Stranger Things Finally Ignores The Show’s Worst Subplot

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“Stranger Things: Tales from ’85” is the first spin-off from the popular series, and it smartly sidesteps one of the main show’s biggest weaknesses. Because it’s an animated series with shorter, roughly 20-minute episodes, the storytelling is different. Instead of long, drawn-out storylines that last the whole season, each episode focuses on a self-contained side story.

Episodes 4 and 5 of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 feature familiar characters like Nancy and Steve, each involved in stories that conclude within those episodes. The main storyline of the show revolves around a central mystery, and it takes place between the second and third seasons of Stranger Things.

Luckily, the least interesting storyline from Stranger Things – the one involving military groups investigating the strange events in Hawkins – wasn’t included in Tales from ’85. This plotline consistently felt like the weakest part of Stranger Things, especially in the final episodes of season 5. It’s good to see the show moving away from it.

Stranger Things’ Military Subplots Are Finally Being Left Behind

The military storylines in Stranger Things have consistently been the weakest part of the show, and season 5’s plot involving Dr. Kay was no exception. The characters connected to Dr. Kay’s mission weren’t very engaging, even Dr. Kay herself. This was particularly disappointing considering the talented Linda Hamilton played the role – the show missed a chance to create a complex, sympathetic military character instead of a one-dimensional villain.

Honestly, a really promising setup just fell flat. The character of Kay, and frankly anything involving her team, completely bogged down the show’s momentum. It reminded me of those military tangents in earlier seasons of Stranger Things – and we all know those were usually the weakest links. Even those Russian storylines in seasons 3 and 4 had more punch than Kay’s arc this season, but let’s be real, nothing could compete with what the core characters were up to.

The military storylines in Stranger Things had become predictable, so the lack of them in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is a welcome change. This installment primarily focuses on the core group – Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Eleven – with a few well-integrated new characters. Importantly, these new additions aren’t connected to any external groups or organizations.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Uses Subplots In A Fun Way

Unlike the main story arcs in Stranger Things, the side stories in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 are self-contained episodes. This was intentional, as the animated series was designed to feel like a classic Saturday morning cartoon, with adventures that wrap up within a single episode rather than spanning the whole season.

The show uses a format where each episode features a self-contained story that also moves the main plot forward. A good example is Steve’s episode: he and Dustin work together to defeat two powerful monsters connected to the season’s big bad. Because Steve only appears in episode 4, his story feels complete within that episode, rather than being stretched out across the whole season.

Similarly, Nancy’s appearance in episode 5 of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85—helping the kids get into the Hawkins magazine office—gives that episode a unique atmosphere, different from other episodes and the main Stranger Things series. The way these smaller storylines are handled makes Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 feel new and avoids a common problem with the original show.

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2026-04-27 22:04