Stranger Things: Tales From '85' Review: Animated Spinoff Is Cynical The animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales From '85 has been met with criticism for its lack of originality, as it retells the same story as the original series while failing to innovate. Unlike traditional spinoffs that expand a show’s universe through new directions—such as exploring origins, forward timelines, or alternate settings—this project opts for a direct chronological rewind, replicating the plot, characters, and setting of the original Stranger Things series. The show’s premise places the characters in Hawkins, Indiana, during the events between Season 2 and 3, before the Battle of Starcourt Mall and the introduction of Robin (Maya Hawke). This timeline choice has been described as redundant, as the narrative gaps between these seasons have never been a source of suspense. The series is animated, a visual cue that signals its departure from the live-action original, which concluded its run on Netflix. However, this shift is seen as a transparent attempt to prolong the Stranger Things brand’s profitability. By animating the characters, Netflix avoids the limitations of aging actors, allowing the franchise to capitalize on its popularity indefinitely. The show’s creators, led by showrunner Eric Robles and executive-produced by the Duffer Brothers, have been criticized for not embracing a hand-drawn, 1980s cartoon aesthetic that would have better aligned with the show’s nostalgic themes. Instead, the animation resembles contemporary computer-generated shows with superficial period details, such as neon accents, which fail to evoke the era’s distinct visual style.#netflix #stranger_things #duffer_brothers #eric_robles #stranger_things_tales_from_85
