Stranger Things season 5 ended the Netflix sci-fi series without a huge number of casualties, which proved controversial. That said, another major topic of debate was Eleven's fate, as Millie Bobby Brown's powerful hero might have died or found safe haven isolated from anyone she knew. For those in either camp, Netflix's upcoming spinoff comes as the perfect follow-up.
Netflix's New Stranger Things Series Arrives In Two Weeks
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will be released on Netflix on April 23. The show is a spinoff that focuses on the same characters that fans came to love over Stranger Things' five seasons. However, there are two key differences. The first, and instantly noticeable change, is that the spinoff is an animated series, not a live-action entry like the original global hit.
The second change comes from Stranger Things: Tales from '85's cast. While the new Netflix series brings back characters like Steve, Eleven, Mike, Hopper, and more, they will not be voiced by their original actors. For example, Jeremy Jordan (Supergirl, Hazbin Hotel) takes over as Steve, who was previously played by Joe Keery. The animated series is also not set after the events of Stranger Things season 5.
New Viewers Have To Catch Up On 17 Episodes Before Stranger Things: Tales From '85
Instead of continuing the Netflix series' timeline, Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will tell new stories set in the show's past, more specifically between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things. As such, the new Netflix series reads as the lost adventures of the characters fans came to know and love over the last decade.
Based on that, Stranger Things seasons 1 and 2 become essential viewing for anyone looking to watch the animated spinoff. While you could watch the upcoming show without checking out the original, that would lead to no emotional attachment to the characters from the jump, as well as missing out on key events in two exciting seasons.
Stranger Things season 1 has 8 episodes, while season 2 is 9 episodes long.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Stranger Things season 1 boasts a series-best 97% critics' score, which slightly beats season 2's 94%, the second-best rating from critics in the show's history. As such, by watching what are viewed as two of Stranger Things' best seasons, new viewers would be set up to better appreciate Stranger Things: Tales from '85 right from the start.
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Release Date
April 23, 2026
Network
Netflix
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Odessa A'zion
Nikki Baxter
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Brooklyn Davey Norstedt
Eleven
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Jolie Hoang-Rappaport
Max
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English (US) ·