Hawkins is haunted again—and this time the kids are younger, louder, and animated. Netflix has released Season 2 of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, the animated spin-off that drops viewers back into the winter of 1985 for another round of bike rides, arcades, and things that definitely should not be crawling out of the Upside Down.
Valentine’s Day, hate sprites, and a new gate
With Valentine’s Day approaching, mysterious “ghostly” apparitions and a swarm of hate sprites begin tearing through town. The Hawkins Investigating Club (HIC) has to unravel the paranormal mess before a fresh gate to the Upside Down opens. Upcoming episodes send the gang through familiar landmarks, including Hawkins Middle School and the Palace Arcade—comfort food for fans who still hear the synth score whenever a fluorescent light flickers.
A new voice cast for younger heroes
Season 2 features a fresh voice lineup: Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike, Benjamin Plessala as Will, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, with Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter and Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington. Additional voices include Janeane Garofalo, Lou Diamond Phillips, Brett Gipson, Alysia Reiner, and Robert Englund. Showrunner Eric Robles (Glitch Techs) steers the series, with Matt and Ross Duffer executive producing alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.
Why binge it this week
If you miss the mid-’80s paranoia of the live-action show but want a quicker, more colorful hit of Hawkins lore, Tales From ’85 Season 2 is built for exactly that mood. The full season is available now on Netflix—press play before the hate sprites press first.