Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 showrunner promises it isn’t just a “monster of the week” series

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The popular series Stranger Things concluded its five-season run in January 2026, but the story isn’t over yet. Netflix is creating an animated spin-off called Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The creator has assured fans that this new series will have a focused storyline and won’t just be a series of unrelated adventures.

I’m so excited for the new series! It takes place right after Season 2 and before Season 3, and it looks like all our favorite characters from Hawkins are going to be dealing with some seriously creepy new monsters. Apparently, the barrier between our world and the Upside Down is getting weaker, which means even more trouble is brewing!

Now that the show is out, fans understand the Upside Down isn’t just a creepy parallel dimension – it’s actually a connection to a dark and empty place called the Abyss. This is the origin of all the terrifying creatures, like the Mind Flayer and Demogorgon, and ultimately, the setting for the final showdown in Stranger Things.

Given all the dangerous creatures chasing the kids throughout the series, it’s easy to assume Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will be a series of standalone monster-focused stories. However, that won’t be the format – there will be a larger, overarching plot.

Everything happens for a reason in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85

The trailer for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 revealed several monsters the characters will face, like an underground scorpion-like creature, a gorilla-like beast, and a giant, meat-eating plant lurking in the forest.

Eric Robles, the creator of the show, told SFX magazine that every creature and storyline contributes to a bigger, overarching narrative. He emphasized they weren’t aiming for a simple ‘monster of the week’ format, but wanted each event to have a purpose and avoid random creature appearances.

Every event in the show, whether it involves the creatures or the characters, has a purpose. Nothing happens randomly. If you watch the show from the beginning, you’ll see how all the details connect and contribute to the larger story of the season.

We don’t yet know what role these creatures will have in the overall story, especially since the characters haven’t talked about fighting monsters that weren’t from the Upside Down.

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2026-04-21 14:48