With the release of Volume 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 on Christmas, episodes five through seven of the show’s final chapter became available to stream on Netflix. These episodes laid the groundwork for the massive two hour series finale, which arrived on New Year’s Eve, and in some regions, early New Year’s Day. While the new volume received widespread praise, one particular moment sparked controversy. A scene in which Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, comes out to his family and friends drew online backlash. The episode also became a target of review bombing, reflected in an unusually high number of one star ratings on IMDb, many of which originated from Saudi Arabia and parts of South Asia.
Duffer Brothers respond to backlash over Will Byers’ storyline
Following the release of the finale, the creators of the series, the Duffer Brothers, addressed the criticism in an interview with Variety. When asked whether they had anticipated the homophobic reactions online, Matt Duffer said they had not. He explained that Will’s arc was something they had been developing for a long time, adding that subtlety was never their strong suit and that the storyline had always been clearly signposted.
On IMDb, every episode of Stranger Things Season 5 holds a rating of 7.9 or higher, except for Chapter Seven, titled “The Bridge.” This episode, which features Will coming out just before the final battle, currently sits at a 5.6 rating. It is the lowest rated episode in the show’s history and the only one to fall below a 6.5 score.
Despite the reaction, the creators stood firmly by their work. Ross Duffer said they were proud of both the episode and the scene, and praised Noah Schnapp for delivering what he described as a brave and deeply vulnerable performance. He also shared that he had been in close contact with the actor after the episode aired and that Schnapp felt confident and proud of how the moment was received.
About Stranger Things
Stranger Things officially concluded with its final episode, Season 5 Episode 8, which premiered on January 1. The series first debuted in 2016 and ran for a total of 42 episodes across five seasons. Over the years, it has come to be seen as one of the most influential television shows of the 21st century, shaping pop culture and turning its young cast into global stars.
