Stranger Things Just Introduced the Perfect Mind Flayer Replacement (& It’s Got to Return)

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This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.

With the popular show Stranger Things now finished, Netflix is keeping the story alive with an animated spin-off called Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The new series fills the gap between seasons 2 and 3. To avoid disrupting the main storyline, Tales From ’85 is set at a time when the portals to the Upside Down were closed, meaning any new creatures have to find a way into our world from the regular side first.

The comic book, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, does a good job of introducing a new monster that builds on familiar elements of the Upside Down. It’s called the “Queen” (a nod to beehives) or “Horde Prime” (after a reference from She-Ra). Interestingly, the Queen shares similarities with the Mind Flayer, possibly hinting at how the original monster developed in Season 5’s Dimension Z. The comic explores how the Queen functions and leaves fans wondering if it might reappear if Tales From ’85 gets a follow-up.

The Queen Exists Because of Accelerated Evolution

The character of the Queen originated from the research of Anna Baxter, a scientist intrigued by the concept of rapid evolution. As explained in a typical, informative moment in Stranger Things, evolution is how organisms develop and improve over time. While this usually happens slowly, it can speed up, particularly when a species faces extinction. This realization leads the kids in Hawkins to believe that something managed to survive after Eleven closed the gate at the end of Season 2.

There’s some truth to what they suspect. Daniel Fischer, an ex-scientist from Hawkins Lab, has been using Anna Baxter’s research. He saved vine samples and thinks her serums can bring them back to life. He’s actually succeeded in reviving something, and believes it’s safely contained in his lab. However, that creature is manipulating him, and has actually spread into the tunnels beneath Hawkins. A small accident released spores into the air, which the creature used to create its own army.

The Queen’s Powers Are Explained By Dungeons & Dragons (Of Course)

It’s fitting for Stranger Things that the initial portrayal of the Queen is similar to the Bodytaker Plant from Dungeons & Dragons. This plant is an aggressive, spreading organism that takes over a forest, replacing all existing life with its own offspring. It spreads through vines over large areas and can even regrow from a single piece. The Bodytaker Plant uses local plants and animals as hosts, dissolving them with acid and turning them into new parts of its collective consciousness. The story Tales From ’85 starts by presenting this concept very directly, showing an entire pumpkin patch being overtaken.

Unlike the main Stranger Things series, Tales From ’85 doesn’t dwell on Dungeons & Dragons. The story centers on rapid evolution of the creatures, and the Queen quickly moves past her initial form. Early creatures, called podlings, need hosts, but later ones – known as “Vine Dogs” in the accompanying toy line – are similar to Demodogs. These Vine Dogs are created directly by the Queen and don’t need hosts, which means the disappearances in Hawkins – this time without Hopper noticing – finally stop.

Will the Queen Survive For Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Season 2?

The Queen’s main objective is to return to the Upside Down, and possibly Dimension Z. According to Anna Baxter, many creatures naturally try to go back to where they originally lived, hoping to thrive. Driven by this instinct, the Queen develops the power to open a gateway to the Upside Down. This makes the Queen a greater threat than the Mind Flayer, and adds a frightening new layer to the show’s story. If the Queen had connected with the Mind Flayer, the Upside Down could have launched a massive invasion. Luckily, Eleven seemingly destroys the Queen, closing the gate as its body is still partially in our world.

The Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 story concludes by strongly hinting at what’s to come in Season 2. We see mysterious blue flowers quickly sprouting from the Queen’s body in the Upside Down, set to the tune of “We’ll Meet Again.” This suggests the monster is still changing and will definitely return. Since the Queen isn’t a natural creature, it makes sense it would reappear, likely in a new form as it continues to rapidly evolve. However, it’s crucial that the Queen doesn’t become part of the Mind Flayer’s collective consciousness, because that would allow the Mind Flayer to create its own gateways.

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2026-04-24 15:11