Stranger Things isn’t over yet, and this world is now expanding with its first spinoff series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, but its place in the show’s canon can be confusing. Stranger Things quickly became one of Netflix’s best TV shows after its debut in 2016, and it consistently ranked high on the streamer’s charts throughout its five-season run. Although Stranger Things’ finale was divisive, there’s still more to explore in Hawkins and the Upside Down, and the franchise is expanding with an animated show.
Titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, it’s an animated show that takes the audience a couple of seasons back to explore what the young Hawkins crew did between seasons 2 and 3. Tales From ’85 reunites viewers with Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max as they investigate a new mystery with new monsters from the Upside Down, and with the help of a new ally named Nikki. As such, Tales From ’85 is in a weird spot in the Stranger Things timeline, but it has been said to “respect the canon.”
Speaking to IGN, showrunner Eric Robles shared that the show respects the canon of Stranger Things, though he’s aware that it’s not as simple as it seems. This mostly refers to Tales From ’85 not changing the events of the main show, though the way it adds to them can be complicated. Still, generally speaking, Tales From ’85 is part of the Stranger Things canon, but there are some details to take into account.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Canon Status Isn’t So Simple
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is canon in the sense that the events of the show are part of the stories of the characters, Hawkins, and the Upside Down, but there are some details that can put this into question. As mentioned above, Tales From ’85 is set between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, meaning that it happens after Eleven closes the gate and before Starcourt Mall opens and the underground Russian base is discovered.
With this setting, it was inevitably going to be hard for Tales From ’85 to craft a new story, introduce new characters and monsters, and still be canon. The biggest thing that plays against Tales From ’85 and makes its canon status confusing is that the events of the show are never mentioned or referenced in seasons 3, 4, and 5 of Stranger Things – however, Robles already has an explanation for that.
In that same interview with IGN, Robles explained that he’s aware that the audience will wonder why the events of Tales From ’85 are never mentioned in the main show, sharing that the kids and the rest of the characters have much bigger things to worry about. In season 3, the Hawkins crew faced the Russians and the physical form of the Mind Flayer, season 4 introduced Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), and season 5 was the final battle against Vecna.
While this offers a possible explanation for why the characters never mentioned what they went through in the winter of 1985, Tales From ’85 will inevitably raise questions about its canon status and actual impact and role in the world of Stranger Things. Tales From ’85 is officially canon, mostly in terms of it being set in the same world and timeline as the main show and featuring the same main characters, but its events can cause some confusion.
Tales From ’85 Treats Its Story As “Frozen Time” Between Stranger Things Seasons 2 & 3
Netflix
To further explain how Tales From ’85 falls into the timeline and canon of Stranger Things, Robles mentioned staying “within this space, this frozen time” where the Hawkins kids can have other adventures. Robles added that they just had to make sure that it falls in line, but their general goal with Tales From ’85 is to give the characters new and fun adventures.
Seeing the events of Tales From ’85 as “frozen in time” between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things is the easiest way to treat it to avoid confusion. Tales From ’85 is a small part of a bigger story and universe, and, like Robles mentioned to IGN, it can be removed from the timeline and the main show continues its course, but if it stays, it adds a fun side-adventure for Eleven and her friends.
The overall essence of Tales From ’85 is to follow the young Hawkins crew on yet another adventure that isn’t as high-stakes as those from the main show, but is still exciting and intriguing. Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 had many challenges to overcome due to its place in the timeline, and though that can be confusing, the show can be enjoyed on its own and as a fun addition to Stranger Things.
Source: IGN.
Release Date
April 23, 2026
Network
Netflix
Showrunner
Eric Robles
Brooklyn Davey Norstedt
Eleven
Odessa A’zion
Nikki Baxter
Jolie Hoang-Rappaport
Max