Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 review – Fun animated spinoff that captures spirit of the series

by

Although the live-action Stranger Things has ended, the story continues with a new animated series. It aims to recreate the same fun and heartwarming feeling that fans loved about the original.

Man, Stranger Things really took me back! Over five seasons and 42 episodes, I was totally hooked on the story of these kids growing up, dealing with all the usual teenage stuff, but also battling crazy monsters from another dimension. It was a seriously nostalgic ride and the friendships felt so real.

As with all stories, this one eventually reached its conclusion. By the start of the new year, the main villain, Vecna, was defeated, and the young characters were beginning to grow up.

Netflix isn’t finished with the world of Stranger Things. Their new release, Tales From ’85, shows what happened during the time between the second and third seasons.

What is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 about?

In the latest season of Stranger Things, the teenage characters navigate a new school year with a new friend and teacher, all while battling a terrifying new monster linked to the Upside Down.

The story begins with a person in a protective suit pursuing a creature through a snowy forest. The creature attacks, and the person responds by setting it on fire, seemingly destroying it. However, just before it dies, the creature releases spores that turn into a different, even more terrifying monster.

The show then returns to its normal pace, quickly catching us up with Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Max. We also see Hopper being unusually protective of Eleven, which becomes a recurring storyline throughout the season, and often makes Eleven upset and frustrated.

The second season concluded with the Snow Ball, a memorable night where Eleven and Mike shared their first kiss, and their relationship continues to grow. We also see Lucas and Max getting closer to each other.

In the first episode, Dustin is pursued by bullies into the woods. These bullies are then mysteriously pulled under the snow and vanish, kicking off the main events of the 1985 story.

Hakwins faces a fearsome new threat

The group nicknamed the creatures ‘Snow Sharks’ because of how they swim just under the surface of the snow before launching relentless attacks.

These creatures are strongly inspired by the monsters from the sci-fi classics Alien and The Thing. They borrow from Alien‘s unique life cycle, relentless drive to survive, and frightening teeth. From The Thing, they take the idea of a monster constantly changing shape, creating truly terrifying moments, like the memorable scene in the pumpkin patch.

Dustin responds to the danger by creating the ‘Hawkins Investigators Club.’ It’s a group dedicated to researching strange occurrences, functioning much like a blend of the ‘Monster Squad’ and ‘Ghostbusters’.

Using his ‘Monster Manual’ for reference, Dustin identifies the creature as an Aboleth, and it’s soon revealed that both Hawkins Lab and the Upside Down played a role in its creation.

Okay, so for most of the season, my crew and I were actually doing pretty well keeping this Aboleth thing contained. But honestly, we needed a hand, and thankfully, a new person showed up in Hawkins who really helped us out. We couldn’t have done it without them!

New characters for a new adventure

Mr. Clarke, the science teacher, is taking a sabbatical, and Mrs. Baxter (Janeane Garofalo) is taking his place. She’s incredibly enthusiastic about science, and her passion is contagious.

She teaches the children about nature and biology, equipping them with the skills and understanding they’ll need to face challenges throughout the story.

I’m really fascinated by Nikki, the new girl in town! And her mom? She’s incredible! She calls herself the ‘Da Vinci of junk,’ which I think is so cool, and she actually builds the stuff Nikki and others need to defend themselves – like, she makes the weapons and gear herself. It’s amazing!

Nikki’s vibe is definitely punk, reflected in a music selection that includes bands like The Replacements, Killing Joke, Suicidal Tendencies, Billy Idol, and X-Ray Spex, all blended with the rich electronic music created by Brad Breeck.

She adds a fresh energy to the group, giving “Tales From ’85” a unique and distinctive feel.

Is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 good?

Tales From ’85 is a thrilling and fun adventure, giving you all the best parts of a Stranger Things story – action, mystery, laughs, and heartwarming moments.

Eric Robbles, along with the series creators, the Duffer brothers, aimed for an animated style reminiscent of classic Saturday morning cartoons, and they achieved it. The show feels light, fun, and energetic.

The animation is stunning, with bright, vibrant colors, especially beautiful shades of green and pink. The new voice actors do an excellent job stepping into the roles, particularly Braxton Quinney as Dustin and Jeremy Jordan as Steve, who perfectly capture the spirit of their characters.

Stranger Things continues to openly acknowledge the movies and shows that inspired it, referencing classics like Star Wars, She-Ra, E.T., and Halloween. One episode is clearly inspired by The Breakfast Club, and the show frequently pays tribute to Nightmare on Elm Street, even featuring an appearance by Robert Englund, who played Freddy Krueger.

The show is a bit lengthy at 10 episodes, and occasionally feels repetitive, especially in episodes 7 and 8. Sometimes, the plot relies too heavily on Eleven’s powers to solve problems, which can make things less exciting.

Overall, Tales From ’85 is a really enjoyable and nostalgic experience. It’s perfect for anyone discovering this type of story for the first time, even younger viewers, and will also please fans who are eagerly awaiting the next season of shows like Stranger Things.

All 10 episodes of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 are now streaming on Netflix.

Read More

2026-04-23 10:24