Stranger Things Animated Spinoff Reviewed: More Of The Same But Less

The animated spinoff of the hit series Stranger Things, titled 'Stranger Things: Tales From ’85,' seems tailored towards two main audiences - children too young for the TV-14 rated original show, and diehard fans of the Stranger Things universe who crave every morsel of related content. A new character, Nikki, is a particular highlight. However, she's not enough to attract viewers outside these groups as the series replicate a lot of the original, bringing less novelty to the table.

Developed by Jennifer Muro and Eric Robles, the story is set in early 1985 between the second and third season of Stranger Things. It follows the main characters basking in their recent triumphant moment after closing the gates to the Upside Down. However, the peace doesn't last, and usual adventures ensue when people start disappearing, snapped by sentient extraterrestrial vines. Nikki, the daughter of a science substitute teacher, steps in to help out the regular gang fight off the supernatural threats.

Despite bringing a new character and changing from live-action to animation, Tales From ’85 refrains from significantly disrupting the narrative archetype of Stranger Things. Even new monsters introduced share fundamental similarities with Demogorgons. Characters fall into familiar patterns, arguing over the same points seen in the primary series.

The character El continues to be notably overpowered, leading to less overall tension in the spinoff's ten half-hour episodes. Like the original show, El's vital saves from near-death experiences are predictable. Unlike the live-action version, the voice cast of Tales From '85 struggles to live up to their predecessors' performances.

One glaring difference is the lack of depth in the characters' performances. While the original show has cracked jokes, emotional declarations, and a raw authenticity that made them endearing, the spinoff's characters feel more like pale shadows, repeating the motions without the emotional weight. The exception to this trend is, once again, Nikki - whose character can develop without worrying about contradicting established canon.

In conclusion, whilst Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is a faithful if somewhat diluted reflection of the original series, it is ultimately more likely to appeal to hardcore fans and children too young for the original series than broader audience demographics. Whilst it maintains a semblance of the original's charm, it offers little in terms of innovation and progress in terms of the narrative and characters development.