Stranger Things Spinoff Officially Confirms A Major Fear About The Franchise’s Future

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Even though Stranger Things has ended, its upcoming spinoff appears to be repeating a mistake the original show made in its later seasons. Stranger Things is especially significant for Netflix, as it was arguably the first truly massive hit to come from the streaming service. While shows like Orange Is The New Black, House of Cards, and BoJack Horseman certainly helped build Netflix’s reputation, Stranger Things really established it as a home for blockbuster franchises.

Given how popular Stranger Things became, it was only a matter of time before we saw spin-offs, and the novel Stranger Things: One Way or Another was announced even before the original show finished. Now, with the release of a full trailer for the animated spin-off Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, it’s clear the franchise is now focusing on a younger audience—a shift from its earlier seasons. Although the show has been moving in this direction, many fans may find this change disappointing.

Tales from ’85’s Trailer Proves Stranger Things Is Now A Family-Friendly Franchise

Unlike most spinoffs, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 isn’t introducing new characters or a new location. Instead, it retells stories from between seasons 2 and 3 using animated versions of Hopper, Eleven, Lucas, Mike, Max, Dustin, and Will. While initial reports hinted at a more lighthearted tone, the trailer reveals the series is significantly more comedic than the original show.

Compared to the original Stranger Things, Tales from ’85 feels much lighter and more comedic, trading the show’s darker elements for a sillier, cartoonish tone. It’s more reminiscent of Disney+’s Goosebumps series than a typical Stranger Things story. Despite being created by the same team behind Netflix’s intense thriller Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen, Tales from ’85 lacks that show’s suspense and atmosphere, presenting a reimagining of Stranger Things as a lighthearted Saturday morning cartoon.

Stranger Things Losing Its Darkness Doomed Season 5

The actors in Stranger Things are often very funny, and some of the show’s best scenes are lighthearted moments that break up the more intense, sad, or frightening parts. However, it’s worth remembering that Stranger Things originally aimed for an adult audience. Things like Hopper dealing with the loss of his daughter, the cold-blooded actions of the people at Hawkins Lab, and even the harsh bullying the kids experienced all contributed to the show’s initially dark and mature tone.

The show initially built a strong, suspenseful atmosphere, but that gradually faded. Season 3 introduced a more comedic and lighthearted style that split fans, and while season 4 tried to steer things back on track, season 5 leaned heavily into this family-friendly approach, ultimately weakening the series. The biggest problem wasn’t plot inconsistencies, but the lack of genuine danger. Viewers realized the characters weren’t really at risk, and the new spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, doubles down on this, completely abandoning any attempt at a mature tone.

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2026-04-08 18:13