Will Byers' (Noah Schnapp) coming out scene in the penultimate episode of Stranger Things season 5 did not seem to hit the same for everyone as it did for the queer community. After it aired, the episode titled "The Bridge" was review-bombed by homophobes across multiple rating sites, Variety reports.
On IMDB, the episode was rated a 5.4 out of 10 with more than 106,000 reviews, which is almost double the number of reviews as most other episodes.
In the episode, Will comes out in an emotional scene with his Joyce (Winona Ryder), brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and his friends, Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Max (Sadie Sink), Robin (Maya Hawke), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Steve (Joe Keery). During his emotional monologue, he hints at his crush on Mike, saying that he "had this crush on someone even though I know, I know they’re not like me, but then I realized, he’s just my Tammy."
Elon Musk, a constant critic of LGBTQ+ rights and the "woke mind virus," commented on the coming out scene on X, responding to an account that posted a clip of Will's monologue. "Stranger Things fans are criticizing a character for coming out as homosexual in the season finale, calling it was completely unnecessary for the plot," the post that has over four million views on it reads. "The culture is changing."
Musk replied to that post and said, "It’s completely unnecessary and forced on audiences who just want to enjoy some basic sci-fi." This comment was then supported by a slew of homophobes agreeing with him, saying things like "HBO Max is no better. That Heated Rivalry show is being blatantly pushed to young audiences. It's an agenda."
Over 2,600 left their comments about the episode on the IMDB rating page, and many of the critiques are about the writing for the coming out scene and the overall final installment of the Stranger Things franchise. "The coming out scene was the worst thing I've ever witnessed in film history, and that's saying something, because I've adored god-awful movies and shows," one person wrote. "As someone in the queer community, there was absolutely no need for Will to ever confess in front of that many people."
Another person left a review saying, "What once felt like a gripping, character-driven story ended in a finale that prioritized messaging over meaningful storytelling. Representation isn't the problem, but when it feels forced and constantly highlighted, it takes away from the tension, horror, and emotional payoff the show was known for." The person continued, "The pacing was uneven, the stakes felt muted, and the conclusion lacked impact. After years of buildup, this ending didn't feel earned and failed to deliver a satisfying close to the series."
