Stranger Things Is Officially Repeating One Annoying Story for the Third Time in 9 Years

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It’s frustrating that Stranger Things seems to be telling the same story over and over, and fans will be hoping its new spinoff avoids repeating those patterns. While Season 5 wrapped up the main storyline in December, the franchise is already expanding with Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an animated series. This spinoff revisits the Hawkins crew for a new mystery set between Seasons 2 and 3, and it premieres in April. Although it might not be the most anticipated fantasy show of 2026, the series is sure to draw viewers as the first step in expanding the Stranger Things universe.

The new trailer for Tales From ’85 gives us a preview of Eleven and the gang’s adventures in the upcoming spin-off series. While a fresh mystery is intriguing, it could potentially change established Stranger Things storylines and create inconsistencies. Beyond that, the trailer also suggests the show will revisit a frustrating plot point from the original series—one that’s already been used twice since Season 2. It’s unclear how significant this will be, but it’s disappointing to see it repeated.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Will Repeat the Most Annoying Hopper Story a Third Time

Eleven and Hopper’s relationship is a key part of Stranger Things, but their storyline often revisits the same themes. For much of their time together, Eleven is in hiding from the government, and Hopper is instantly protective, largely because he’s still dealing with the loss of his daughter. While understandable, this protectiveness sometimes hinders Eleven’s development. Hopper spends a lot of Season 2 learning to give her space, and we see that same struggle again in Season 5, as he finally accepts that Eleven needs to make her own decisions. It’s a valuable lesson for any parent, but Hopper’s character arc often feels limited to just that, becoming repetitive and lacking new developments.

The new animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, seems to be revisiting Hopper’s tendency to be an overprotective father figure – for the third time. The trailer shows him already scolding Mike, which makes sense given the show’s placement right after Season 2. However, I hope the series doesn’t focus too much on this familiar storyline. We’ve seen it twice before, and it’s hard to imagine there’s much new to explore. Overemphasizing this aspect could also make Hopper’s ending in Stranger Things Season 5 feel less genuine, and it’s already a bit shaky.

Watch the full trailer for the new Stranger Things spinoff below:

The Stranger Things Spinoff Will Make Hopper’s Ending Even Less Convincing

Throughout the series, Hopper was intensely protective, making it surprising how quickly he accepts Eleven’s independence in the final season of Stranger Things. While Mike still struggles with her absence, Hopper seems unusually okay with it, simply because it’s what Eleven desires. The finale focuses more on his romance with Joyce, which is heartwarming after everything they’ve endured, but feels a little unearned. Although he learns to respect Eleven’s choices by the end of Season 5, his optimism feels out of character, especially considering his past behavior. If the show revisits his overprotective tendencies, it will only emphasize this disconnect. It will be strange to see any of that again, and doubling down on it would be a mistake.

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2026-02-07 00:12