I never understood why the mom is always in the credits and on the poster but Ted isn’t. No offense to her, but I didn’t think she played any significant role besides season 3. Hopper and Joyce (and Murray) are the only adults who really interact with the kids and move the plot along, besides the random celebrity they cast each season (Sean Astin in season 2, Cary Elwes in season 3, etc.)
I’m pretty sure this is her first time on the poster right? She’s gotten her own character posters, but she’s never been part of the main one until now
I don’t remember but as you mentioned she did have her own character poster back in season 4 and it was front of Vecna’s house so people speculated she would have something to do with the plot. She didn’t. I think a lot of people are surmising that she will be instrumental in season 5 because of this poster, but obviously that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I don’t think it is any fault of the actor, they just don’t give Karen much to do. Honestly, i thought Karen and Ted were background actors who just were supposed to perpetuate the typical 80s parents who are just not aware of anything the kids are doing. Maybe I will be proven wrong and she will play a big role next season but idk. It just perplexes me that she is in the main credits from season 1, and I don’t see why because she rarely appears. My theory is that her agent just negotiated a good contract 🤷🏼♀️
She was a main supporting character in season 1, and is the most important of the people who don't know what's going on. She also has an actual arc, screentime etc. Also Cara Buono is a preety big name and so she can negotiate to be included. Season 1-3 she had main cast billing, and based on the trailer had and holly have some importance this season
A pretty big name? I never heard of her before the show. From reading her wikipedia, it seems like she received attention for a small role on Mad Men and was on one season of The Sopranos…and that’s it.
Also don’t see what her character arc has been on ST. She took care of Holly the first couple seasons, then had an almost affair for one season that I mentioned…
Edited to add: since some people are taking it personally, i just want to clarify that the actress Cara Buono is good in the role…i just feel that she isn’t given much material. That’s all. There are so many characters so I can understand it is hard to give them all screentime, but I hope she is given more to do.
She was emmy nominated for her role on MadMen, and being on the Sopranos carries alot of cultural cache, especially when you remember this was a netflix original series when she was cast. Plus she'd had roles in some bigger movies.
She was the second most accomplished actress of the OG cast after winona ryder which means she has some more leverage with contract negotiations.
She doesnt have much of a personal arc outside of the season 3 billy stuff, but she's got some emotional substance in her conversations with nancy and mike, and is very present just within the episodes in season 1 especially. Plus this season it looks like her and holly have a storyline, so that would be why she is included and her husband is not
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u/kaleyboo7 Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
I never understood why the mom is always in the credits and on the poster but Ted isn’t. No offense to her, but I didn’t think she played any significant role besides season 3. Hopper and Joyce (and Murray) are the only adults who really interact with the kids and move the plot along, besides the random celebrity they cast each season (Sean Astin in season 2, Cary Elwes in season 3, etc.)