Stranger Things : Tales for 85 Plays It Safe but still works

There was a time when “Stranger Things” completely captivated me—no question about it. I’m talking about that opening weekend, lights off, snacks ready, and I made a point not to check my phone. Watching it felt like a special event every single time.

Then, somehow, I drifted away. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened—maybe it was after Season 3 or during the long gap when everyone else moved on to different things. It wasn’t a conscious decision to stop watching; it just stopped being a priority. That happens sometimes.

That said, I never really closed the book on the show. It always felt like something I would eventually return to. I didn’t expect my return to be through an animated spinoff.

But here we are. “Tales from ’85” takes place in that in-between period between Seasons 2 and 3, when Hawkins pretends everything is back to normal. Of course, it’s not. It never is. Eleven and the crew are facing new challenges, and the creatures they encounter are a bit different this time. They aren’t just killing people for the sake of it—there’s something deeper at play, even if the show doesn’t fully delve into it.

And yes, this version definitely has a lighter tone. If you’re looking for that early-season tension, that feeling that “something’s not right” lurking in the background before anything even happens, you won’t find much of that here. The stakes are lower, the danger feels more controlled, and the plot follows a familiar formula: a problem arises, chaos ensues, and Eleven arrives at the last moment to save the day. You can almost predict it beat for beat.

Still, I didn’t dislike it. Once you adjust to what it is, it works on its own terms. Where it really stands out is visually. The animation has a bold, almost comic-book aesthetic, with colors that burst off the screen. While the characters are a bit exaggerated, they remain recognizable, and the movement during action scenes is fluid. It doesn’t try to mimic the live-action look—instead, it carves out its own identity, and that choice pays off.

They also introduce a new character, Nicki, who joins the group as the tech-savvy brain. She has that young Q-from-Bond energy—always a step ahead and always building something. It’s a fun addition, even if you can’t help but wonder how she fits into the main timeline.

At the end of the day, this is a more family-friendly version of Hawkins. The adults take a backseat, the tone is lighter, and nostalgia is emphasized with an ‘80s soundtrack that still hits.

For someone like me, who fell off the show but never fully disengaged, “Tales from ’85” is a solid reminder of why this world captured our attention in the first place. I may not be completely back yet, but I’m definitely paying attention again.

Final Grade: B+

All episodes of “Tales from ’85” are available to stream now on Netflix.