Stranger Things: Tales From '85

Mounted by showrunner Eric Robles, it’s a streamlined, supercharged telling, stripped of the soap operatics that occupied more of the original series than you might remember. It’s a classic kids-versus-monster adventure from which adults are largely absent, which in its own way makes this a superior “Stranger Things.”

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is good enough that franchise completists aren’t going to cringe while watching it, and it may be a good way to introduce younger kids to the franchise. But we just wish it was a little scarier, and the character animation a little less weird.

Despite a more compelling mystery, Season 2 of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 feels more hopelessly constrained by its concept, lacking in serious stakes and significant character development to maintain the status quo.

While the first installment had nostalgic charm, Season 2 struggles to stand on its own.

“Tales from ’85” illustrates a good idea that’s still hamstrung by a devotion to the show’s preexisting lore.

Who’s the audience for this infantile, animated take on an indelible series? Only diehards and dimwits need apply.

Without the liability of actors whose voices will deepen and heights will shoot up over time, Netflix can continue to exploit this IP as long as its audience desires, looking ever-more-solipsistically inward rather than branching out. I’ll give “Tales From ‘85” this much credit: it’s as creepy and unsettling an idea as this horror-adjacent franchise has produced in years.

Ca fait plaisir de retrouver toute l'équipe même si oui ca tire un peu sur la corde et qu'on sait parfaitement qu'il n'y aura aucun enjeu réel puisque tout ce passe entre la saison 2 et 3 j'avoue Mais malgré tout la saison m'a plus, c'est graphiquement très réussit et l'animation est vraiment pas mauvaise pour un animé US Ca me fait un peu pensé au anciens jeux Telltale Franchement j'ai passé un très moment avec mon fils

I thought it was really cool. It’s not better than the live-action. It’s a great way to expand this universe without affecting the main story. The beginning is a bit slow, but from a certain point it gets into a really good rhythm that brings back the roots of Stranger Things. What I also liked is how it slowly builds tension instead of rushing things. At first it feels like it’s just setting up characters and atmosphere, but then it starts layering that familiar mystery feeling again—like something is always slightly off in the background And once it clicks, it really clicks. The pacing becomes more engaging, the stakes feel clearer, and it starts to feel like that classic mix of friendship, curiosity, and creeping danger that made the original series so strong. Another cool thing is how it can explore ideas that the live-action can’t really do as freely. The animation style lets them push visuals, weird moments, and concepts from the Upside Down without worrying about realism or production limits. That opens a lot of space for creativity while still respecting the main storyline. Overall, it feels less like a replacement and more like a “side layer” of the universe—something that deepens it, fills gaps, and keeps that Stranger Things feeling alive in a different format

Uma série redundante, de fácil entendimento, como um spin-off inofensivo. O plot também não surpreende. Vale pelo acuro em imitar os personagens, como homenagem. E a edição ajud a não ficar monótono, mesmo que seja tão clichê.

A somewhat pointless show with uninspired, generic animation, that still entertains from time to time.

So tedious. Even moreso than the final season of ST. It's gone entirely beyond all hope of being believable by the end. And I CANNOT ignore the out-of-place Nikki, who looks like she's a total ripoff of Zarya from Overwatch. Even has the same signature weapon for crying out loud.