'Stranger Things: Tales from '85' Review: Spin-Off Stumbles in Shoes too Big to Fill

The impact Netflix’s Stranger Things has had on the cultural zeitgeist can’t be overstated, with a decade-long grip that posed a precarious prospect for wrapping up the beloved sci-fi series. While the finale proved divisive, fans still seemed eager for further adventures in Hawkins, Indiana, with spin-offs in development. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is the first follow-up that had plenty to prove. The story takes place between Season 2 and Season 3 of the original series, meaning it needs to weave into an established timeline and lore, along with integrating a new cast and animated aesthetics that reinterpret characters audiences already love. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 had big shoes to fill and a tightrope to walk, while failing to pull off either perfectly.

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