December 30, 2025, 12:22 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The grand finale in Hawkins is approaching, and starting January 1, 2026, hopefully, Eleven, Mike, and the rest will finally put an end to Vecna in “Stranger Things.” The rush for the last episodes is enormous and temporarily crashed Netflix. But now this trend is reversing, and the once-popular series is currently plummeting. “Stranger Things” Season 5 is facing significant backlash.
Why “Stranger Things” Season 5 is Facing a Backlash
“Stranger Things” is typically one of the most popular series produced by Netflix. The adventures of the young protagonists captivate millions and usually receive positive reactions. However, after the release of the penultimate episode “The Bridge,” “Stranger Things” Season 5 is suddenly facing a backlash.
As the U.S. industry magazine “Variety” reports, it is specifically a case of so-called review bombing, meaning numerous negative reviews have been submitted online in a short period. Until recently, the average fan rating on “Rotten Tomatoes” for Season 5 was a solid 70 percent. Although this is the worst result so far, it was still a decent score. However, it has now dropped significantly to just 56 percent—a rating that, according to the website, officially falls into the poor category.
For comparison: 96 percent of all fan reviews for the first season were positive, 90 percent for Season 2, 86 percent for Season 3, and 89 percent for Season 4. Furthermore, “The Bridge” received the worst episode ratings on IMDb for the entire series so far, with a score of only 5.4. More than 100,000 people (as of December 30, 2025) have rated the episode, which, according to the report, is more than twice the usual average.
Netflix Significantly Shortens Episodes of “Stranger Things” Season 5
Everyone is Talking About This Series Right Now!
Why the Series is No Longer Well-Received
The most significant moment in the penultimate episode is that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) finally comes out as gay to his friends, which had been clearly hinted at in previous seasons. For many, this scene is just another example of how sexuality and identity politics are allegedly placed too often and prominently in major films and series to supposedly push an agenda.
While such opinions mainly come from the conservative side of the political spectrum, critical comments are also heard from other directions. “When even we gays have had enough, it has to stop,” wrote one person under a YouTube video.
Eleven Sidelined
For many, Will’s sexuality is not the issue. Many fans also criticize the length and timing of the scene, as it would completely remove the narrative urgency at that moment, as reported by “Bored Panda.” Additional general criticisms include a choppy narrative, slow pace, and poor dialogue.
Moreover, many feel that previously important and long-established characters have been pushed into the background in favor of others. In particular, Eleven, who could arguably be considered one of, if not the most important character in the series, seems to have been sidelined, as viewers discuss on Reddit.
Whether “Stranger Things” can turn things around with the final episode remains to be seen. It will be released on Netflix on the night of December 31 to January 1.