Duffer Brothers Proud Of Will’s Coming Out In ST5

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 was released on Christmas, with episodes 5 to 7 streaming on Netflix. These episodes prepared viewers for the big two-hour finale, which premiered on New Year’s Eve (and New Year’s morning in some countries). While the episodes received a lot of praise, one emotional scene sparked controversy.

In the scene, Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, comes out to his family and friends. This moment received criticism online and was targeted by review bombing. The episode got many 1-star ratings on IMDb, especially from users in Saudi Arabia and South Asia.

All episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 are rated 7.9 or higher on IMDb, except Episode 7, titled The Bridge. This episode has a rating of 5.6, making it the lowest-rated episode in the show’s history.

After the finale aired, creators Matt and Ross Duffer spoke to Variety about the backlash. Matt Duffer said they did not expect this level of hate.

Despite the criticism, the Duffer Brothers said they are proud of the episode and the scene. Ross Duffer praised Noah Schnapp’s performance, calling it brave and emotional. He also shared that Noah is proud of the scene and is doing well.