The series finale of “Stranger Things,” now streaming on Netflix, sparked an unexpected wave of review bombing following its penultimate episode, which dropped on Christmas Day. Despite the backlash, creators Matt and Ross Duffer expressed immense pride in the final episodes, particularly a pivotal scene involving the character Will Byers.

The three concluding episodes caused the season’s Rotten Tomatoes score to plummet to 56%, marking it as the lowest-rated season by far compared to previous seasons that consistently scored in the high 80s and 90s. Specifically, “The Bridge,” the seventh episode, became the series' lowest-rated installment with a score of 5.6 out of 10 from 96,000 reviews. This episode featured Will (Noah Schnapp) coming out as gay to his friends before confronting Vecna.

Ross Duffer emphasized the long-term significance of Will’s coming out scene, stating that it had been nine years in the making. He highlighted its importance from both thematic and narrative standpoints, not just for the show but also for actor Noah Schnapp. The Duffer Brothers explained that “Stranger Things” has always centered on characters overcoming evil, with Vecna symbolizing societal darkness. For the characters to defeat Vecna, they must embrace themselves and each other, a journey culminating in Will's self-acceptance.

Matt Duffer further elaborated on the scene’s role, calling it the