Stranger Things wrapped up its five-season run at the end of 2025 with a much-discussed finale (and it leaves Eleven’s fate ambiguous). The Duffer Brothers’ sci-fi/horror franchise is far from over, though, as the animated Tales from ‘85 spinoff will soon hit the 2026 TV schedule. Set between the parent series’ second and third seasons, the show will fill in a few gaps and bring in a new character to join the Hawkins crew. Of course, that newcomer isn’t referenced in the OG show, and the EP has a take on it that’s hard for me to buy into.
Tales from ‘85 introduces Nikki Baxter, a punk-rock, pink mohawk-wearing teen who befriends Mike, Eleven, Will and co. and gets drawn into their wintry adventure. Voiced by Odessa A'zion, Nikki is set to have a major impact on the kids. While the notion of introducing a significant new character may seem exciting, it also begs a retroactive question: “If Nikki’s so important, why doesn’t she come up during the original series?” While speaking with SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend, showrunner Eric Robles answered that:
