Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Faces Massive Backlash as Fans Turn on the Finale

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Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Faces Massive Backlash as Fans Turn on the Finale

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 hit Netflix on December 25, releasing Episodes 5 through 7, and the reaction has been brutal.

What was already a divided fanbase after Volume 1 has now turned openly hostile, with backlash spreading fast across social media.

Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes dropped sharply following the release, falling into the high-70s range, with Episode 7 (“The Bridge”) quickly becoming one of the lowest-rated episodes of the entire series.

will stranger things 5 vol 2

Will Byers’ Coming-Out Scene Sparks Outrage

The biggest flashpoint comes in the final minutes of Episode 7, where Will Byers finally comes out to his family and friends.

While the show avoids using the word “gay,” the message is unmistakable. Framed as a secret Vecna could exploit, Will admits he doesn’t like girls, tying the moment to his long-teased feelings for Mike.

Instead of landing as emotional payoff, the scene has triggered widespread criticism. Many viewers say it completely derails the momentum right before the final battle, stopping the apocalypse storyline cold for a lengthy monologue that feels disconnected from defeating Vecna.

On X, users describe the moment as forced, cringey, and agenda-driven. Others question why Will would choose to come out to a room full of people — roughly 15 characters — in the middle of a world-ending crisis. The timing, execution, and writing are being called tone-deaf at best.

Even LGBTQ Viewers Push Back

Not all of the criticism is coming from the same place. Some LGBTQ viewers have also taken issue with how the scene was handled, arguing it comes far too late in the series and reduces Will’s identity to vulnerability and emotional weakness.

Others accuse the show of queerbaiting before rushing a resolution at the last possible moment.

Several fans argue that forcing Will to come out under supernatural pressure comes off as clumsy and uncomfortable, undermining what could have been a more natural character moment earlier in the series.

Pacing, Writing, and Stakes Continue to Be Slammed

Beyond the Will controversy, Volume 2 continues the same problems fans complained about in Volume 1.

Viewers say the pacing drags, emotional beats feel unearned, and the plotting grows more convoluted instead of clearer as the series approaches its end.

While some praise bits of mythology expansion involving the Upside Down, many feel the show has lost its balance. Vecna is no longer scary. The mystery is gone. The tension is replaced by speeches and overextended scenes that exist more to send messages than move the story forward.

Comparisons to Game of Thrones Grow Louder

As backlash builds, comparisons to Game of Thrones are becoming unavoidable.

Fans see the same pattern: a beloved series losing focus, stretching its runtime, and prioritizing spectacle and messaging over tight storytelling.

Instead of building toward a satisfying conclusion, Volume 2 has left many viewers frustrated, exhausted, and worried about how the finale will land.

The Damage Before the Finale

With the supersized series finale set to arrive on New Year’s Eve, Stranger Things now enters its final chapter under a cloud of negativity.

Social media sentiment has shifted from debate to disappointment, and the phrase “worst season yet” is trending for all the wrong reasons.

Netflix wanted a victory lap. Instead, Volume 2 has poured gasoline on an already growing fire.

Zachary Levi is right

While not specifically addressing Stranger Things, while appearing recently on YouTube, actor Zachary Levi nailed why the woke agenda is destroying Hollywood, which applies here:

“…Ram rodding. Lots of agenda that even, by the way, people on the left and in the center are kind of like, I’m f-cking over this. Why do we have to have this as a plot point in the story? It makes no sense. It doesn’t move anything forward. I’m being preached to within the setting of what should be escapism.”

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About The Author

Matt McGloin
Matt McGloin created, designed and launched Cosmic Book News in 2008, an independent website that covers entertainment news including movies, comics, tv, video games and more. Matt helped Marvel Comics promote 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Nova' and has expanded into movies, TV and more. Matt's scoops include the biggest of them all when he released the 'Avengers: Endgame' title before 'Infinity War.' Recently saw Matt first say Marvel is retooling 'Daredevil: Born Again,' which was confirmed exactly as he said months later by the trades.
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