Tales From ’85: Stranger Things Returns as an Animated Adventure
Tales From ’85 spins off into animation to retell the events bridging the gap between seasons, recapturing the charm, humor, and heart that made the live‑action saga so beloved. Across its ten episodes, the series leans into nostalgia while introducing fresh twists that fit snugly in the Stranger Things universe.
Tales From ’85 centers on the familiar Hawkins crew—Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Hopper—while pushing the cast into new dynamics and danger. The story kicks off with a mysterious figure in a hazmat suit pursuing a strange creature through a snow‑covered forest. The hunter blasts the monster with fire, destroying it, but the creature releases spores that mutate into a new threat as it dies. The survivors are reassembled, and their lives begin to braid with Eleven’s growing struggle for autonomy, all while the group’s friendship and humor keep the tone buoyant.
The season tracks the usual mid‑season romance flourishes, notably the continuing bond between Mike and Eleven, and the evolving relationship between Lucas and Max. Dustin, always the investigator, finds himself ensnared by a string of disappearances that hint at a deeper menace.
In a striking twist, the band of friends names the new adversaries “Snow Sharks” for the way they skim just beneath snow’s surface before striking. The threats are a blend of the familiar Stranger Things vibe and influences from sci‑fi horrors like Alien and The Thing: relentless, shape‑shifting, and terrifying in their unpredictability. A standout moment unfolds in a pumpkin patch, where the creature reveals its gruesome adaptability in a sequence that’s equal parts eerie and exhilarating.
Dustin launches a proactive response by forming the Hawkins Investigators Club, a nod to the Monster Squad and Ghostbusters. With his Monster Manual in hand, he dubs the creature an Aboleth, hinting that Hawkins Lab and the Upside Down are deeply involved in its creation and release.
The unfolding crisis isn’t just a boy‑squad affair. A new adult presence arrives in Hawkins to mentor the kids: Mrs. Baxter, the science teacher who steps in while Mr. Clarke takes sabbatical. Her infectious passion for nature and biology arms the young investigators with practical knowledge for the battles ahead. Nikki, Mrs. Baxter’s daughter and a self‑styled “Da Vinci of junk,” becomes the group’s inventive catalyst, crafting makeshift gear to level the playing field. Nikki’s punk sensibility also injects a fresh soundtrack into the show, pairing classic tracks from The Replacements, Killing Joke, Suicidal Tendencies, Billy Idol, and X‑Ray Spex with Brad Breeck’s lush electronic score.
Nikki’s arrival reshapes the dynamics, injecting a new energy into the friendship circle and giving Tales From ’85 its own distinctive flavor while still honoring the franchise’s DNA.
Is Tales From ’85 good?
The series delivers a candy‑colored, high‑spirited thrill ride that feels quintessentially Stranger Things: action, mystery, humor, and a beat‑driven romance at its core. Showrunner Eric Robles, along with the Duffer brothers, leans into a Saturday morning cartoon vibe, and the result is light, breezy, and visually vibrant. The animation shines, with bold greens and pinks that pop on screen, and the voice cast steps into their roles with confidence, including Braxton Quinney as Dustin and Jeremy Jordan stepping into Steve’s shoes.
The production also leans into a laundry list of familiar sci‑fi and horror nods: Star Wars, She‑Ra, E.T., and Halloween all pop through references, while the clever use of a Nightmare on Elm Street cameo and a Robert Englund appearance pay homage to the horror legacy. At ten episodes, the pace isn’t flawless; a few installments drag a little, and some moments lean too heavily on Eleven’s power to escape danger, which can sap suspense. Still, these are minor caveats in a series that largely rekindles the original magic while inviting newcomers to join the fun.
All ten installments of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 are now streaming on Netflix.