"Stranger Things 5" is facing a significant backlash from audiences, with overall ratings plummeting and one particular episode sparking intense controversy. The season's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has dropped to a series low, currently sitting at 56%. This decline follows the release of Volume 2 on December 25th and marks a stark contrast to previous seasons, which enjoyed much higher audience scores. For example, Season 1 had a 96% audience score, Season 2 had 90%, Season 3 had 86%, and Season 4 had 89%.

The episode generating the most heat is "The Bridge," the penultimate episode of the season. On IMDb, it holds a 5.4 rating, making it the lowest-rated episode in the show's history, even below the divisive "The Lost Sister" from Season 2. Over 96,000 users have reviewed "The Bridge" on IMDb, dwarfing the review counts of most other episodes this season.

"The Bridge" focuses on setting up the final confrontation with Vecna, but it also includes a scene where Will Byers comes out as gay to his friends and family. This scene has become a major point of contention. While some viewers have praised the scene for its emotional resonance and its reflection of actor Noah Schnapp's own coming out, others have criticized its placement within the narrative and accused the show of pushing a "woke" agenda. Critics argue the timing of Will's speech felt inappropriate, interrupting the urgency of the impending battle against Vecna.

The backlash against "Stranger Things 5" extends beyond just the coming-out scene. Some viewers feel that Volume 2 is predictable and lacks significant stakes. Other complaints include the season being too focused on plot at the expense of character interactions, repetitive dialogue, and a general decline in writing quality. One Rotten Tomatoes user described the writing as having "fallen off a cliff" and the story as "disjointed".

Elon Musk also weighed in on the controversy, criticizing the coming-out scene as "unnecessary and forced". This sentiment echoes a broader concern among some viewers who believe the show has become overly concerned with social issues.

Despite the negative reception, some fans defend the season and accuse critics of "review bombing". They argue that one scene shouldn't invalidate the entire season's merits.

With the series finale set to premiere on December 31st, it remains to be seen whether the final episode, titled "The Right Side Up," can redeem the season in the eyes of disgruntled viewers. The episode is over two hours long, giving the creators ample time to address criticisms and provide a satisfying conclusion to the series. However, the current audience sentiment suggests that the finale faces an uphill battle to restore faith in "Stranger Things".