Predictably, Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 7 Has Been Thrust Into A Review Bombing War Because Of A Controversial Scene
Jack Coleman (He/Him) is a News Editor from Ireland. This is his third full year in games media, having previously worked freelance for various outlets, including DualShockers and NME.
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A decade since the release of the show’s first season, Stranger Things will finally conclude with the series finale on January 1. However, the response to the show’s penultimate episode has been incredibly polarising. “The Bridge” currently has the lowest-ever individual rating of any episode in the series, currently sitting at 5.4 on IMDB.
The usual criticisms are cropping up in the episode’s reviews: exposition-heavy dialogue and inconsistent acting. The chemistry between some of the actors is non-existent at times, especially when they’re forced to deliver underwhelming lines. However, the usual shortcomings of Stranger Things’ final season are not the only reason why The Bridge’s average rating is so low.
The vast majority of the episode’s ratings are either 1 or 10, suggesting a review bombing war has unfolded between ardent fans of the series and those disappointed by the latest episode.
A lot of the debate surrounds the final scene of the episode, where Will Byers reveals to the ensemble cast that “he doesn’t like girls,” revealing the character’s homosexuality after a lengthy multi-season build-up. There are certainly a few homophobic reviews, but a lot of the criticism is more nuanced than that.
“The pacing is completely off. What should have been a high-stakes, urgent episode feels slow and oddly directionless. Characters repeat the same conversations we’ve already seen in previous seasons, and the supposed “big moments” lack impact because they’re poorly set up and emotionally forced,” writes Fifaa233.
Critics are a little less enthused on Season 5’s debut, but audiences seem to love it.
The concept of a big coming-out scene for Will isn’t inherently a bad idea, but the delivery was poor, and the character’s reactions were puzzling when looking at everyone’s faces after the reveal. Will calling everyone into the room during an urgent moment also felt forced and out of character.
“This whole episode felt forced, and the timing of certain events/dialogue made no sense either. Not sure what the writers were thinking here, but it was absolutely disappointing. It’s starting to feel like we might get a Game of Thrones-level ending with what used to be one of the greatest shows I’ve seen,” reads GageC-15’s review.
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However, despite the pessimism, there’s every chance the showrunners saved their best for the finale. After all, Season 5, Episode 4 has a very high average rating (9.4), which shows there is still potential for a quality ending to Stranger Things.
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
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