Stranger Things: Tales From '85 boss has a perfectly valid explanation as to why new kid Nikki isn't in season 3 of the main show: "It wasn't like it is now"

Given that she's clearly not present in Stranger Things season 3, those preparing to tune into upcoming spin-off Stranger Things: Tales From '85 are justifiably concerned about new character Nikki Baxter. Will she move away at the end of 10 episodes? Fall out with Eleven and co? Die?!

As is stands, anything's possible, since Netflix is keeping details of the animated series firmly under wraps. But whatever happens, showrunner Eric Robles has an ironclad explanation prepared as to why we never hear The Party mention pink-haired punk Nikki following their snow-filled adventures...

"One thing that's probably hard for a lot of people to understand is that in the '80s, it wasn't like it is now – you would have a friend that you would meet for summertime, if you went to camp, and they'd be amazing friends, and you'd have amazing adventures for that one summer," he explains in the new issue of SFX magazine, which features Tales From '85 on the cover. "It wasn't like you stayed in touch via Instagram or anything.

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"If you got a phone number, maybe you stay in touch. But for the most part, people came in and out of your life, and they were your best friend ever for the two weeks or three months that you were with them, and then they're out of your life. It's the same concept with Nikki, but we'll see what happens to her at the end of this thing."

Executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things: Tales From '85 follows Eleven (voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt), Mike (Luca Diaz), Will (Ben Plessala), Dustin (Braxton Quinney), Lucas (Elisha Williams), and Max (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport).

Fresh from their Christmas holidays (and El closing the gate to the Upside Down), the youngsters are excited for going back to school, pizza nights, and kicking off their next D&D session. But their dreams of resuming regular smalltown-kid activities are cut short when strange monsters start terrorizing the town.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premieres on April 23. While we wait, check out our picks of the best Netflix shows for some watchlist inspiration.