The static is crackling again on Netflix as it returns with new stories and dangers drawn from the eerie chaos of Stranger Things. The upcoming show, Stranger Things: Tales From '85, is expected to arrive soon on the streaming giant, and one question is whether it will once again disrupt the fandom’s sleep schedule like the original. The Duffer Brothers series featured a varied mix of episode lengths, ranging from 50 minutes to over two hours across its five seasons, which ran from 2016 to 2025. 

However, the new show, while still promising the same chaos in Hawkins, appears to have a more measured and calm pace, based on early glimpses of its episode runtimes.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is set between Seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, following the same nerdy Hawkins squad. This time, the story will be told across 10 episodes, all dropping at once on April 23, 2026. And each episode is expected to run for at least 25 minutes, as per the screeners.

Here is a closer look at each episode’s runtime.

Episode 1 - 30 minutes

Episode 2 - 32 minutes

Episode 3 - 27 minutes

Episode 4 - 28 minutes

Episode 5 - 28 minutes

Episode 6 - 30 minutes

Episode 7 - 28 minutes

Episode 8 - 28 minutes

Episode 9 - 27 minutes

Episode 10 - 27 minutes 

Now, the runtime of each episode, which happens to be much shorter than that of the original Stranger Things, is understandable considering the show has been specifically designed with younger viewers in mind. The shorter episodes feel well-suited for kids, allowing them to watch and enjoy the story without having to sit through long stretches just to find out what happens next. Moreover, the show is also expected to be focused on kids’ adventures, unlike Stranger Things, which has grown darker and scarier with each season.

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So, although it comes from the same universe, the new animated version might have a different storytelling approach.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 has a new showrunner in Eric Robles, who envisioned the series as a kid-focused adventure that adults can also enjoy alongside their children. The Duffer Brothers, serving as executive producers of the project, also agreed on the same concept. That explains why an animated version of the nerd squad’s adventures was created after the end of the original series. 

The show has already faced some criticism, as some felt it arrived way too soon after the final season of Stranger Things. Others have taken issue with the animation based on early glimpses. Regardless, it remains to be seen whether the series can win hearts, especially of younger viewers, when it premieres on Netflix.

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What do you think about the episode runtime of Stranger Things: Tales From '85? Share your thoughts.