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Stranger Things came back…sort of. Technically, the hit Netflix sci-fi series is back with the animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from 1985. During Stranger ThingsWhen it first aired, you would think that any spin-off tied to the series would become a guaranteed hit, but a lot has changed for the franchise and its potential for expansion.
Based on Tales from 1985The voice actors of , all adults Stranger Things the characters are recast for the spin-off, although this is not a distracting aspect for the animated show. In fact, some of the voices are quite accurate to the actors in the original series, and Tales from 1985 manages to nail down the mannerisms and quirks of each person’s animated counterparts.
Ahead of Stranger Things: Tales from 1985Upon release, the animated spin-off was billed by Netflix as a “entry level” version of the main series, offering a new chapter for viewers of all ages. Tales from 1985 is primarily suitable for children, thanks to its TV-PG rating, serving as a gateway for younger viewers to ease into the series until they are ready for the main show. Oddly, however, Tales from 1985 relies heavily on whether its viewers watched Stranger Things‘ first two seasons, further complicating the answer to a major question: “Who is Stranger Things a spin-off for?
Tales from 1985 Can’t Decide Why the Spinoff Exists
For those who watched the five seasons of Stranger Thingsthere will be no problem with the placement of Tales from 1985at least as far as the chronology is concerned. The spin-off takes place between seasons 2 and 3, specifically in January 1985. Everything the characters experience in the new animated adventure occurs after they face the Mind Flayer in late 1984 and before its deadly return the following July. However, viewers, even the youngest ones who have just tasted Stranger Things for the first time, should know what happened until the end of Stranger Things season 2.
The dynamic between Eleven, Mike and the rest of the group is already well established by the events of Tales from 1985including the additions of characters like Max and even Steve within the main group. It’s also assumed that viewers know all about Will’s “zombie boy” story, El’s powers, and everything that happened when the door under Hawkins Lab closed at the end of the second season. Sure, longtime fans might remember all of these aspects, but newcomers might have a harder time following if the basic premise doesn’t appeal to them, contradicting the idea that the spinoff is aimed at kids new to the franchise.
Although it is difficult to know who the spin-off is really aimed at, Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 has some entertaining moments.
Then there is the question of canonical status of Stranger Things: Tales from 1985. Regardless of how the spinoff decided to approach a new story set within the existing series, it risked complicating continuity. Given that it takes place between two first seasons but wasn’t developed until well after their release, there would always be gaps in how the events of Tales from 1985 integrate into Stranger Things. Since the main series had no chance to incorporate major aspects of the animated spin-off, Tales from 1985 also doesn’t do much to set up Stranger Things season 3. If plot holes hamper your viewing experience, you might have issues with how the spinoff disrupts the overall continuity.
The timing of the new version of Stranger Things doesn’t do the spinoff justice
Speaking of deadlines, it’s been less than four months since Stranger ThingsThe main show has ended. If there had been an overwhelmingly positive reception around the final season, it would be a no-brainer to bring the series back in some form while interest was still high. Of course, this was not the case with Stranger Things season 5 and its reception from fans and critics.
The consensus shows that Stranger Things‘ ending has been a disappointment, especially for those who have been fans since the series’ debut in 2016. Instead of taking the time to let the emotions and disappointment settle in, the franchise is moving full steam ahead. If Netflix had anticipated the immense popularity and growing need for longer production runs, perhaps the spinoff could have arrived sooner, without the events of Stranger Things season 5 obscures interest. But even Netflix can’t predict the future.
Hawkins, Indiana · 1986 Which Stranger Things character are you? “Friends don’t lie.”
🧠 Eleven The Protector
📡 Microphone The leader
🤓 Dustin The brain
🏂 Max. The fighter
🪧 Steve The babysitter
01
It’s Friday night in Hawkins. What are you doing?
02
The lights start to flicker and something growls in the dark. What is your first instinct?
03
Your best friend is missing and no one believes you. What are you doing?
04
How would the people at Hawkins High describe you?
05
Someone at school is being bullied right in front of you. What are you doing?
06
You discover something impossible, a secret that could change everything. Who to tell?
07
When things feel overwhelming and the world seems dark, how do you cope?
08
When the Upside Down is finally closed and Hawkins is safe, what matters most to you?
Hawkins Lab Report Completed Your Strange Things Alter Ego
🧠
Eleven
“I can save them. I’m the only one who can.” You are quiet but powerful – and people underestimate you at their peril. You haven’t had the easiest start in life, but it has made you fiercely protective of the people you love. You don’t always have the words, but your actions speak volumes. When everyone is executed Moving away from the danger, you walk straight towards it. You carry more than anyone should and you rarely ask for help, but you learn that vulnerability is not weakness.
Powerful Protective Resilient Empathetic
📡
Mike Wheeler
“We would never have upset you if we knew you had superpowers.” You are the natural leader of your group, not because you are the loudest or the loudest, but because you truly care. You’re passionate, sometimes to a fault, and when you believe in something (or someone), you go all in. You demand high standards from your friends because you hold yourself to the same standards. People may see you as intense, but that intensity comes from love. You would go to the upside down world and come back for the people in your life.
Keen Loyal Determined Emotional
🤓
Dustin Henderson
“I’m on a curiosity trip and I need my paddles to travel.” You are the glue that holds everything together, even if no one realizes it. Your brain never stops working – you see the connections others miss and you’re not afraid to talk about them. Sure, people might laugh at your enthusiasm, but you don’t care because you know who you are. You bring heart and humor to every situation, and when things get dark, you’re the one to remind everyone that there’s still something worth fighting for.
Bright Optimistic Authentic Heart
🏂
Max Mayfield
“I’m not afraid of you.” You are tough, not because you want to be, but because life made you that way. You’ve built walls higher than Castle Byers and you don’t let anyone climb over them. But beneath that armor is someone who feels everything deeply and fights harder than anyone for the people she loves. You get by on your independence and sometimes push people away when you need them most. But when did you finally let someone in? This bond is unbreakable.
Fierce Independent Brave Complex
🪧
Steve Harrington
“How many times do I have to save you?” » You are the unlikely hero – the person no one expected to step up, least of all yourself. You started out focusing on your hair and your reputation, but when it mattered, you discovered something more important: protecting the people who need you. You are courageous, selfless and much more capable than you think. You could downplay your role with a joke, but everyone knows: when the Demogorgon appears, you’re the one who grabs the nail bat.
Disinterested Brave Loyal Underrated
When we look at the setting of Stranger Things: Tales from 1985a season set during winter is a fun concept. This also makes a lot of sense, with Heat being a key weakness for the Mind Flayer and the monsters of the Upside Down. There’s also the fact that the series is primarily set in Indiana, a state that often experiences cold, snowy winters. That said, releasing the spin-off in January, with a story featuring a snowstorm, as we head deeper into the spring months, is yet another odd choice when considering the release timing.
The 1985 Tales has several enjoyable moments, but you’ll have to ignore the Stranger Things lore
Although it is difficult to know who the spin-off is really aimed at, Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 has some entertaining moments. Being able to see Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Will, Lucas and Max again before their lives were really turned upside down is intriguing, even if the spin-off only works by forgetting Stranger Things‘ a deeper tradition.
It’s easy to question the presence of new Upside Down monsters and characters like Nikki Baxter, who will never factor into the franchise again. Still, it’s nice to travel back in time to when the core youth were all together, because we know it won’t last with The fate of eleven in Stranger Things. Of course, fighting different monsters throughout Hawkins gets a bit repetitive as the season goes on, but the spinoff offers several exciting action sequences that feel fresh to the franchise due to its animated form.
While Tales from 1985 may struggle to justify its own existence, it will be interesting to see if another chapter of the animated series comes to fruition since the finale doesn’t fully close out the story. Even if Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 doesn’t return for another chapter, it could very well impact the fate of the Stranger Things franchise as a whole.
All 10 episodes of Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 will be available for streaming on April 23, 2026 on Netflix.