Now that Stranger Things has finished, Netflix had planned several spin-off shows, but two of those ideas have already been scrapped, which isn’t a good sign for the future of the series. Season 5 concludes the story of Eleven and her friends’ battle against Vecna and the Upside Down, giving them a satisfying ending. However, this ending doesn’t easily allow for many new stories. It’s interesting, then, that the two spin-offs currently in development both explore events from the past instead of continuing the story forward.
Netflix is planning several spinoffs, including an animated series called Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 and a filmed version of the stageplay The First Shadow. While these projects sound promising, the controversial ending of the original show has dampened some excitement. Plus, the timing of their release isn’t ideal, which ultimately makes both feel unnecessary.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Feels Pointless Now That the Main Show Is Over
Fans of Stranger Things will be heading back to Hawkins this April with the release of Tales From ’85. However, the animated spinoff, which takes place between seasons 2 and 3, feels a little late to the game. While it promises to expand the show’s mythology with new monsters from the Upside Down and the Abyss, the main storyline’s ending is already known, making it hard to see the purpose of this new adventure.
Given where Tales From ’85 falls in the overall story, the show can’t really take any big risks with its characters or plot. Everything has to lead back to the beginning of Season 3, which makes it hard to build genuine excitement. While the new character, Nikki Baxter, is interesting, her never being mentioned in the original series creates a risk of changing established Stranger Things history. This could frustrate viewers even more after the fifth season. It’s a shame, because this self-contained, animated story had potential if it had come out several years ago.
The First Shadow Should Have Come Out Before Stranger Things’ Final Season
Besides the animated spin-off of Stranger Things that many found unnecessary, Netflix is also releasing a filmed version of the stage play The First Shadow. This play explores the history of Henry Creel and shows younger versions of familiar characters like Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers, and Karen Wheeler. It connects to the cave featured in Season 5 and the flashbacks within it, which makes it strange that Netflix didn’t release this recording before the final episodes were available.
Since its 2023 debut in London, The First Shadow has been gaining popularity and is now also available on Broadway. While it hasn’t been widely accessible until now, Netflix is changing that with a recent announcement. Ideally, Netflix should have streamed the play before releasing the final season of Stranger Things, especially since the new season incorporates elements from it. Streaming The First Shadow beforehand would have helped manage fan frustration with the long wait for Season 5. The fact that Netflix is only now deciding to stream the play raises concerns about their long-term plans for these connected stories, as this situation, along with the handling of Tales From ’85, suggests a lack of foresight.
The First Stranger Things Spinoffs Don’t Bode Well for the Larger Netflix Franchise
The timing of both Tales From ’85 and The First Shadow is concerning for Netflix’s plans to expand the Stranger Things universe, hinting at a lack of long-term strategy. Given the popularity of Stranger Things, a plan for spin-offs should have been developed years ago, and any connected stories ideally would have been released while the original series was still airing. These spin-offs now feel rushed, like attempts to profit from the show’s initial excitement. With the series finale behind us, it’s uncertain whether they will succeed.
It’s disappointing, especially with so much depending on how the first Stranger Things spinoffs perform. Their success will probably be seen as proof that people want more, but these particular projects might not be the best way to gauge that interest. A new story that’s truly thrilling would be a better test. Hopefully, we’ll get something like that after these initial releases.
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2026-02-13 20:41