Netflix gave everyone their first look at the upcoming Stranger Things spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. This animated series will take place in the winter of 1985, between the second and third seasons of the main show. This new series should follow Mike, Eleven, Will, Hopper, and all the other heroes of Hawkins as they face more horrors from the Upside Down.
Even though the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is almost here, there is plenty more room for mysteries to be unraveled in this upcoming sci-fi spinoff. While we all wait for this exciting new series to drop onto Netflix, here’s a list of what we could expect to see in Tales From ’85 when it premieres in 2026.
We get more monsters
This one is obvious, as the spinoff’s first trailer already revealed that a brand new creature from the Upside Down will appear. We should expect to see more kinds of monsters from the Upside Down in Tales From ’85, bringing some much-needed variety to Netflix’s hit franchise.
We’re four seasons into Stranger Things, and the only creatures that we’ve seen from the Upside Down so far are the Demodogs, Demogorgons, Demobats, and the Mind Flayer (though the latter appeared in multiple forms). As the franchise aims to unveil more of the mysteries of the Upside Down, adding some more strange creatures can make for some terrifying and intriguing world-building.
We see more of the Soviets in Hawkins
Stranger Things season 3 revealed that the Soviet Union set up a secret lab in Hawkins, opening a Gate to the Upside Down underneath the Starcourt Mall. As more monsters wreak havoc in Tales From ’85, we could also follow the Soviets as they begin their work within the town.
The Soviets were supposedly able to capture a Demogorgon, some Demodogs, and even a portion of the Mind Flayer while in Hawkins. Who knows what else they accomplished? These experiments could jumpstart the heroes’ big adventure in the spinoff, even if they don’t know it.
We’ll get to meet some more characters
Stranger Things has introduced new characters in Hawkins every season. Some of these faces — including Max, Murray, and Robin — have been well-received and remained in the cast in subsequent seasons.
It is reasonable to assume that Tales of ’85 would repeat this trend in an attempt to make the story as unique as possible. One new character, Nikki Baxter, has already been confirmed to appear in Tales From ’85. Some new heroes or villains will likely join the show’s main cast to breathe new life into Hawkins.
However, since these new characters don’t appear in season 3, it may not be wise to get too attached to them. The chances they are killed by one of the Upside Down’s monsters or other evil characters are high. These characters could also move out of Hawkins after things get too strange for them.
Newer, fan-favorite characters can return
Stranger Things has been known to introduce instantly lovable characters, only to kill them off later in the same season. This left many fans wanting more time with those who were taken too soon.
Given Tales From ’85‘s place in the Stranger Things timeline, the show’s creators have the opportunity to bring back beloved characters like Eddie, Chrissy, and Alexei, at least for a brief moment. Though Stranger Things has never been one to rely on fan service to succeed, this spinoff can still squeeze in some interesting cameos as the core group ventures through Hawkins.
We see another world-threatening invasion
In season 3, episode 6 of Stranger Things, Max said that Eleven had saved the world twice at that point. This technically isn’t true. She defeated the Demogorgon in season 1, which was a relatively minor threat. Eleven truly stopped the first invasion from the Upside Down by the end of season 2 when she closed the Mothergate.
Though Max’s line may have been an error from the writers, Tales of ’85 could rectify it by having Eleven stop another world-ending threat from the Upside Down. Numerous monsters may have been left behind in Hawkins after Eleven defeated the Mind Flayer in season 2. This swarm of beasts could end up becoming a massive problem, forcing Eleven and the gang to fight for everyone in and outside of Hawkins.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will stream on Netflix in 2026.
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