Ken is a character introduced in the first season of Stranger Things. His name and backstory were later expanded upon in the novel Suspicious Minds. He participated in the MKUltra experiments along with Terry Ives, Gloria Flowers, and Alice Johnson.

 History

Background 

Ken grew up in a family of supernaturally inclined people, but upon revealing his sexuality, he was ousted from his family and no longer has contact with them.

Ken attends the same college as Terry and Gloria.

1969 

When Ken came across a newspaper ad requesting a newspaper seeking "college age women with remarkable skills", Ken knew he needed to respond and attend the screening as well. Seemingly arriving before everyone else, Ken casually introduced himself to Terry, Alice, and Gloria as they waited to be called. He revealed to them that he was psychic so even though they were requesting college aged women, he showed up anyway. When they are sceptical of his claims, he gets offended, but lets it go.

As the group grows closer and Ken's predictions and coincidences become too hard to ignore. He reveals he does not control his powers like one might think. He feels or senses something about a person, place, event, or object and immediately knows it will be important or that he must do something when the time is right.

He knew he needed to participate in the experiments to meet Terry, Alice, and Gloria. He also knew they would all be important to one another and do something important together. Ultimately, he admits he came to Hawkins knowing he would find a future lover someday.

When Andrew is drafted to war, Ken convinces Andrew to break up with Terry because he feels it's the right thing to do. He isn't sure why as he has been unable to predict if Andrew will return from the war. Ken senses when Andrew is killed in Vietnam and takes it nearly as hard as Terry does. Andrew appears to be the only one he revealed his family history and sexual identity to.

When Terry announces she is pregnant, Ken reveals he'd been struggling to pinpoint something off about her but now it all made sense. He places a hand on her stomach and tells Terry she's having a girl.

The night they helped Alice escape Hawkins Lab to Canada, Ken and Gloria drop Terry off at Becky's home. Before he departs, he is troubled, unable to pinpoint the strange feeling in the air, but he tells them it's nothing and leaves. Ken, unbeknownst to him, sensed fate that would befall Terry. Earlier before their escape from Hawkins Lab, Dr. Brenner injected her with a chemical that induced labour a month early.

It is Ken who later informs Terry that her daughter was not miscarried, and she is being held in Hawkins Lab like Kali. He was able to steal files and information because the love he was meant to meet ended up being someone employed at Hawkins Lab.

Relationships

• Terry Ives - Friend
• Andrew Rich † - Friend
• Gloria Flowers - Friend
• Alice Johnson - Friend
• Martin Brenner † - Enemy, experimented on him

 Abilities

Psychic abilities 

• Clairvoyance - Ken has a sixth sense that informs him of things to come. Although his power is comparably weak to that of Kali or Eleven, Ken's predictions and feelings have proven 100% accurate, such as telling Terry her child would be a girl.

Appearances

Season One appearances
The Vanishing of Will Byers	The Weirdo on Maple Street	Holly, Jolly*	The Body
The Flea and the Acrobat	The Monster	The Bathtub	The Upside Down

_{*Ken's picture appears in a newspaper article in Holly, Jolly.}

Trivia

• Ken was portrayed by Jacob Kevinsson in the photograph that appears in "Holly, Jolly". However, Kevinsson was never credited for the role.
• Out of all the main characters in Suspicious Minds, Ken's last name is seemingly purposefully left out.
• Although Ken and Alice are confirmed to have powers and Brenner began to take an interest in Alice, Brenner does not seem to know that Ken is in fact psychic. Either Ken managed to keep it secret or Brenner found it to be too insignificant.
• Ken implies his whole family is clairvoyant and aware of the supernatural.

References

Director	Martin Brenner • Sam Owens
Staff	Dr. Ellis • Connie Frazier • Shepard • Elevator Scientist • Lead Scientist • Lead Agent • Nerdy Tech • Agent Repairman • Hawkins Head of Security
Test Subjects	One • Two • Three • Four • Five • Six • Eight • Ten • Eleven • Test Subjects Terry Ives • Alice Johnson • Gloria Flowers • Ken Francine • Jamie • Marcy • Ricky
Locations	Rainbow Room • Mothergate
Objects & Items	Sensory deprivation tank • Soteria • Electroshock collar
Other	Department of Energy • Project MKUltra • The Nina Project