"Stranger Things" creators defended Will's coming out scene after a wave of negative reviews. Matt and Ross Duffer addressed the backlash today, January 1, 2026. The review bombing followed the release of the series' penultimate episode on Netflix on Christmas Day.
The episode, titled "The Bridge," featured Will's coming out. It received a score of 5.6 out of 10 with 96,000 reviews. This made it the lowest-rated episode of the series. The season's Rotten Tomatoes score plummeted to 56%. Previous seasons held scores between 86% and 96%.
The Duffer brothers expressed pride in the scene. They called it "the ultimate f— you to Vecna." Toxic fan behavior raises concerns about AI-driven sentiment analysis. AI algorithms trained on biased data can amplify negativity. This impacts content creation and online discourse.
"Stranger Things," a Netflix hit, blends science fiction and horror. It gained a massive following since its debut. The show's final episodes are now streaming.
The Duffer brothers plan to address fan concerns in upcoming interviews. They aim to foster a more inclusive dialogue. The future of AI moderation in entertainment remains a key discussion point.
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