## Karen Wheeler's Big Action Scene in Stranger Things 5 In the fifth season of Stranger Things, Cara Buono's character Karen Wheeler has a major action scene where she confronts a Demogorgon at the Wheeler house. Armed with a broken wine bottle, Karen fiercely fights the creature to protect her youngest daughter Holly, who is taken to the Upside Down during the encounter. This moment portrays Karen in a "full mama bear" mode, symbolizing her strong maternal instincts and a newfound heroism that unfolds in the season's storyline. ## Karen's Character Backstory: A Functioning Alcoholic Cara Buono revealed a private backstory she developed for Karen to explain her character's behavior in earlier seasons. Karen is portrayed as a "functioning alcoholic," which sheds light on her apparent obliviousness to the chaos happening around her and her peripheral involvement in her family's dangerous adventures. Despite this, she holds unconditional love for her children and shows a nurturing side through cooking and caring for those around her. ## Karen’s Role and Development Initially, Karen was the supportive but somewhat clueless mom, often unaware of the supernatural threats surrounding her family. However, in this final season, she embarks on a heroic journey, marked by her fierce determination to protect her children. After her violent confrontation with the Demogorgon, Karen suffers severe injuries and is near death, but her fight for survival becomes crucial for the other characters' mission to rescue Holly and combat the enemy Vecna. ## Personal Insights from Cara Buono Buono expressed astonishment and delight at Karen's expanded role and action-packed storyline this season. She also shared a memorable filming moment when her character managed to drag herself to call for help despite severe bleeding, impressing her co-star Millie Bobby Brown with Karen's resilience. > "I’m not ready to die. Please don’t kill me off, Millie," Buono said jokingly during the intense scene. This deeply humanizes Karen, showing a blend of vulnerability and strength. *** Cara Buono's exploration of Karen Wheeler adds depth to the character, transforming her from a sideline mother into a fierce protector, highlighting the complexities behind seemingly ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

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Variety — 2025-11-28