Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Retcons Show Lore With New Character

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Now that Stranger Things has finished its five-season run, the story isn’t over. Netflix plans to expand the universe with a prequel series, and is even revisiting aspects of the original show. Stranger Things has become one of the most beloved and successful shows ever made, and Netflix clearly isn’t ready to say goodbye.

Even though the fifth season of Stranger Things has concluded with a surprising turn for Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown), the world of the show isn’t finished. Stranger Things is becoming a larger franchise, including behind-the-scenes content, documentaries, games, and novels. The next installment is an animated prequel series called Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, which is adding new details to the show’s established history.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Is Retconning The Show

Netflix

Created by Eric Robles, Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 is an animated show that takes place before the main series, specifically in the winter of 1985. It fits in between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things and features younger versions of Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max.

In season 2 of Stranger Things, Will is controlled by the Mind Flayer, Eleven goes into hiding with Hopper, and a new character named Kali is introduced. Season 3 focuses on a Russian plot to open a gateway to the Upside Down, and they construct a secret laboratory beneath the new Starcourt Mall in Hawkins.

The new animated special, Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, follows Eleven and her friends as they battle new monsters and solve a spooky mystery. Unlike the main Stranger Things series, this special is designed to be more suitable for families and features monsters we haven’t seen before. Though the story takes place between seasons 2 and 3, it also introduces a brand new character.

The new Stranger Things animated series, Tales From ‘85, will feature a new character named Nikki Baxter. She’s physically larger than Eleven and the rest of the group. Currently, that’s the only information available about Nikki – we don’t yet know who voices her, and her storyline appears to be quite bleak.

Stranger Things’ New Character Might Not Last Long

Netflix

Nikki Baxter appears to be a character created just for Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85. She wasn’t featured or even mentioned in any of the five seasons of the main Stranger Things show. Since she hasn’t been in any other Stranger Things projects, it’s likely her role won’t be a long-lasting one.

Many fans currently believe Nikki will die in Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85. It’s frustrating for viewers that she wasn’t even mentioned in the original series, despite opportunities when the characters were alone together.

I’ve been thinking about what could have happened to Nikki after Tales From ‘85. Maybe the things she and her family went through were just too much, and they decided to leave Hawkins for good. It would be a bittersweet ending, seeing her finally get a normal life, far away from the Upside Down and all that craziness. But honestly, that still doesn’t explain why none of her friends ever talk about her – it’s a huge loose end!

Tales From ’85 Must Be Careful Not To Contradict Canon

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Creating an animated story that takes place between less popular seasons of Stranger Things is already a difficult undertaking, and adding a brand new character only increases the chances it won’t succeed.

The creators of Tales From ‘85 need to be extremely careful not to alter established Stranger Things storylines, characters, or creatures, especially when it comes to the new character, Nikki. The main challenge with introducing Nikki is that she wasn’t part of the original show, which could make her feel unnecessary and lead viewers to wonder why she’s being added now.

Adding Nikki to the main group of friends could disrupt their existing relationships, potentially contradicting established storylines and creating plot inconsistencies. The creators of Tales From ‘85 will need to carefully integrate Nikki into the story, develop her connection with the other characters, and provide a convincing explanation for her absence from previous accounts to stay true to the original story.

How Many Stranger Things Prequels Can Netflix Do?

Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

I’m really excited about Tales From ‘85, which is currently the only prequel story we’re getting for Stranger Things, but I have a feeling Netflix might make more! I especially think a story filling the gap between seasons four and five would be fantastic. There was a pretty big jump in time there, and I’d love to see what the characters were up to in between!

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I’m so excited about the potential for more stories! I’d love to see prequels focusing on characters like Max, Murray, and Robin – getting their backstories would be amazing. Even exploring what went on at Hawkins Lab before everything started would be fascinating. Netflix really has a lot of options, but I hope they choose wisely and tell stories that feel true to what made the original series so special.

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2026-01-27 00:49