‘Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85’ Season 2 Review: A Haunting in Hawkins

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Season 2 returns with another animated adventure in Hawkins. The second season arrives only months after the first, giving the series an impressively quick turnaround in the real world. In-universe, the story continues during the same winter of 1985, keeping the Hawkins Investigators Club close to the events viewers already experienced. The gang once again finds itself caught in another supernatural mystery as strange occurrences begin spreading throughout town. With familiar faces returning and new dangers emerging, Season 2 wastes little time getting back into the action.

The animation remains one of the series’ strongest qualities. Several slow-motion sequences showcase the expressive style, while freeze-frame shots highlight just how clean the animation can look. The visual direction gives Hawkins a distinct animated identity without losing the atmosphere that makes Stranger Things recognizable. The voice cast also continues to bring energy and personality to the characters. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Elisha Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, and Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter all deliver strong performances.

Love is in the Air in ‘Tales from ‘85’

Valentine’s Day plays an important role throughout several episodes of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Season 2. The holiday gives the story a chance to explore the characters’ relationships while continuing threads from the previous season. Mike and Eleven receive particular attention as their relationship develops alongside the supernatural chaos surrounding Hawkins. Their connection adds a lighter emotional layer to a season filled with darker mysteries. It also gives the series another way to explore what growing up looks like for these characters.

Max receives some of her strongest character development through the season’s exploration of family and relationships. Her experiences touch on the emotional effects that divorce can have on children and how those feelings can shape their relationships. That perspective adds another dimension to Max beyond her role as one of Hawkins’ supernatural investigators. Her relationship with Lucas also benefits from the added focus, giving their connection more emotional context.

Things Get Spooky in ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85’ Season 2

The supernatural mystery takes a darker turn as Hawkins becomes plagued by ghosts and “hate sprites” connected to the Upside Down. More than half of the season revolves around uncovering why these apparitions have appeared and what they want. The mystery surrounding Bloodaxe Bill adds another eerie layer to the investigation. Ghost stories bring a different kind of horror to Stranger Things, allowing the series to explore supernatural threats beyond its usual creatures. That shift gives Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Season 2 its own identity while expanding what the franchise can contain.

The season also keeps changing its central threat as the mystery unfolds. Flowers and hate sprites eventually give way to ghosts, The Licht, and ultimately David, voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips from the previous season. That progression creates a fun creature-feature structure while expanding Hawkins’ supernatural mythology. However, David’s connection to the larger mystery can feel like a convenient narrative device when everything comes together. His involvement ultimately helps resolve the story, but the connection could have been better established earlier in the season.

No New Friends in ‘Stranger Things’?

One of Season 2’s biggest issues comes from its new characters and how they fit into the larger Stranger Things timeline. Nikki’s story gets significant attention, yet the live-action series never acknowledges her or explains why she would not appear later. That disconnect becomes more noticeable because of how important she becomes to the animated story, fueling intense speculation that this story isn’t canon to the main Stranger Things universe. Still, Odessa A’zion brings plenty of personality to Nikki, making the character easy to invest in. However, longtime fans may wonder how her story fits into everything they already know about Hawkins. 

Charlie and Rosario face a similar problem as their storylines develop throughout the season. Both characters contribute to the animated series, but their absence from later live-action events creates questions about their place in the timeline. Prequel stories have plenty of freedom to introduce characters that never appear again, but Stranger Things has an established history that makes those choices stand out even more. The series could have done a better job explaining why these characters disappear from Hawkins’ future. Without that context, some of their storylines feel disconnected from the larger franchise.

Does ‘Stranger Things: Tales of ’85’ Make You Feel Upside Down?

With the live-action Stranger Things finale receiving mixed reactions and the franchise continuing through animated prequel stories, some fans may wonder whether the series has reached oversaturation. Thankfully, Tales from ’85 offers a different way to experience Hawkins without simply recreating the live-action series. Its animation, supernatural mysteries, and younger perspective give the franchise a new identity while preserving its familiar heart. Whether that change feels refreshing or unnecessary ultimately depends on what viewers want from another Stranger Things story. Overall, the animated format gives the franchise enough room to feel different while remaining unmistakably familiar.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Season 2 delivers another solid chapter for fans wanting to return to Hawkins. Some new characters raise continuity questions, but the story still offers enough new ideas to keep the franchise interesting. The season concludes while leaving the door open for another return to this period before the events of Season 3. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 proves there are still stories to tell in Hawkins, even if they take place in the shadows of everything we already know.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Follow Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.