Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Review: Taking place between the second and third seasons of the live-action series, we go back to Hawkins in the winter of 1985, when the six friends, Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max, get back to the groove of their normal lives, only for something else to require their attention. In this universe, the Upside Down is seemingly sealed, but the terrors are coming from beneath the snow.
Allowing the spin-off to expand without breaking canon, the season aims to recapture the charm of the original show. The Duffer Brothers aimed to capture the nostalgia of ’80s Saturday-morning cartoons in the Stranger Things universe.
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Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Voice Cast
Brooklyn Davey Norstedt, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Luca Diaz, Elisha Williams, Braxton Quinney, Benjamin Plessala, Odessa A’zion, Brett Gipson, Jeremy Jordan, Janeane Garofalo
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Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Series Developer & Showrunner
Eric Robles
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When does Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Come Out?
12.30 PM IST
The animated sci-fi series has 10 episodes, each with a runtime of around 30 minutes, and is a spin-off of the Netflix series Stranger Things.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Review
Plot & summary
It’s the winter of 1985, and things seem to be normal for the core six as they play, have fun, go to school and get bullied in the idyllic town of Hawkins. However, it takes about half an episode for things to go seriously wrong, as things start to get very strange very quickly and otherworldly entities creep up on the townsfolk from below their feet. The kids are quick to jump in and try to save everyone, as usual.
The mutated supernatural entities have a connection to past events, of course, and the kids start to plan and plot their next move and stop the entity before it’s too late. The pacing is tight, and the episodic structure flows by without incident, keeping the experience PG and simple. Entities attack the kids, and they try to fight them before Eleven comes along and saves them. The entities change from time to time, but the core concept remains the same.
The series feels nostalgic and will remind viewers of the charm of the early seasons, as things feel rather simplistic, even during fight sequences. It’s both a curse and a boon – viewers will find themselves transported to a time where things felt more heartwarming and did not go as off-track as the last season of the live-action show. Each episode contributes to the central mystery, and the structure works if viewers adjust their expectations.
Performances
The original cast doesn’t return for the animated series, and the new batch of youngsters feel more at home, considering the ages of the live-action cast at this point. The performances are quite well-done and settle into a rhythm after a while. The performances preserve the essence of the characters well and take viewers on this adventurous journey with ease. The emotional core and the group chemistry also work well, which is one of the most important parts of the show. The show brings forth the banter and friendships that made the original series so memorable, and the authenticity works in its favour.
Differences from the live-action
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is lighter than the original, being slated as a family entertainer on Netflix. This helps the show to echo the adventurous and low-stakes moments from the earlier seasons of the original without delving into the darker intensity of the later seasons. The animation also offers more expansive and imaginative creature design and curiously surreal sequences that differentiate it from the original. The show blends CGI with hand-drawn animation, which makes it unique and interesting.
Another big difference is that the animated show is shorter and thus, things happen rapidly. As a result, viewers will find themselves entertained as the storyline rushes forward without skipping a beat. It’s a good and a bad thing, as it doesn’t give viewers time to take the story in, but it avoids dragging the plot out unnecessarily.
Direction & writing
The series is clearly all about the nostalgia and gets that part right from the get-go. The retro-inspired bright animation is a stark contrast with the beautiful winter setting and makes this season visually striking. It captures the 80s vibe with ease and will definitely attract viewers of all ages. Moreover, the writing is also well-done and maintains character consistency, and, as a result, their character journey feels genuine.
That being said, because the format is so rushed and short, some of the plot points and characters feel underdeveloped, especially new characters. Another season might help in that regard, but the first season is half-baked, especially in light of the live-action series. Despite the shortcomings, the series captures the emotions of the story well, which helps it to drive forward.
Final Thoughts
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is an engaging, low-stakes entertainer that doesn’t want to be anything more than a companion piece that the whole family can enjoy. It’s a good thing, as it makes you feel nostalgic without the heaviness of the original season, and the experimental animation style also works in its favour. The character dynamics are well-done, and the storyline flows by without needing too much attention. However, if you’re looking for something on the scale of the original, it will feel disappointing.
What are your thoughts on Stranger Things: Tales From ’85? Let us know in the comments below!
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