The highly anticipated final season of Netflix's global phenomenon, Stranger Things, has sparked intense debate, with a pivotal scene involving Will Byers' coming out becoming a focal point of both praise and criticism. Following the release of Stranger Things 5 in late 2025, the show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have publicly defended the narrative choice, emphasizing its importance for the character and for actor Noah Schnapp.
Defending a Nine-Year Character Arc
In a recent interview with Variety, the Duffer Brothers addressed the backlash head-on. The episode featuring Will Byers revealing his sexual orientation to his friends before the final battle against Vecna became one of the series' lowest-rated on IMDb. Critics, including high-profile figures like Elon Musk, labeled the moment "unnecessary" and "forced," while a section of fans felt it was rushed and lacked emotional weight with certain characters.
Ross Duffer countered this perspective, stating that the scene was the culmination of nearly a decade of storytelling. "The coming out scene is something we've been building to for nine years now," he explained. He framed it as thematically essential to the show's core battle against evil, represented by Vecna. "For our characters to overcome that, it really becomes about embracing themselves, and then also embracing one another and coming together," Duffer added.
The Final Step in Will's Journey
Matt Duffer elaborated on the character's internal journey, describing the scene as "the final step in Will's journey, and Will is, in so many ways, the key to defeating Vecna." He broke down the season's thematic structure, noting that the first volume focused on self-acceptance. Will's subsequent conversations, particularly with Robin (Maya Hawke), showed him grappling with how to come out.
"He finds the courage to be able to do it. And it's really the ultimate fuck you to Vecna. That was the intention," Matt Duffer asserted. The creators expressed immense pride in the episode and Schnapp's performance, highlighting their sensitivity to the actor's personal connection to the material. "Our goal was to make sure that he was comfortable and happy with the scene. And when he was, we felt good about it," Matt shared, noting that Schnapp is "very proud of the scene."
Noah Schnapp's Emotional Response
In a separate conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Noah Schnapp, who publicly came out as gay in January 2023, opened up about his profound reaction to receiving the script. "I read it alone and just cried and I was like, 'It's perfect'," he recalled. The actor had spent months anxiously anticipating the scene, repeatedly asking the Duffers for details.
After finally getting the scripts in mid-2024, his initial read was overwhelmingly emotional. "Then I spent the rest of the few months of the year stressing about making it perfect; preparing and reading it over and over and over," Schnapp said. Filming the scene in October 2024 provided a cathartic release. "I felt a weight off my chest reading that scene aloud with everyone. I felt like, 'Ok, I can do this'," he revealed.
The discourse surrounding Will Byers' storyline underscores the continued cultural significance of LGBTQ+ representation in major mainstream franchises. While divisive, the scene has been celebrated by many fans as a long-awaited and heartfelt conclusion to a character arc that began with his disappearance in the show's very first episode. Stranger Things 5 is currently available for streaming worldwide on Netflix.
