Netflix’s New Stranger Things Spin-Off Was Always Doomed (And I Can Prove It)

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Netflix seems to have a predictable formula: whenever a show like Stranger Things becomes popular, they quickly create more content related to it – sequels, spin-offs, or other ways to keep the story going. While extending successful shows isn’t new in entertainment, it’s starting to feel overdone. I think it’s fine to build on a show’s world, but there’s a difference between doing so with compelling new stories and simply capitalizing on an existing fanbase.

The issue is that expanding a show with spin-offs can diminish the excitement, as we’ve seen with series like The Walking Dead. Stranger Things has always been strongest when its story felt contained, even as later seasons took risks. This new spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, feels like an admission that the original story wasn’t sufficient on its own. It revisits familiar elements – Hawkins, the Upside Down, and the characters – but doesn’t offer much that’s new. Ultimately, it’s not a positive development.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Had Much More Potential

I have to be honest, while the idea of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 sounded cool at first, it just doesn’t feel worth a big investment. The story itself isn’t bad, but it plays it way too safe, and that’s a problem when fans are craving something new. It’s set between seasons two and three, filling in what the characters could have been doing, but with how much Stranger Things has already explored – visually and story-wise – a spin-off really needs to offer a fresh perspective. What we get instead feels like the same world, just… animated. I was hoping for something more creatively daring.

This spin-off doesn’t feel like a story that had to be told. In fact, the creator, Eric Robles, admitted it was mainly driven by wanting to revisit beloved characters and recapture the feeling of Stranger Things. The issue is, when a new story isn’t essential and depends heavily on what audiences already know and love, it can fall flat. We’ve already seen so much of Hawkins, the lab, the Upside Down, and a group of friends facing supernatural threats – all of that was thoroughly explored in the original series.

Let’s be real, Stranger Things had some plot issues that bothered many viewers. A spin-off would have been a great chance to fix or revisit those problems. However, Tales from ’85 doesn’t really try anything new. Animation could have allowed the show to expand its world, explore different areas or events, and even show bigger repercussions from the original series. A prequel story or focusing on new characters – like the kids playing D&D at the end of Stranger Things – would have been a more exciting path. Instead, this spin-off feels overly cautious and doesn’t live up to its full potential.

Timing is also a key consideration. Stranger Things is still incredibly popular and recent in people’s minds, which definitely influences how this project will be seen. Revisiting something from a long time ago would be different, but because Stranger Things ended so recently – after over a decade with both great moments and a somewhat disappointing final season that everyone talked about – I think expectations are naturally lower. The risk is that everything will feel oversaturated.

Expanding the Stranger Things Universe Is a Risky Move

Building on a successful, worldwide hit is tricky, especially when the original wasn’t flawless. We’ve seen examples like Game of Thrones, which was a visually impressive show ultimately remembered for its disappointing finale. Similarly, Stranger Things is now often criticized for its later seasons not living up to the quality of its earlier ones. It’s become more common to hear negative opinions about the series as a whole, due to some significant and divisive creative choices that are hard to overlook. After years of intense discussion, the franchise can also feel tiresome. This is why it’s important to carefully consider whether adding more content is the right move.

Beyond simply having too many spin-offs, audiences can become tired of them, especially when the original characters had unsatisfying endings. For example, many fans disliked how Eleven’s story concluded, so a new series showing her in Tales from ’85 doesn’t feel very appealing. Even if the new adventures are good, they still lead back to an ending viewers rejected. This creates a disconnect – people feel like the spin-off lacks impact because they already know how things will turn out and don’t agree with it. It doesn’t feel fresh or exciting; instead, it feels predetermined, which undermines the whole expansion from the beginning.

Tales from ’85 sticks closely to what’s been done before, without taking many risks or trying anything truly new. While there’s potential for exciting spin-offs that fans would likely enjoy, it’s disappointing that these ideas don’t seem to be explored. The game mainly relies on introducing new creatures rather than evolving the core experience.

It’s not that I dislike the show itself, but what it signifies in the current TV landscape. I get why they want to continue Stranger Things – it’s popular and makes money – but as a viewer, I wish they’d take more risks. Stretching a story out just to keep it going isn’t always a good idea. Sometimes, the smartest thing a story can do is end before it starts retreading old ground.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is available to stream on Netflix.

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2026-04-30 00:42