'Stranger Things' creators defend Will’s coming out scene amid online backlash

Duffer Brothers respond to mixed reviews after Will’s coming out scene in 'Stranger Things' final season on Netflix

Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of Stranger Things, addressed the backlash following the penultimate episode of the series, which dropped on Netflix on Christmas Day.

The episode, titled “The Bridge,” features Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, coming out as gay to his friends before confronting Vecna.

The scene sparked online review bombing, with the season’s Rotten Tomatoes score dropping to 56%, the lowest in the series’ history. Episode seven received a score of 5.6 out of 10 from 96,000 reviews, compared with previous seasons, which scored between 86% and 96%.

“The coming out scene is something we’ve been building to for nine years now. It was a really important scene for us, and a really important scene for Noah — not just from a thematic point of view, but also a narrative point of view,” Ross Duffer told Variety on January 1.

He added that the show has always centred on characters overcoming evil, with Vecna representing “all the dark thoughts and the evil of society.”

Matt Duffer explained, “Volume 1 is really about self-acceptance. Will is talking to Robin — it’s something that he wants to do. He finds the courage to be able to do it. And it’s really the ultimate f— you to Vecna. That was the intention.”

Despite the criticism, the Duffer Brothers expressed pride in the episode and in Schnapp’s performance. Ross said, “We’re proud of the episode, and we’re proud of Noah, who gave a really brave, very vulnerable performance.”

The brothers emphasised their focus on supporting Schnapp, ensuring the scene resonated with him personally. Matt noted, “We were definitely nervous about how it’s going to go over with everyone. But not as nervous as we were handing it over to Noah. It really worked and resonated for him, which was great.”

The Duffer Brothers remain committed to their vision, acknowledging the mixed reception while highlighting the scene’s significance in Will’s story arc.