[3/10] ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Review: A depressing, cynical retread of the original, it is a transparent attempt to preserve Stranger Things in pixels rather than amber, allowing Netflix to keep capitalizing on the phenomenon long after its original faces have moved on to other projects.

Should have shown a story in the same town with totally different kids. Other kids would have experienced insane events too. Anything else is impossible. But the main kids experiencing this and never mentioning it is insanity and illogical.

Didn't realise this was out today .

This dosn’t look 80’s at all.

Why does it look like a Telltale game?

Tales of ‘85 should’ve told the story from a different character’s perspective. Maybe it would’ve taken place inside of the Hawkins lab or something. Maybe it would’ve been from Brenner’s POV. Also, this animation style is the WORST! Make it look like 80s cartoons of the time with a modern twist. This looks like Frozen or something. Just hideous.

Look, Netflix didn't manage to buy WB, the Witcher is falling apart and Emily is no longer in Paris Stranger Things was the only franchise Netflix could mass produce to get more money

Looks nice enough. But the story breaks canon in multiple places. But it's great for my son who love stranger things and is just happy to watch pumpkins going nuts.

"Did the Hellfire Club not survive the digital transition?" the writer asks...shortly after saying that the series takes place between seasons 2 and 3, long before Eddie and Hellfire were introduced. (I get not giving this series the time of day, but come on)

My kids might like it, but I had already noped on that one.

I still wish the series would have been seasonal anthologies that focused on various random paranormal/interdimensional stuff. Hawkins could be like Derry and just have an insanely dark history, if they wanted to keep it in one location. Would loved to have seen various time periods. Something akin to the Fargo TV series. Ah well.

They raised the subscription fee for trash like this.

So the author doesn't really go into if the show is good, just that it's unnecessary because it takes place between two chapters and kind of messes up the current canon. I guess that's fair but it could still be a good show. >Dustin even re-christens the group the Hawkins Investigators Club, a particularly groanworthy development since there’s already a fictional member’s group that unites the ragtag gang. (Did the Hellfire Club not survive the digital transition?) This takes place between seasons two and three. The Hellfire Club wasn't a thing until season four.

The thing that was eyebrow raising for me was that it was being advertised in my kids' Netflix profiles (for context, my oldest is 7). Seriously, what the hell?

I like the show. And I’m really old. Lol 😂

Quelle surprise. The only thing that seems to matter anymore is money. Those so wealthy and removed from the reality of the way the rest of us exist are somehow viewed as aspirational, instead of the destructive, opportunistic monsters that they truly are. Nothing will ever improve unless the majority of humanity (those who aren't billionaires) take action to tear down the palaces of these modern tyrants, and drop them in the oubliettes they deserve to spend the rest of their days in.

So basically the direct to DVD sequels we used to get?

I liked it 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's fine...Not as captivating as the original, but it's interesting to see the characters do things that you can only do with animation (CG). I guess I'd give it a 5/10.

I think the lameness of the upside down in the last season killed any hype for spinoffs of any sort for me. Whether they’re related to the main cast of characters or not

If that's actually what the show is modeled like, it has much worse problems than the story. It looks like absolute dogshit.

yeah... wont event t****** it

I'm finding it enjoyable, but it has a lot of plot holes compared to the main series, and the story is not very ambitious so far.

Well, it's a way to capitalize now that these kids are like in their 20's... but yeah

The series itself was already too long. More isn't something anyone was asking for.

Just dragging the corpse of this universe until it spits out every last penny.

Should’ve let it die

the only problem I have with the review is the writer's confusion about the Hell Fire Club

I’m not saying it is wrong but this take is like the default opinion of criticism when you hear this show exists.

I actually really like the art style but yea I don't get making it between seasons 2 & 3. Either do prequel, sequel or do different characters there were so many better options.

It was watchable and mostly enjoyable, but very derivative of prior live action seasons, a side quest if you will. The character introduced as Nikki was a good vibe fit.

You take cartoons way too seriously. Good lord…

I actually liked season 5 of Stranger Things. It was definitely flawed but overall an adequate and entertaining finale. I have almost no interest in watching this new special. It feels c****. It doesnt exist to build on the established franchise but to keep selling toys

I give this review a 3/10. It really is just shitting on the concept and clearly the reviewer went into it hating on the idea and barely spends time talking about the content of the show and most of it is a cynical depressing retread of hating on the idea of this show even existing.

Did epic games make this for them? Why does it look like fortnite?

yall are so dramatic. This is like the equivalence to the beetlejuice or ghostbusters cartoon. Fun show for kids.

Just another situation of the talentless getting paid to be talentless and uncreative.

ST was fun, it tried to stick the landing, did a bit better than some shows, worse than others but let’s just let it go now Netflix. :itsalreadydeadmeme

Stranger Things was originally meant to be an anthology series where each season would be a new cast and new story. I really wish they kept that lol. S1 was so good. S2 was a retread. S3 was a retread + teen angst + Russians. S4 was good but the cast being split sucked. And S5….well lol.

Sounds like Netflix looked at Stranger Things and said, “Copy homework, change a few words.” I might still watch if I’m bored, but maybe this should’ve been a tight one-off special instead.

Just let it go already, they already made a new season no one asked for and a show about filming the last season.