New Stranger Things Series Creator Clarifies Major Loophole After Eleven Closed The Gate

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Stranger Things has a major loophole, and Eleven’s biggest achievement could be entirely pointless.

The sci-fi series Stranger Things, created by Matt and Ross Duffer, quickly became a worldwide hit, surpassing the success of many established franchises. The show earned over $1 billion and, despite a somewhat controversial final season, captivated audiences for a decade. While the main series has concluded, fans can still look forward to a Broadway play and spin-off shows.

As a huge fan of the show, I always wondered how monsters kept popping up in Hawkins after Eleven closed the gate in season 2. Well, the new spin-off, Tales from ’85, which takes place between seasons 2 and 3, finally explains it! Episode 6 goes back to 1984, right after Eleven shut the Mothergate. It turns out a sneaky scientist grabbed some vines from the Upside Down to run experiments, and, predictably, something broke loose. That’s how the connection wasn’t completely severed, and how those creatures still found a way through!

Eric Robles, the showrunner, writer, and executive producer of the new Stranger Things spin-off Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, recently spoke with Netflix’s Tudum about a plot point fans have noticed. He clarified the science behind why monsters continue to threaten Hawkins, even after the events shown in Tales from ’85.

These creatures release spores when they’re alive and nearing death. These spores spread throughout Hawkins, infecting any plant or organic material they land on. Once something is infected with spores from the Upside Down, it transforms into a new and dangerous monster.

Since its release, the new spin-off series has created disagreement among viewers. It launched with a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is the lowest score for any installment in the Stranger Things franchise. Even the most controversial season of the original series, its fifth and final season, received an 82% rating. Based on 24 reviews, critics have described the spin-off as slow and uninspired, and a weaker version of the original.

The animated spin-off, Tales from ’85, features a completely new group of voice actors, including Brooklyn Davey, Braxton Quinney, Benjamin Plessala, Luca Diaz, Jeremy Jordan, Elisha Williams, Brett Gipson, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, and Odessa A’zion. A’zion plays Nikki Baxter, a new character introduced in the animated series who doesn’t appear in the original Stranger Things. The future of the series and any further contributions from this animated cast are currently unknown.

Netflix will release a filmed version of the hit Broadway play Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The play, which tells the backstory of the villain Vecna and features familiar characters, was recorded in February 2026 during its stage run. This will allow fans worldwide to experience the Stranger Things universe in a new way. A specific release date hasn’t been announced yet.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is available to stream on Netflix.

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2026-04-24 16:58