuing Eleven alive. In a November 27, 2025 Netflix Tudum interview, series co-creator Ross Duffer said, “We leaned away from the traditional scientist and gave her more of a military edge.” Hamilton described Kay as “the lead scientist in the military, and she’s a bit of a mystery.” Those remarks frame Kay as both a scientist and a figure shaped by the military operation, rather than simply a replacement for Dr. Brenner.
Lt. Robert Akers
Akers is one of Kay’s military associates and works with her at the lab. The cast guide connects his role to the search for Eleven. He should not be confused with Lt. Colonel Sullivan, who is a returning character rather than one of the new additions.
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How do the newcomers fit the Season 5 setting?
The story begins in fall 1987, after the Rifts opened and Hawkins was placed under lockdown. Netflix’s cast guide says the group is focused on finding and killing Vecna, whose whereabouts are unknown at the opening. Ross Duffer described the season as beginning “a little bit in chaos” because the heroes “ultimately lost at the end of Season 4.” Matt Duffer said “nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore,” with characters’ movement restricted and “Big Brother cameras everywhere.”
That setting gives the newcomers distinct entry points: Holly and Derek are connected to the everyday school environment, while Kay and Akers represent the military control and investigation happening in Hawkins. The guide’s original rollout announcement listed four episodes for November 26, three for Christmas, and the finale for New Year’s Eve, all at 5 p.m. PT. Netflix’s January 1, 2026 coverage page confirms the finale and every other episode are streaming on Netflix; availability may vary by territory.
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