Stranger Things Already Made The Worst Spinoff Mistake With Its New Show

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While many were excited to hear about a new Stranger Things spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 could be a mistake for the franchise. Everyone is eagerly awaiting season 5 of Stranger Things in 2025, as it will conclude one of Netflix’s most successful and groundbreaking shows.

While Adolescence and Wednesday have recently been more popular in terms of viewership numbers, Stranger Things remains a signature show for the streaming service. What sets Stranger Things apart is its longevity – it’s been around since 2016 – and it’s been a launching pad for many of its actors, helping them achieve major success over the past nine years.

Although spin-offs of Stranger Things have been planned for years, we only recently got a first glimpse of one. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is an animated series scheduled to premiere in 2026, following the release of the show’s final season. Unfortunately, the concept behind it doesn’t seem promising for the future of the franchise.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Stars The Same Characters As Stranger Things

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Unlike introducing new faces to the world of Stranger Things, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 follows the same characters we already know and love. While the original series was live-action, this new show is animated, but otherwise, it stays true to what viewers expect.

The new series, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, will be set in the same location as the original – Hawkins, Indiana – and will fit directly into the existing storyline. It takes place between the second and third seasons of Stranger Things, filling in the gaps between those events.

While some ideas for Stranger Things spinoffs didn’t quite fit the show’s vibe, and some fan theories went a bit too far, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 isn’t just cautious – it’s remarkably unoriginal. It hardly feels like a new show at all.

I’m really excited about Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 being animated! It seems like it’ll be a lot brighter and more fun to watch than the first season, which was pretty dark and serious. Though, season 3 did lean into a more playful, even goofy, style, and some fans weren’t huge on that change, so I’m hoping the animation will strike the right balance.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Takes Place In The Original Stranger Things Timeline

Switching to animation for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 means the original actors won’t be returning. Newcomers Brett Gipson, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt, and Elisha Williams will voice the characters of Hopper, Eleven, and Lucas, respectively. While this offers a chance for these actors, it’s likely a negative development for the show’s future.

Rather than offering a fresh take with a new story or timeframe, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 essentially retreads the same ground as the original series, but without the characters we’ve come to love. By taking place in Hawkins during the same events as the original show, the spinoff feels unnecessary and repetitive.

Revisiting the first episode of Stranger Things highlights how surprisingly dark and intense the show originally was. The first season is actually slower-paced, more atmospheric, and generally more somber than many people recall. The show didn’t really find its comedic stride until the third season.

It’s okay if a Stranger Things spin-off takes a more lighthearted approach to the show’s universe, but reusing the same characters and setting feels odd and doesn’t make a lot of sense. This approach suggests the creators don’t have confidence in the franchise’s ability to stand on its own, and they’re hesitant to take risks or move away from what’s already proven to work.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Doesn’t Bode Well For The Franchise’s Future

The characters, storyline, and overall feel of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 suggest the creators lack confidence in developing the Stranger Things world further. Announcing this spin-off before the final season of the original show aired only adds to the impression that they fear losing viewers once the main series concludes.

A successful spinoff could introduce fresh characters, potentially in a different location and definitely set either before or after the original show’s timeline. While Stranger Things mixed horror, science fiction, and teen comedy, this new series could focus more strongly on just one of those elements.

The first trailer for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 appeared before the main show had even finished, almost promising fans that the Stranger Things universe would continue indefinitely. However, the new series got off to a rocky start by not featuring the original actors while still revisiting familiar storylines.

While there’s potential for the new series to offer a unique take on familiar characters like Lucas, Dustin, Mike, Eleven, Hopper, Will, and Max, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 might be too cautious to truly stand out as a successful spinoff. It seems to be playing it safe when a Stranger Things story should be bolder.

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2025-11-08 00:39