The next chapter in the franchise is Stranger Things: Tales from '85, and now we finally know where it fits into the story. It is, in fact, the continuation of the story between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show.The Duffer Brothers have confirmed this in their recent interviews. Therefore, it will be a return to wintry 1985 Hawkins, a time right after the Mind Flayer mess and before the Starcourt Mall was even a thing. It is the perfect in-between moment to explore new stories.This timing matters because it keeps the heart of the original series alive while giving fans a fresh mystery inside familiar walls.Why setting Stranger Things: Tales from '85 between Seasons 2 and 3 makes senseThe biggest reveal about Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is not that it is animated. It is when it happens. Matt Duffer confirmed the timeline clearly while speaking to Collider. He said,“I think people are going to be really surprised by how good that is. It’s set between Seasons 2 and 3, and Eric and the team did such an incredible job capturing the spirit of what the show was back then. So, if you love the show the most around Seasons 2 and 3, I think you're going to love the cartoon. The animation is stunning.”Netflix's "Stranger Things" Multi-City Series Finale Screening - Source: GettyThis tells the fans this is not a future story, not a reboot, and not a random side quest. It falls within the timeline of Stranger Things. This is when the kids were still kids, friendships still felt fragile, and Hawkins still felt small but dangerous.Placing the show here also avoids messing with the ending of the main series. It respects what came before and what came after. Instead of stretching the timeline, it fills a gap. That makes it feel more like a hidden chapter than a spin-off trying to replace anything.It also explains why the tone matters so much. The Duffers are clearly trying to protect what made early Stranger Things work. The bikes. The cold air. The feeling that something bad is nearby but no one else sees it yet. By setting Stranger Things: Tales from '85 between Seasons 2 and 3, they are locking the show into that specific emotional space.The Duffers explain the tone and why it still feels like Stranger ThingsAnother fear fans had was that animation might water things down. Matt Duffer directly pushed back on that idea. Speaking to Collider, he explained what kind of show this actually is. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostHe said,“It just feels like the show. I think they did such a great job of capturing it and capturing, especially, what it felt like when the kids were younger. I'm excited for it. And it's not that ‘kiddie.’ It's a monster show. It's a monster show, but because it's a cartoon, I think some younger audiences are going to be able to watch it, too. But I think it's going to appeal to everybody.”“It just feels like the show” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It means the tone is still spooky, still tense, still about kids facing things bigger than them. The only difference is the format.Ross Duffer also explained why fans have not heard much of Stranger Things: Tales from '85 yet. He said the team wanted to give the main series its space first. He told Collider,“We want to give it its own space to have and let the flagship come out. I’m sure we’ll announce soon when it is coming out...”That explains the quiet rollout. Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is being treated like its own separate entity. The production of the show is still underway, and it is anticipated to release in 2026, although no date has been revealed yet.Stranger Things: Tales from '85, being set between Seasons 2 and 3, is not a random spin-off series. It protects the original story, brings fans back to peak Hawkins energy, and gives the creators space to tell a new mystery without changing the canon ending.With the Duffers this involved, the timeline choice feels intentional, not convenient. It feels like a missing puzzle piece finally being placed where it always belonged.Stay tuned to Soap Central for more updates on Stranger Things: Tales from '85.