Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is a nostalgic adventure that returns to the show’s charming roots

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The animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 revisits the town of Hawkins with a new story, expanding the world of the popular Netflix sci-fi drama. Released after the show’s controversial ending, Tales from ’85 takes place between seasons two and three – a time when things were less complicated and new seasons were released more frequently.

Okay, so I just finished this side quest called Tales from ’85, and it seriously felt like I was dropped into one of those old Saturday morning cartoons – but with a cool, mysterious vibe. It’s got a lot of similarities to Stranger Things, which is awesome, and it feels like the developers really leaned into the animation to build out that world even further. Honestly, though, I’m left wondering just how official this story is within the Stranger Things universe. Is it totally canon, or just a fun ‘what if’?

Similar to the official Stranger Things books, games, and stage play, The First Shadow and Tales from ’85 fit into a flexible canon. These stories feature a new set of actors but still connect to the original series, filled with plenty of hidden references for fans to discover.

The show Stranger Things uses distinctive on-screen timestamps, which quickly tell us this animated story happens just weeks after the end of season two. That season concluded with the group happily dancing at the Snow Ball, not knowing that the Mind Flayer was already a major threat in the alternate dimension of Hawkins Middle School.

Okay, so the story picks up in January 1985, just a few weeks after everything went down at the dance – seriously, these kids never get a moment’s peace! A huge snowstorm is coming, which means school’s out, and you know what that means for me and my friends? It’s perfect D&D weather! We’re gonna be locked in, rolling dice and saving Hawkins… again.

While Mike, Eleven, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and a hesitant Max are planning their next Dungeons & Dragons game, their plans are disrupted when something from the alternate dimension starts causing trouble in Hawkins. This new threat attacks a new student named Nikki, and she quickly gets pulled into the group’s fight to save their town.

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The strange, plant-like creatures appearing in the snow aren’t a new danger. They connect to the creepy pumpkin patch from season two and hint at a larger ‘Hive Mind’ concept that will be important later in the show. The evidence suggests these vine-like beings originally targeted the very first people who were taken over – the Flayed. We won’t reveal how the series introduces new monsters from the Upside Down after Eleven closed the gate, but it involves a scientist who wasn’t careful enough.

Eric Robles created the show, and the creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, helped produce it. In April 2023, Robles was challenged with making an animated series based on a popular Netflix property while staying true to its look and story. Does Tales from ‘85 succeed? It’s complicated – sometimes yes, sometimes no.

The new episodes feature a striking visual style, blending realistic 3D animation with 2D elements. This is complemented by a vibrant, neon color palette, a fresh synth-based opening theme, and a diverse soundtrack including artists like The Go-Go’s, Black Sabbath, and Iggy Pop.

Honestly, playing Tales from ‘85 felt like stepping back into what I loved about Stranger Things when it first came out. It perfectly mixes those normal, everyday kid moments with the really intense, dangerous stuff. This game fills in some backstory, showing what things were like before Vecna showed up and everything went crazy, before we all realized just how much was riding on these kids and the town of Hawkins – and the world, for that matter!

The show’s title is a nod to the classic horror comic Tales from the Crypt, and it perfectly captures the ‘kids on bikes’ adventure genre, clearly inspired by Stephen King. This season, the story largely takes place in the town’s sewer system, and avoids another journey to the terrifying Upside Down. While that limitation might seem like a drawback, it actually allowed for some touching, realistic scenes of the characters navigating everyday teenage life, especially as Eleven begins to experience typical teen milestones, which feels particularly meaningful knowing what’s coming in the final season.

Brett Gipson as Hopper, Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy, and Jeremy Jordan as Steve are among the cast members of Tales from ‘85. The show features horror legend Robert Englund, who voiced Cosmo, the editor of The Weekly Watcher, in season four.

Even though it’s great to see these characters return, the story really focuses on the main ones. That’s why Nikki, as charming as she is, feels a little out of place.

Introducing important new characters and then completely dropping them from the story was a gamble for a supposedly official installment, and it’s not surprising that Nikki feels like one of the weaker parts of Tales from ‘85.

She’s basically the voice of the audience, offering both witty sarcasm and straightforward advice, often reminding viewers of Max and Robin. While she has some genuinely touching moments, especially with Will, who she becomes close to, the fact that she’s never mentioned again in later seasons makes her feel like a temporary character, and it’s hard to get fully invested in her story. Though, she might be responsible – along with Axel from season two – for inspiring Mike’s desire to get a mohawk!

Even if we accept that the story doesn’t have strict rules, it’s reasonable to wonder who this new series is for. Like the original, it creates a nostalgic version of the 1980s designed to attract both people who remember that era and, perhaps even more importantly, those who didn’t experience it firsthand.

This story is designed to please existing fans and attract new, younger viewers – and the addition of a character like Nikki seems to be part of that strategy. However, those who disliked how the original series ended won’t find anything to satisfy them here, and might be frustrated by characters introduced for this single season who are then quickly forgotten.

Okay, so even if it doesn’t totally fit into the main story, Tales From ‘85 is just a fun little side adventure for anyone who loves Stranger Things. Honestly, we could all use a little escape right now, and this delivers!

This quick and charming animated short perfectly captures the spirit of the show’s best seasons. It feels like a fun, extra scene, allowing fans to revisit the world they’ve enjoyed for years.

Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 is streaming now on Netflix.

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2026-04-23 10:26