Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, have responded to criticism surrounding Will Byers' coming-out scene in the show's fifth season. They expressed pride in the episode and Noah Schnapp's performance, stating they had been building towards this moment for a long time and are not subtle creators. The episode, however, saw a drop in audience scores and is the series' worst-rated episode on IMDb, despite Schnapp's own pride in his portrayal.