Netflix has confirmed the renewal of Stranger Things: Tales From '85 for a second season, even though it has received the lowest ratings in the franchise's history.
If you completed Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 and found yourself wanting more, Netflix has listened. The animated series has been officially renewed for a second season, which is set to return to Netflix this fall.
For some context, Tales From ’85 is a spin-off of the original Stranger Things series and takes place in the winter of 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana. It follows the Hawkins Investigators Club as they confront paranormal dangers in an animated format distinct from the live-action series.
What occurred at the conclusion of Tales From ’85 season 1?
[Spoiler alert: please skip this section if you haven't finished season 1 yet.]
In season 1, the Hawkins Investigators Club faced numerous challenges, including a snow shark and a sinister group of pumpkin monsters known as the Gourd Horde.
However, the true menace was the Horde Queen, a creature that developed from an Upside Down vine after Hawkins Food Mart employee Daniel Fischer conducted secret experiments utilizing Mrs. Baxter’s stolen research.
By combining years of botanical knowledge with extracted DNA from the Upside Down vines, Fischer created something beyond his expectations. The gang succeeded in preventing the Queen from opening a new portal to the Upside Down, with Eleven using the creature's own body to seal it.
But the finale left an unsettling image for viewers to ponder. In the Upside Down, a stem emerged from the Queen’s remains and unfolded into a glowing flower with the jaws of a Demogorgon.
What can we expect from Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 season 2?
Season 1 wrapped up with the Hawkins Investigators Club unraveling a truly frightening mystery, and season 2 is set to continue that storyline with a brand new paranormal threat.
Showrunner Eric Robles has confirmed that the glowing flower signifies the start of an entirely new mystery. The threat in season 2 is reportedly linked to Hawkins’ abandoned silver mines. The mysterious blue flower seen blooming in the Upside Down at the end of season 1 is also expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming season.
Robles has emphasized that the seasons of this Stranger Things spin-off are interconnected, meaning every detail from season 1 will be significant as the series moves into its next installment. Characters Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Nikki are all set to return.
Why did Netflix renew Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 despite mixed reviews?
Netflix
Season 1 premiered just a few days ago, and Netflix quickly announced the renewal. However, the spinoff has received a mixed response, to say the least. It currently holds the lowest Rotten Tomatoes scores of any entry in the Stranger Things universe, with a 63% rating from critics and 54% from viewers. On IMDb, the show has an average score of only 5.7/10.
Common criticisms have highlighted unlikable characters, particularly the newcomer Nikki, and inconsistent plotting. Despite these concerns, Netflix decided to move forward with the renewal just four days after season 1 launched. It seems that viewership was a key factor in this decision.
The series garnered 2.8 million views in its opening weekend and ranked at number 7 on Netflix’s global Top 10, also making it into the platform’s top 15 animated series debuts of all time. Such strong viewership, regardless of critical feedback, was sufficient to approve a second season.
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Netflix has confirmed the renewal of Stranger Things: Tales From '85 for a second season, even though it has received the lowest ratings in the franchise's history.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, Netflix has renewed Stranger Things: Tales From '85 for a second season. The animated spinoff currently has the lowest ratings for the franchise on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB.
