Stranger Things season 5 has faced review bombing on Rotten Tomatoes following the release of its penultimate episode, in which Will Byers comes out as gay. The episode, titled 'The Bridge,' has become the lowest-rated in the series on IMDb. This backlash has dropped the season's fan score significantly from previous highs.
The release of Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 on December 25, 2025, has sparked a wave of review bombing, particularly targeting the episode 'The Bridge.' In this penultimate installment, Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, delivers a lengthy monologue coming out as gay to his friends amid preparations to confront Vecna from the Upside Down. This scene has drawn intense criticism, leading to 'The Bridge' earning a 5.4 out of 10 on IMDb—the lowest score in the series, compared to most episodes rating between 8.6 and 9.2. Over 96,000 users have reviewed it, far more than the under 50,000 for other episodes this season.
The fan-driven Rotten Tomatoes score for season 5 has fallen from the 70s to 56%, a sharp drop from prior seasons: season 4 at 89%, season 3 at 86%, season 2 at 90%, and season 1 at 96%. Elon Musk commented on X, stating 'the culture is changing' and calling the inclusion 'completely unnecessary and forced on audiences who just want to enjoy some basic sci-fi.'
However, not all backlash centers on Will's sexuality, which has been hinted at since season 1. Many fans have expressed frustration with the show's clunky exposition, slow-moving plot, and half-baked writing. Variety chief TV critic Alison Herman noted that the series has declined to 'enrich its characters as they age' and 'remains primarily pastiche, so indebted to inherited archetypes... and references... that its main cultural impact comes from extratextual elements like casting and the ascendance of Netflix.'
Chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario praised the moment, writing that Will’s speech 'strikes an emotional chord' and reflects Schnapp’s own coming out, describing it as 'seismic' for a massive show like Stranger Things. Schnapp shared in an interview that he was 'in tears' reading the scene, which he filmed over nearly 24 hours, adding, 'The cast was so gracious. I’ll never forget how supportive they were... respectful and giving.'
Review bombing by toxic fandoms is a recurring issue in franchises like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Bridgerton, often involving racism, sexism, and homophobia. The final episode of Stranger Things season 5 will debut on Netflix and in theaters on December 31, 2025.