Netflix Officially Retcons Stranger Things

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The world of Stranger Things is continuing to expand! While many viewers thought the fifth season would be the end, the new animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, reveals there’s more story to tell. This series takes place in January 1985, fitting in between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show.

Reviews of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 generally say it’s an enjoyable spin-off, though not always captivating, and it does have some plot problems. For example, the show changes established timelines. Also, a storyline about creatures from the Upside Down wasn’t ever part of the original series, creating another inconsistency. The events in this spin-off are surprisingly large in scope, with Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max battling numerous creatures, including a powerful ‘Queen Bee,’ and ultimately sealing a significant gateway to the Upside Down.

Considering the established timeline, it’s a significant oversight that Tales from ’85 wasn’t referenced in the main Stranger Things series. As future seasons are hinted at, this issue will likely become more prominent, bringing the timeline closer to the July 1985 setting of season 3. However, the biggest problem with Tales from ’85 is that it changes established Stranger Things lore in a surprising way – specifically, the role of Nikki Baxter.

Nikki Baxter is a new character introduced in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. She and her mother move to Hawkins, where she quickly befriends the main group and assists them in fighting a new danger. Her presence raises questions about why she wasn’t mentioned before in Stranger Things, and the first season finale of Tales from ’85 only makes this inconsistency more noticeable.

Nikki’s Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Ending Makes Her An Even Bigger Plot Hole

At the end of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 season 1, Nikki is still living in Hawkins. The show hints that her mother, Anna, frequently moves, leading viewers to believe Nikki would be moved away before the events of Stranger Things season 3 – a season where she doesn’t appear.

Unlike other storylines, Nikki’s arc in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 has a happy ending. Anna chooses to stay in Hawkins with Nikki, and Nikki officially becomes part of the friend group, even getting her own Dungeons & Dragons character piece. This really solidifies Nikki’s place within the group and creates some confusing possibilities for what happens next in the Stranger Things world.

It’s odd that Nikki, who became a close friend to the core group and a valuable fighter against the monsters from the Upside Down, hasn’t been mentioned in later seasons of Stranger Things. She built particularly strong bonds with Will and Eleven, as well as the rest of the team, making her absence noticeable.

Despite this, Nikki isn’t in Hawkins during Stranger Things season 3, which is only six months after the events of Tales from ’85. This change to her story – making her a significant part of the group and then removing her – brings up questions about what happened to her, where she went, and why no one ever mentions her again.

Nikki Is The Source Of Several Stranger Things Plot Holes

Besides the major issues her story creates, Nikki’s role in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 also introduces some smaller plot inconsistencies. She’s a helpful ally in the fight against creatures from the Upside Down, particularly because she’s good at building things – she’s created several weapons that work well against the vines in the spin-off. Plus, Nikki generously lets Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Eleven use her fully-equipped workshop.

As a huge Stranger Things fan, I’m honestly puzzled by something. How did Eleven, Mike, and the others not learn from their past battles when facing Vecna in Season 3 and beyond? Even if they didn’t utilize Nikki’s specific inventions, her resourcefulness should have at least motivated them to be better prepared, especially considering they’d just gone through a similar ordeal only six months earlier! Honestly, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 feels like it’s retroactively changing things, and Nikki is right at the heart of those plot-altering additions. It just doesn’t quite add up with what we already knew.

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2026-04-27 04:18