The second half of the fifth and final season of the series Stranger Things, which was released recently, has sparked a broad wave of reactions on social media. At the center of the controversy is “The Bridge,” the seventh episode of the new season, Episode 41 of the series overall and its penultimate installment.
In the episode, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) comes out to his friends as gay moments before the central battle against the antagonist Vecna and the forces of the Upside Down.
Season 5 trailer
(Video: Netflix)
With a score of 5.4 on IMDb, it is the lowest-rated episode of the series based on viewer rankings. Until now, no episode of Stranger Things had fallen below a 7.8 on that metric. In addition, viewer traffic was unusually high: More than 96,000 users rated the episode, compared with fewer than 50,000 ratings for the other episodes of the season so far.
On social media, the reaction to the episode was harsh, and an intense debate is still unfolding. Some fans argued that the scene was “disconnected from the pace and tension of the series,” while others emphasized the importance of representation and pointed to Will’s gradual personal journey over five seasons, accusing critics of homophobia and prejudice.
Billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in, in his trademark unfiltered style. “It’s completely unnecessary and forced on audiences who just want to enjoy some basic sci-fi” Musk wrote on his platform X.
Additional criticism raised online focused not only on the reveal of Will’s sexual identity but also on the episode’s overall writing. Some viewers said the dialogue was clumsy, the development of supporting characters unconvincing and the episode’s pacing slow and drawn out. Alongside the criticism, others defended the way the series handled the subject, saying the scene was emotional and meaningful.
The final episode of the fifth season of Stranger Things, which will also be the series finale, is set to air Wednesday.