Stranger Things: Stories of 85 Brings New Hawkins Threat

the second season of the animated series places Eleven before a challenge that could neutralize her powers

The release of the second season of "Stranger Things: Stories of 85" on October 17 brought a new challenge for Eleven. The animated series, set in the winter of 1985, introduces a blue entity that seems unresponsive to the protagonist's powers, questioning the show's reliance on her character as the solution to all supernatural threats.

New threat in Hawkins

In the animation, glowing blue flowers emerge through the Hawkins snow while the Investigators Club deals with ghostly apparitions and mysterious creatures. According to showrunner Eric Robles, the plants hide a supernatural secret that could lead to a new portal to the Upside Down.

Eleven is not the only hope

Throughout the five seasons of the original series, the production has already shown that Eleven does not have to be the sole answer. In season 3, she lost her powers before the final confrontation; in season 4, Vecna survived and Max was left in a coma. The new season reinforces this dynamic by placing Eleven before a threat that can neutralize her powers.

Context between the second and third seasons

The plot of the animated series fits between the end of the second season and the beginning of the third season of the live-action series. Thus, the characters still live in Hawkins, trying to return to their routine after defeating the Horde Queen, but face new phenomena that threaten to open a new portal.

Exploration of new locations and characters

The episodes take the group to familiar locations such as Hawkins Middle School and Palace Arcade, in addition to exploring previously unseen areas like a Hawkins mine. Robert Englund appears as Cosmo in the second season, while the Duffer brothers remain involved as executive producers.

Initial reception and expectations

The first season of the animation recorded a 61% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the franchise's worst score. The new season, featuring eight episodes, attempts to change the formula by showing that Eleven may not be the answer to every threat, offering a different perspective within the Hawkins universe.

With information from UOL, Exame.