"Stranger Things" creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, defended Will's coming out scene after a wave of negative reviews. The backlash followed the show's penultimate episode release on Netflix, Christmas Day. The Duffer brothers addressed the controversy January 1, 2026.
The episode featuring Will's coming out, "The Bridge," received a 5.6/10 rating with 96,000 reviews. This made it the lowest-rated episode in the series. The season's Rotten Tomatoes score plummeted to 56%, a significant drop from previous seasons.
The Duffer brothers expressed pride in the scene despite the "review bombing." They framed it as a defiant act against the series' antagonist, Vecna. Netflix has not yet commented on the review manipulation.
"Stranger Things" has been a global phenomenon since its debut. The series is known for its 1980s setting and supernatural themes. Will's character development has been a long-running storyline.
The final episodes of "Stranger Things" are now streaming on Netflix. It remains to be seen if the controversy will affect viewership. The Duffer brothers are expected to address the issue further in upcoming interviews.
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