‘Stranger Things’s Cara Buono Embraced Karen Wheeler’s Ripley Moment

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This article contains spoilers for the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5, which premiered on Netflix on November 26th.

Throughout its five seasons, Stranger Things has consistently shown that anyone in Hawkins can rise to the occasion and be a hero. This time, it’s Karen Wheeler who steps up. In the second episode, “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,” Karen bravely fights a Demogorgon, repeatedly stabbing it with a broken wine bottle to protect her daughter, Holly. Though Holly is ultimately taken to the Upside Down and Karen is seriously injured, the information Karen shares with Nancy and Mike proves crucial in helping them and their friends get closer to defeating Vecna, their ongoing enemy.

From the beginning of Stranger Things, Karen Wheeler has been portrayed as a loving but somewhat oblivious mother to Nancy and Mike as they fight to protect Hawkins. Actress Natalia Dyer has brought compassion and a subtle edge to the role, leaving viewers to question how much she actually notices about the strange events unfolding around her – especially with a glass of wine often in hand. (The wine was actually Dyer’s idea, a way to explain why Karen didn’t seem to realize her family was constantly in danger!) While she’s always been devoted to her children, Karen has largely been a supporting character, with a brief romantic interest in Billy Hargrove in season three. That’s why Dyer was so thrilled and surprised to discover that Karen would have a major, action-packed storyline in the first part of Stranger Things‘ final season.

I might need to do more physically demanding scenes,” Buono shared with a laugh. She jokingly suggested a superhero movie like John Wick, but with middle-aged suburban moms as the heroes – perhaps titled Out of the Lap Pool? This was a playful reference to her character Karen’s excuse for spending so much time at the pool in a previous season. “I wasn’t worried about taking on the action; I just felt completely prepared.”

Were you surprised to see Karen develop into a more heroic character this season? I wasn’t expecting it, honestly. I’d always seen her as the typical, somewhat ditzy, ’80s mom, and figured that’s how her story would end. I remember in season four, after the earthquake, she casually said something like, “Just what we need — more hysteria,” even though it was a major disaster with a lot of deaths. At that moment, I thought, ‘That’s it, that’s how her character will conclude.’

I was really surprised and thrilled by how things turned out. I initially believed my character was completely unaware of what was happening. Towards the end of the first season, I struggled with how to realistically portray that ignorance, and my solution was to imagine her drinking heavily – starting around 4 p.m. – as a way to cope with everything she was holding inside. I always create a detailed backstory and inner life for my characters, especially smaller roles. I’m so glad to be involved in such a great story, and I was amazed that the Duffer brothers actually picked up on that aspect of my performance and incorporated it into the show in a significant way. They used it to add depth and authenticity to the character.

At the beginning of the season, Joyce and her sons, Jonathan and Will, are living with the Wheelers. It seemed like Karen was genuinely happy to have them there, enjoying taking care of them, and I was wondering what you made of her emotional state. She’s always been a hospitable person – remember she brought Joyce a casserole in season one? She thrives on having people around, which is different from Ted, who prefers things quieter. But with Hawkins being essentially locked down for a year, things have been tough on everyone. Even small details, like my character’s flat perm – because she hasn’t been able to get it redone – show how the situation is affecting her. While she seems glad to have the Byers family with her, she’s been drinking more. If you could read her diary, it would reveal she feels incredibly lonely and isolated, even with a full house. That’s what she doesn’t say during the kitchen scene with Nancy in season three – she’s holding back a lot, and there are likely unfulfilled dreams and a lot of unspoken feelings beneath the surface.

People always ask me about fighting the Demogorgon! It feels like ages ago now, but I remember when they first showed me the storyboards and pre-visualization – it was really exciting to see what they had planned. I worked closely with the stunt team, and the Duffer brothers were so clear about how the whole fight should look. We had a solid plan, and I felt prepared. A lot of time went into the details – we even spent a whole day figuring out how wet and warm the bathtub water would be! Nell and I practiced holding our breath in a big tank to get a feel for the timing and see how the cameras would capture it. We also worked with the costume designer, Amy Parris, to make sure my nightgown moved realistically. Honestly, it was wet the entire time, super slippery, and that added to the challenge. Between every take, we had to get hosed down to keep looking like we’d just climbed out of the tub – we were constantly dripping wet!

Filming finally kicked off in January 2024, after a bit of a shuffle – it was originally planned for May, then moved to early March. But honestly, I was prepared! Working with the stunt team was amazing; we all had such a blast. The day itself went so smoothly – things like getting out of the tub, racing down the stairs, and even slipping in the kitchen all felt natural. When we got to the scene with the wine bottle, I really wanted to convey strength, so I skipped formal fight training and just hit the gym harder. Lots of push-ups to build up energy for the scene! And when it came to actually going after the Demogorgon, I just threw myself into it, channeling that raw, protective mom energy and a fierce determination.

I really enjoyed how the movie felt like a tribute to ‘Aliens,’ and I got to play a character similar to Ripley. I even asked if I could deliver the line, ‘Stay away from my daughter, you bitch!’ and was allowed to do it in one take, just in case the editor wanted to use it. That take is probably still somewhere in the footage.

We wanted Karen Wheeler’s reaction to feel real – like a mom protecting her child, not a trained soldier. We aimed for a powerful, memorable moment that added to the history of Hawkins. Filming the attack involved a lot of different camera setups and repeated takes. We used three techniques for the special effects. First, we had a stunt performer in a Demogorgon costume so I could react to a physical presence. Second, we used a ball as a visual target for the effects. And third, we wanted to create the feeling of actually hitting the creature. I attacked a padded board with my wine bottle, getting it stuck and pulling it out to simulate the impact of hitting the Demogorgon’s flesh. It was much more effective than just pretending to strike at empty air.

The circuit board wasn’t working properly, and I realized it was the wrong one for the job. This caused me to breathe in dust and debris, making the process much more difficult than it needed to be. We ended up having to replace it and start over.

When Mike and Nancy arrive at the hospital, they’re understandably worried about their mom. It’s surprising, though, that they don’t seem concerned about their dad, Ted, who also got hurt! We discussed this, and it was great to see Ted step up – even though he could have stayed safe, he bravely fought the Demogorgon with his golf club, even smashing through a wall. It fits with the running joke about Ted always being a bit out of it – everyone just shrugs off where he is. It’s really satisfying to see Karen, their mom, evolve from someone on the sidelines to actively fighting the darkness threatening their family. I was glad the writers gave her that arc.

You portrayed Karen throughout the entire show. Did you intentionally try to subvert any common stereotypes about mothers in the 1980s with your performance? There’s a stereotype of the oblivious ‘80s mom, but I think it’s important for the story. We often look back and miss a time when parents weren’t as involved in every detail of their children’s lives. I often talk to young people who express a desire for the freedoms kids had back then, and wish they could have grown up in the ‘80s.

That question reminds me of how society views mothers. As an actor, I often find myself being typecast as ‘the mom,’ and many actors worry about that happening. They see these roles as simple, one-dimensional supporting parts. I’ve always felt differently. When I take on a role, I focus on being honest and genuine to the character and the story, not on making a grand statement. I hope audiences see a complex woman – someone who loves and protects her children fiercely, and who finally has the chance to reveal her full self. It’s important to remember that quiet people can be incredibly powerful.

It’s interesting how Karen’s wine became a symbol of protection for Holly, mirroring how she ultimately protects Nancy. I also noticed a connection to the scene where a doctor dismisses Nancy – it felt like a callback to when Karen encourages Nancy to believe in herself and not let anyone hold her back. It makes you wonder about Karen’s lasting influence on Nancy, Mike, and the other kids. She provides the kind of unwavering support and love you hope to get from a mother, encouraging them to be brave and take chances. And in the end, Karen herself steps up when it matters most – it’s a surprising but fitting conclusion to her arc.

Karen has always been a strong person, and that strength is clearly passed down to her children. You can see it in how courageous Mike, Nancy, and Holly are – they’re fearlessly searching for their friends and facing incredibly difficult situations. I believe they inherited that bravery from their mom. And Ted deserves some credit too, for standing his ground. If Nancy, Mike, or Holly ever have children of their own, I think they’ll say their mother was incredibly supportive and strong, and that she played a huge role in shaping who they became.

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2025-11-27 07:57