Netflix’s Stranger Things Rewrites Fix The Finale’s Biggest Problem

by

Even though the new Stranger Things spinoff, Tales from ’85, will follow the same characters we know and love, this could actually be beneficial for the series overall. The original Stranger Things finale received mixed reactions, with some viewers disappointed by the unclear ending regarding Eleven’s future.

Some fans briefly believed in a conspiracy theory called #ConformityGate, hoping the show would get a completely revised finale to address its problems with plot and characters. While that didn’t happen, many fans still wished for a better ending.

Many viewers were disappointed with the way season 5 of Stranger Things ended, feeling that key relationships weren’t given enough attention, important events were rushed, and beloved characters weren’t used to their full potential. Fortunately, the upcoming animated series Tales from ’85 offers a chance to address these issues when it arrives on Netflix soon.

Tales from ’85 Gives Viewers More Time With The Stranger Things Heroes

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

Taking place between the second and third seasons of the original series, this new story follows Dustin, Mike, El, Lucas, and Max as they encounter more creatures from the Upside Down. The trailer for Tales from ’85 suggests we’ll also meet some fresh faces, and Odessa A’Zion and Lou Diamond Phillips are among the voice actors involved.

While the new characters in Tales from ’85 should be interesting, the biggest draw of the show is that it lets viewers spend more time with the beloved characters from the original series. Some characters didn’t get enough focus in the fifth season’s finale, and this spinoff offers a chance to explore them further.

A major criticism of season 5 was that some characters didn’t have enough development or satisfying conclusions to their storylines. This spinoff offers a chance to explore those characters further, giving them the attention they lacked, and introducing new faces along the way. Characters like Lucas and Dustin, who felt underutilized in the last season, can now get the spotlight they deserve.

Tales from ’85 Can Flesh Out Stranger Things Plots The Finale Ignored

The finale of Stranger Things season 5 had several decisions that upset viewers, but one of the biggest disappointments was how little they did with Dustin’s storyline. Although his graduation speech was a nice moment, the show didn’t address the bullying he experienced at Eddie’s grave, and his girlfriend, Suzie, was completely left out.

The book Tales from ’85 could expand on many unanswered questions from the show, like Suzie’s relationship with Dustin, how Lucas and Max’s romance developed before the events of seasons 3 and 4, and the early days of Joyce and Hopper’s love story. These storylines all felt rushed and deserved more attention after the main plot wrapped up.

The first seasons of the show didn’t have much time to explore character relationships and smaller storylines because they were so focused on the main, action-packed plot. For example, we didn’t get to see much of Joyce and Hopper’s budding romance in season 3, as the story was primarily about the hidden Soviet base under the mall.

The show didn’t spend much time on Dustin’s early relationship in season 3 because the focus was on stopping Billy. In fact, his friends even questioned if his girlfriend actually existed until the very end of that season. However, stories like Tales from ’85 offer a chance to explore these more personal character arcs in greater detail.

It’s a tricky situation, though. While character development is important, Tales from ’85 still needs real danger and excitement. The show can’t rely only on drama – it needs the monsters and action that initially drew people in.

Tales from ’85’s Stranger Things Rewrites Need To Be Careful

Another important point is that Tales from ’85 shouldn’t drastically change the overall story of the show. It might be appealing to address problems from season 5, but this series happens before season 3, not after it ends. Therefore, while the show can offer clues about Dustin and Suzie’s eventual breakup, they need to stay a couple during these events.

Even though the Tales from ’85 series could further develop the connection between Joyce and Hopper, it can’t actually bring them together as a couple. Their romance doesn’t truly begin until Joyce rescues Hopper from a Russian labor camp in season 4 of the original show. The series can certainly enrich the existing story, but it can’t change anything that’s already been established as fact.

Even though it would be satisfying for the Stranger Things spinoff to correct issues from the series finale, its influence is limited by where it fits in the overall timeline. Because Tales from ’85 happens between seasons 2 and 3, it can’t drastically alter established Stranger Things history.

Read More

2026-02-08 18:29