The final episode of Stranger Things: Tales From '85, the first major spin-off of the Netflix series, teases that there is much more to come. All episodes of the 10-part series are streaming now, and fans are already speeding through the instalments, each no longer than 32 minutes.
Setting and Premise
In this spin-off, viewers are transported back in time, years before the main series concluded with its epic finale. At this point in the narrative, the gang believes that all is well and that they have successfully resolved the issue of the Upside Down. Set in the middle of winter 1985, showrunner Eric Robles describes the setting as 'frozen in time,' separate from the main events of Stranger Things. However, the plot remains action-packed and full of consequences.
How Does Stranger Things: Tales From '85 End?
The finale opens with the revelation of who is truly behind the creation of the new monsters. It turns out that Daniel, Mrs Baxter's boyfriend, created the Queen plant with his serum by reanimating a vine from the Upside Down. Confronted by the Hawkins Investigators Club, Daniel boasts about his success, only for his creation to break free upon seeing the serum. It has been burrowing underground all along.
Most of the episode's action revolves around a massive standoff between the entire gang, including newcomer Nikki, along with her mother and Daniel. However, Daniel is solely interested in saving samples of his serum. Armed with weapons designed by Nikki, the gang fends off the Queen and her minions until Daniel is captured. He ends up smashing one of his vials all over himself, and the Queen swallows him whole. Growing even stronger from the serum, the Queen evolves enough to open its own gate back to the Upside Down, aiming to return to where it came from.
The gang cannot allow another open gate after Eleven only just closed one in Season 2. They worry that any old creature, like the Mind Flayer, could use it to enter their world. Another round of fighting ensues while Eleven attempts to close the gate. She fails on her first try, and the gang helplessly tries to pull the Queen back from the gate with rope.
Nikki repairs and reloads her massive light gun in time to fire it at the Queen as it grabs Eleven, cutting off its arm. As the Queen drags itself toward the gate, we witness a near replica of Season 2's finale, with Eleven floating in mid-air as she closes the gate before collapsing.
Aftermath and Tease for the Future
Three weeks later, things seem back to normal. The Baxters have moved house but opted to stay in Hawkins, raising questions about what will happen to them before Season 3. Despite not finishing their main campaign from the original series, the gang appears to be playing a new D&D game with Will as DM. Nikki is invited to play and is offered the character of part Bard, part Berserker. In another similarity to Season 2's finale, we flip back to the Upside Down, near the greenhouse that housed Daniel's secret lab, with the decapitated body of the Queen in front of the house.
While the song 'We'll Meet Again' plays, a single blue flower grows out of the body. In the centre is a mouth with sharp teeth, like most monsters found in the Upside Down, and it illuminates blue. This raises the question: is the Queen not dead after all, or is it about to evolve into something else?
What Could Happen Next?
At the time of writing, Netflix has not confirmed whether Tales From '85 will return for a second season. However, judging from the series ending and comments by showrunner Robles, there could be more to come. Robles told IGN: "I know exactly where we're going with this. If I get that call, and then everybody's ready to do this, there’s zero hesitation… I know exactly from day one where we're going… Animation does take a while. It gives me time to really marinate on this stuff and really think things out and what the potentials are. We're so excited about what we're about to launch with Season 1, and how it all wraps up this finale."
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is streaming on Netflix.
