'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' Season 1 Review
Image Source: Alpha Coders
Our return to Hawkins came a lot sooner rather than later! And I think we’re all the better for it.
After a historic 9-year run, Stranger Things concluded after 5 seasons just 4 months ago. Years of theories, fandom, frozen waffles, excitement, and terror finally came to a bittersweet and divisive end. It’s not unfair to say that, regardless of one’s thoughts on the Stranger Things finale, it’s very annoying to have every single fan space be filled with theorists and shippers showcasing they have the media literacy of insects and yet somehow believe they can tell a better story than the Duffer Brothers. Fans who have gone so far as to pretend that the show was never good at all have made Stranger Things all the worse to be a part of. And yet, that was never going to be our final adventure. Before the airing of season 4, the Duffers announced that expanded universe material was in the works, which included the eventual Broadway show The First Shadow, a currently unknown spin-off, and an animated series.
Set between seasons 2 and 3, Tales From ‘85 at its core is a Stranger Things in the vein of a Saturday morning cartoon. Showrunner Eric Robles and the Duffers (acting solely in an executive producing capacity this time around) have cited He-Man, the Scooby-Doo franchise, and The Real Ghostbusters as major influences on Tales From ‘85. And those influences have served the series well. Tales From ’85 is a welcome addition to the Stranger Things universe that infuses the property with a Spielbergian sense of wonder not seen since the original series’s debut season. If you’re willing to leave your cynicism at the door and allow yourself to have any real fun, this is the series for you! The series’s primary mission as an entry-level installment for viewers who may be too young to watch the original series, Tales From ‘85, succeeds in every way.
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Image Source: Alpha Coders
The high point, Tales From ‘85 (like the original), is our core team of characters. If you missed the Hawkins gang being together as opposed to being spread out for most of the season, Tales From ‘85 supplies us with genuinely sweet and hilarious character interactions. It’s highly entertaining to see Mike and Max interact more, see Eleven have a close dynamic with characters who aren’t Mike and Max, and see their personalities bounce off each other. The addition of original character Nikki Baxter (voiced by Odessa A’zion) fits right in. Any worry that her inclusion would feel forced went away the second she was introduced. Her natural chemistry with Will is one of the high points of the series. Tales From ‘85’s more youth-oriented tone leaves little room for older characters. Steve and Nancy are guest stars, while Jonathan only appears in the first episode. Hopper is a recurring character, while Joyce and Murray don’t appear at all. None of this is bad per se, but if your favorite characters in Stranger Things are the teen and adult characters, temper your expectations.
Per the course of animated adaptations of popular live-action IP, none of the actors from the original work reprise their roles. While a specific portion of the fandom bemoaned this, most fans understood that actors such as Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobbie Brown, and Sadie Sink are too grown (and too expensive) to appear in a cartoon voicing characters who are supposed to be in middle school. I’m used to voice actors who don’t sound exactly like their original counterparts, and the cast for Tales From ‘85 are all genuinely perfect. Luca Diaz, Braxton Quinney, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, and Elisha Williams shine the brightest as Mike, Dustin, Max, and Caleb, respectively. Diaz specifically nails Finn Wolfhard’s specific vocal mannerisms so well that I was convinced more than once that they used archival recordings of Wolfhard from the first two seasons. Odessa A’zion also shines as newcomer Nikki, once you get used to her sounding much older than the other actors. The weakest link is Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper. His not sounding like David Harbor wouldn’t be an issue on its own, but his vocal performance is a tad too cartoony to be convincing. However, when this series returns for a second season, I can’t wait to hear this cast again, so they have more room to grow with their roles and move away from the shadows of the live-action cast.
Image Source: Polygon
Tales From ‘85 will likely not win over new adult converts, but it is a perfect entry for potential young fans. The beautiful animation, fun creature designs, the energetic atmosphere, the great vocal performances, and the phenomenal musical score by Brad Breeck all help prove that there’s still plenty of gas in the Stranger Things tank. If you want and need every Stranger Things project to place a heavy emphasis on horror, drama, and romance, Tales From ‘85 is likely not the show for you. However, if you’re willing to be taken in by fun sci-fi antics, lovable characters, and a killer soundtrack, this is for you.
Suppose the Stranger Things franchise lives on through animation; that is perfectly fine by me. Tales From 85’s allows more breathing room for character interactions and fun action without being confined by live-action limitations. It’s a blast seeing Mike and friends help fight monsters alongside Eleven as opposed to letting her do it all by herself. It’s fun to introduce new kids without worrying about overstuffing the narrative. It’s heartfelt, it’s Spielbergian, it’s fun, it’s Stranger Things. What more can you possibly ask for?
Rating: 8/10
All 10 episodes of Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 are now streaming on Netflix! Season 2 will air later this Fall!
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