'Stranger Things: Tales from '85' Has Only One Path Forward After Retcons

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85.Netflix’s Stranger Things spin-off series, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, is here, and while it’s great to see these beloved characters again, there are also some confusing elements. A new cast voices the characters we watched for almost a decade, from spunky Eleven (Brooklyn Davey Norstedt) to junk-food-obsessed Dustin Henderson (Braxton Quinney), and the main setting of Hawkins, Indiana, is as picturesque yet eerie as ever. There are some enjoyable moments, including a pie-eating contest at a winter festival and heartwarming scenes between Mike Wheeler (Luca Diaz) and Eleven.

However, Tales from ’85 includes some big retcons: several new monsters and a new character named Nikki Baxter (Odessa A’zion). Whether the spin-off is canon is an important question that affects how the franchise can progress from here.

‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ Should Be Canon If the Series Is Going to Continue

Stranger Things Tales From 85 characters with Nikki

At the time of this writing, it’s unclear if Netflix will renew Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 for a second season. If that happens, then the animated spin-off series absolutely should be canon. Otherwise, it’s going to be too confusing, and the timeline might not work out properly. Wouldn’t the new story eventually catch up with Season 3 of the original show?

Tales from ’85 Season 1 takes place between Season 2 and 3 of Stranger Things and is set during the winter of 1985. Since Season 3 is set in the summer of 1985, there’s only a short time period between Season 1 of the spin-off and Season 3 of the original series. If Tales from ’85 Season 2 took place right before the summer, how could the characters not mention anything about what they’ve experienced?

For one thing, these 10 episodes lead to questions about Mike and Eleven’s relationship. While we know they connect at the winter dance at the end of Season 2 and are dating in Season 3, Episode 1, “Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?”, we see the early days of their relationship in the Stranger Things spin-off. So, if Tales from ’85 is canon, then we have a whole new understanding of their bond and romance. As they fight the new monsters, they become closer, which is moving. Mike also understands that Eleven wants to stand on her own and that he has to be less overprotective. While they still have ups and downs in the original series, especially during the long-distance portion of their relationship, this adds a layer of complexity.

In that sense, making the spin-off canon would be a positive thing. It would help shed a bit more light on some of the biggest character arcs in Season 3. However, we can’t ignore that it causes some issues, too. Since Season 3 is focused on the Mind Flayer, it’s hard to believe that this creature could be absent from the spin-off. Isn’t it too powerful to ignore for a period of time?

On the other hand, if Tales from ’85 isn’t actually canon, then it seems likely that Netflix would have to renew the show for at least two seasons at once so the timeline could work properly. And if it’s not canon, then that explains why no one talks about Nikki or these other monsters.

The ending of the animated Stranger Things spin-off series suggests that the story can continue. Three weeks later, Nikki and Anna Baxter are still in Hawkins and have moved to a new house. The characters are enjoying a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Then, we see a stem growing out of the Plant Queen. As is often the case on this popular series, the Upside Down is never actually conquered, and there’s always more danger.

So, if Tales from ’85 gets a Season 2 renewal from Netflix soon, we can imagine 10 more episodes about these beloved characters facing a new horrifying creature while just trying to be regular kids along the way. If the show is considered canon, though, that makes the future of the franchise much more logical.