Stranger Things Tales From 85 Season 2 Review

Netflix and Flying Bark are back with Stranger Things Tales From 85 Season 2, bringing fresh monstrous bugs and mysterious flowers to plague Hawkins. The Hawkins Investigations Club has to step up to solve the case, all while dealing with the usual pre teen struggles and the upcoming hurdle of Valentine's Day. This season succeeds by doubling down on character connections and sweet, believable young romances that add real heart to the story without feeling overly sappy.

Secondary plots also get some nice adjustments. Nikki returns to handle realistic financial struggles, which grounds the story and smartly limits her access to wild improvised weapons. The central mystery is cleverly paced across the eight episodes, keeping viewers guessing until the very end. While the actual threat lacks a bit of suspense because the kids always feel safe, the creative foes and gripping puzzles make up for it.

Visually, the animation from Flying Bark handles fast chases and big emotions well, but the color work is the true standout. The show uses striking turquoise and purple backlighting paired with stylized lighting choices to create an eye popping aesthetic. Overall, this new season is a solid step up from the first and a fun watch for fans.