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‘Stranger Things’ Animated Spinoff ‘Tales From ’85’ Is a Depressing, Cynical Retread: TV Review

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CitrixNews Staff
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‘Stranger Things’ Animated Spinoff ‘Tales From ’85’ Is a Depressing, Cynical Retread: TV Review
Apr 23, 2026 12:01am PT ‘Stranger Things’ Animated Spinoff ‘Tales From ’85’ Is a Depressing, Cynical Retread: TV Review

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Alison Herman

TV Critic

aherman2006 See All Tales from '85 Courtesy of Netflix

Most spinoffs expand their flagship shows in a direction. That direction could be forward, following a beloved character past the events of the original story, á la “Frasier”; it could be backward, fleshing out the origins of a person or place with pre-established significance, the approach taken by both current “Game of Thrones” offshoots. It could even be lateral, simply transferring a concept to a different setting within the same universe in the time-honored tradition of procedurals like “CSI” or “Law & Order.”

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