Menu
Sign in now
- [x]
- [x]
Close
-
* [What To Play](https://www.polygon.com/what-to-play/) -
* - [x] Gaming Submenu * [News](https://www.polygon.com/gaming-news/) * [Reviews](https://www.polygon.com/gaming-reviews/) * [Previews](https://www.polygon.com/gaming-previews/) * [Features](https://www.polygon.com/gaming-features/)-
- Entertainment Submenu
-
- Guides Submenu
-
- [x]
Follow
Followed
Like
More Action
Sign in now
- [x]
Close
Follow
Followed
Like
Link copied to clipboard
Published Jun 25, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Get ready for another trip to Hawkins
Related
X-Men '97 season 2 release schedule and episode titles revealed
19 hours ago
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 gets new tease ahead of bigger reveal next week
21 hours ago
The Incredibles creator's new sci-fi animated movie gets holiday release date on Netflix
21 hours ago
Netflix’s new Stranger Things show so good, it’s already renewed for season 2
Netflix
Stranger Things: Tales from '85
Sign in to your Polygon.com account
After the lackluster fourth and fifth seasons and the so-so series finale, I was pretty much over Stranger Things when it wrapped up at the end of 2025. The idea of a secret final final episode, let alone whatever spin-offs and sequels Netflix had planned, filled me with more dread than an incoming demogorgon.
So when the animated spinoff was announced and trailers began popping up, I wasn’t all that interested. Then I decided to give it a chance and found it to be way better than I expected. It was so good, in fact, that it’s already been picked up for a second season.
Image: Netflix
In defense of Stranger Things: Tales from '85
Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 takes place between the second and third seasons of Stranger Things. It follows Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Eleven, Max, and series newcomer Nikki as they tangle with some new, plant-like creatures from the Upside Down. What makes the series surprisingly strong is how much the characters feel like they did in the show’s earlier years. Much of the problem with the latter seasons of the show was that the kids no longer felt like kids — because, of course, they weren’t — but Tales from ‘85 reinvigorated the characters with a sense of youthful adventurism. This was made possible by casting very convincing voice actors for the kids and keeping the focus squarely on them (as opposed to branching out to the adults and older teens the way the original series does).
While I enjoyed it myself, the overall response to the series was mixed, with Variety calling it a cynical attempt to prolong the franchise and The Seattle Times calling it dull. Regardless, the series made it into Netflix’s top 15 animated debuts ever and was quickly picked up for a second season.
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 TrailerVisit
Now Playing
WATCH
NEXT
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Mute
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration-:-
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE
Remaining Time--:-
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
- Chapters
Descriptions
- descriptions off, selected
Captions
- captions off, selected
Audio Track
Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.
Advertisement
Skip Ad
5
2:42
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 Trailer
What to expect from Stranger Things: Tales from '85 season 2
Shortly after the announcement of season 2, The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Tales from ‘85 showrunner Eric Robles. He was light on details, but did mention the importance of addressing why Nikki, who is quickly ingratiated into the party in the animated spinoff, is never seen or mentioned in the original Stranger Things series.
“Technically, she doesn’t fit into the timeline,” Robles admitted of Nikki. “What I can say is that I understand the responsibility of ending this story for this series correctly — what the kids process, how they move forward after that, how it connects perfectly to season three and why they don’t talk about her.”
Unfortunately, in the same interview, Robles also mentioned that Tales from ‘85 is “soft canon,” meaning it may not fit with every single detail of the original series. While that’s probably why the cartoon was able to tell an enjoyable, coherent story in its first season, it doesn’t reassure me that it will be able to neatly square a pretty difficult-to-explain plot hole.
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is streaming on Netflix
Follow
Followed
Like
Share
FacebookXWhatsAppThreadsBlueskyLinkedInRedditFlipboardCopy linkEmail
Close
-
Most Popular
Creature Commandos is getting some new team members in season 2
Joker is getting his own version of Batman: The Animated Series
Absolute Batman is getting his own TV show
GTA 6 leak suggests an on-disc physical release is coming in December
Japanese government's bid to fight anime piracy will endorse AI translations
Laura Bailey's new Critical Role character is a 'hot, big fungril'
Trending Now
This 13-part sci-fi thriller is so good cyberpunk fans will binge it in one night
An exhaustive 20-year timeline of George R.R. Martin’s Winds of Winter updates
Attack on Titan's ending debate is about to explode again thanks to an anime remake
Thread
Sign in to your Polygon.com account
We want to hear from you. Share your perspective in the comments below, and please keep the conversation respectful.
Be the first to post
Attachment(s)
Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.
Your comment has not been saved
This space is open for discussion.
Be the first to share your thoughts.
Recommended
Adventure Time finally gets the reboot it deserves: ‘It's lighter. It's funnier. It's goofier.’
Adventure Time is finally giving Bubblegum and Marceline their own series
One Piece's anime remake gets its first trailer
Lords of the Fallen 2 dodges fall 2026's game release pileup, delayed to 2027
-
Follow Us
Polygon.com is part of the Valnet Publishing Group
Copyright © 2026 Valnet Inc.
Now Playing
WATCH
NEXT
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration-:-
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE
Remaining Time-0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
- Chapters
Descriptions
- descriptions off, selected
Captions
- captions off, selected
Audio Track
Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Advertisement
Skip Ad
5