The creators of Stranger Things are not backing down.
Following the release of the show’s penultimate episode on Netflix this Christmas, Matt and Ross Duffer found themselves confronting an unexpected wave of online review bombing, much of it directed at Will Byers’ long-awaited coming-out moment. While the backlash caught them off guard, the brothers say it hasn’t shaken their confidence in the scene or its purpose within the story.
“This is something we’ve been building toward for nine years,” Ross Duffer told Variety. “From both a narrative and thematic standpoint, it was crucial. Stranger Things has always been about confronting evil, and Vecna represents the darkest impulses of society. To defeat that kind of evil, our characters have to accept who they are and accept each other.”
For Matt Duffer, Will’s emotional journey isn’t a side note; it’s central to the show’s endgame. “Will is, in so many ways, the key to defeating Vecna,” he said. “Volume 1 is about self-acceptance. That’s step one. Step two is Will recognising that he needs to come out, not because he’s pushed to, but because he wants to. Finding that courage is the final step. And that moment is really the ultimate 'f— you' to Vecna. That was always the intention.”
Despite the polarised online reaction, the Duffers remain resolute. “We’re proud of the episode, we’re proud of the scene, and we’re incredibly proud of Noah,” Ross said, referring to actor Noah Schnapp. “What he delivered was brave and deeply vulnerable.”
Matt added that Schnapp’s comfort and emotional well-being were their top priority throughout the process. “This hit very close to home for Noah, and that’s where Ross and I were the most sensitive,” he explained. “Our goal was simple: make sure he felt good about the scene. Once he did, we did too. I’ve been checking in with him a lot since the episode aired, and he’s in a really good place. He’s proud of it, and so are we.”
What surprised the creators most was that such backlash still exists. “Honestly? No, we didn’t anticipate it,” Matt admitted when asked if they expected a homophobic response. “This arc has been telegraphed for years. We’re many things as writers, but subtle isn’t one of them!”
The coming-out scene, Matt revealed earlier, was the most carefully crafted sequence of the season. “We spent more time writing that scene than any other,” he said. “We were nervous, of course, but not nearly as nervous as we were handing it over to Noah. It had to feel true to him. We were writing it for Noah.”
That trust paid off. “He wrote to us in tears after reading the script,” Matt recalled. “On the day of shooting, there was barely any direction needed. Noah had been preparing for months. Most of what you see is from the first take.” In the end, regardless of online noise, the Duffers believe the scene achieved exactly what it was meant to.
