Stranger Things is officially coming back in 2026 through an animated prequel, Tales from ’85, and the upcoming spinoff is setting up the return of an interesting Upside Down detail. Tales from ’85 is set between Stranger Things seasons 2 and 3, following core characters Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Max, Dustin, and Will. Netflix’s Stranger Things expansion will also introduce a new character, Nikki Baxter.
It’s unclear what will happen to Nikki in Tales from ’85, considering she isn’t a character in the primary Stranger Things series. Based on Stranger Things‘ series finale ending, we do know the fates of the other main characters, at least for the most part. Whether Eleven is dead or alive is still up to viewer interpretation.
For now, the prequel is believed to be canon, though Tales from ’85 recast the Stranger Things‘ characters with a new batch of voice actors. As for other changes, it sounds like the spinoff will treat the Upside Down as a primary threat, like the early seasons of Stranger Things.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Brings Back The Upside Down’s Spores
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will take place in the winter of 1985 and follows the younger crew in Hawkins up against new monsters and threats from the Upside Down. In addition to the spinoff’s release, a tie-in children’s book titled Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Chapter Book #1 will be released in September by Penguin Random House. Here’s the official synopsis of the book:
Return to Hawkins, Indiana for new mysteries and adventures as snow covers the small town!
When Hawkins town heroes Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Will, Max, Dustin and their new friend Nikki realize that a Lost and Found box has become infected with Upside Down spores and the contaminated objects spread all over town, it is up to them to solve the mystery plaguing their town before it’s too late.
One aspect that stands out in the synopsis for Tales from ’85‘s tie-in is the mention of “Upside Down spores,” implying that they are toxic enough to contaminate the items in the Lost and Found box at school. The ash-like spores have been a key element of the Upside Down since the dimension’s introduction in Stranger Things season 1, but they eventually became an afterthought in the show.
Stranger Things Abandoned Concerns Surrounding The Upside Down’s Spores
When characters first ventured into the Upside Down in Stranger Things, they took precautions when possible, suggesting that the environment was toxic. For example, Hopper and Joyce donned hazmat suits in season 1 so they wouldn’t breathe in the spores when searching for Will.
When Hopper traveled through the tunnels built by Will in Stranger Things season 2, a growth spewed out spores right into his face, causing him to cough and throw up. While other characters made efforts to cover their faces when in the Upside Down in the following seasons, by Stranger Things season 5, the notion that the spores were dangerous was essentially retconned.
Despite showing the spores falling like snow all over Hawkins in Stranger Things season 4’s ending, the series didn’t confirm any serious effects regarding exposure to the spores. El initially wore a bandana over her face when heading into the Upside after Holly in season 5, but she quickly removed the covering. Other characters throughout season 5, even those who were new to the Upside Down, didn’t seem concerned.
Stranger Things Season 5 Made The Upside Down Less Threatening
Stranger Things season 5 finally explained the Upside Down, confirming that it was a wormhole between two worlds. However, the show’s final season made the location feel less dangerous than in the past, at least when it came to the threats within the Upside Down. The most serious threat came from the military operating there, not actual elements of the Upside Down.
Aside from abandoning the threat of spores, the Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5 also lacked Demobats, the creatures that brutally killed Eddie in season 4. Even Demogorgons were missing from the Abyss, allowing the Party to face off against Vecna and the Mind Flayer without dealing with other threats.
It’s too late to fix aspects in season 5, but hopefully, the Stranger Things spinoff will do enough backtracking to make the Upside Down just as dangerous as it was in the early days of the show.
