For nearly a decade, Netflix’s Stranger Things has captivated audiences with its blend of supernatural chills, 1980s nostalgia, and deeply relatable coming-of-age drama. But as the curtain falls on the series with its fifth and final season, which debuted on January 2, 2026, the show’s signature blend of horror and heart takes on a bittersweet edge. Fans and critics alike have been buzzing about the season’s most talked-about moments—especially the so-called “un-proposal” between Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, and the long-awaited coming out of Will Byers. Yet, despite the anticipation, reactions have been decidedly mixed, with many viewers left pondering whether the show’s boldest emotional beats landed as intended.
Let’s start with the event that’s had social media in a frenzy: the “un-proposal.” Since Season 2, Nancy (played by Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) have been one of the series’ central couples, their relationship forged in the fires of Hawkins’ many traumas. But as the fifth season unfolds, cracks in their connection become impossible to ignore. The tension, the distance, and the sense of two people held together more by shared experiences than genuine compatibility—it’s all laid bare in a pivotal scene inside a melting Hawkins lab, as danger closes in on all sides.
In a moment that’s as heart-wrenching as it is unconventional, Jonathan presents Nancy with a wedding ring hidden inside a John Coltrane cassette. “I’ve screwed up enough with you. It’d be nice to get something right for once in the end,” he admits, before delivering the twist: “Nancy Wheeler. Will you not marry me? I tried to convince myself that this would somehow fix everything. But it was just gonna make things worse. Which is why it has been sitting like a cannonball in my pocket for the last two days. So what do you say? Do you accept my un-proposal?” Nancy, in turn, accepts, and the two reaffirm their love for each other—while also acknowledging that love isn’t enough to keep them together. “I love you, Nancy Wheeler. I love you, Jonathan Byers,” they say, embracing as they let go.
The scene quickly set off a storm of confusion and debate online. Was this a breakup or a declaration of enduring love? According to Inquirer Lifestyle, fans were split: some saw it as a poignant farewell, others as a reaffirmation of their bond. One X user, @ssimmeej, reflected, “I really thought it was about them being seconds away from dying, but still choosing to express their love.” Yet another, @FUCHSIASTARDUST, interpreted it as a breakup: “It was one of those, ‘I love you, but honestly, I was just pretending to like all this stuff for you to hold us together. We’ll always have our bond, but it’s time we move on.’”
The show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, eventually stepped in to clarify. As Matt Duffer told People, “It’s hard to recall when exactly that idea came, but I think us—and the writers—all felt that Nancy needed to end up on her own and be independent and have an opportunity to find herself.” The writing, in retrospect, had always been on the wall. The “un-proposal” wasn’t a last-ditch attempt to salvage a romance, but rather a mutual recognition that their relationship had run its course. In a genre that often leans on trauma to bind couples together—think Speed, Jurassic World, or any number of action blockbusters—this was a radical departure. Stranger Things dared to suggest that surviving horrors together doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after, and sometimes, true love means letting go.
But the season’s emotional high points didn’t stop there. In an episode entitled “The Bridge,” which aired on January 1, 2026, viewers finally witnessed Will Byers’ coming out—a moment that had been quietly building since the show’s earliest days. For years, Will’s sexuality had been hinted at, most notably in Season 4’s “Papa.” Yet it wasn’t until this final season that Will, played by Noah Schnapp, found the courage to publicly declare who he is.
As reported by Tell-Tale TV, Will’s monologue was “heart-wrenchingly beautiful,” a vulnerable confession delivered in the midst of chaos. Will gathers a large group—Joyce, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, El, Max, Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, Steve, Murray, Vickie, and Kali (but notably not Hopper)—and finally comes out as gay. “I need to be there. And I’m ready. I’m ready to show him I’m not afraid anymore,” Will says, his voice trembling yet resolute.
Yet, for all its emotional weight, the scene drew criticism for its execution. Tell-Tale TV argued that by including nearly every major character, some of whom barely know Will, the show turned what should have been an intimate, personal moment into a spectacle. “It is very difficult for a teenage boy living in the Midwest in the 1980s to be out and proud as a gay person. It takes a lot of courage for Will to admit who he truly is,” the review noted. The presence of so many bystanders, the article continued, “lessens the emotional impact of his vulnerable coming out moment.”
The critique went further, suggesting that the scene’s intimacy was lost the moment the camera panned to characters like Steve, Murray, and Vickie—people with little personal connection to Will’s journey. “A closeted teenager coming out while simultaneously admitting his fear of his loved ones not accepting him for who he is is not a dramatic show; it is an intimate and special moment. Stranger Things ultimately fails to accomplish this intimacy,” the review concluded. While the scene ends with a reassuring group hug from Jonathan and Will’s closest friends, the emotional resonance is diluted by the crowd.
Still, the moment is not without power. Will’s coming out is a milestone for the character and for the series—a testament to the courage it takes to be seen, especially in a time and place where acceptance is far from guaranteed. And for all the criticism of its staging, the show’s decision to center this narrative in its final season speaks volumes about how far mainstream television has come in telling LGBTQ+ stories, even if the delivery wasn’t perfect.
As the dust settles on Hawkins and the Upside Down, Stranger Things leaves behind a legacy of subverted expectations and honest, sometimes messy, emotional storytelling. The fifth season may be its lowest-rated, but it refuses to play it safe, challenging both Hollywood conventions and its audience’s assumptions. Whether fans loved or loathed these final twists, one thing is certain: the series has never shied away from asking hard questions about love, trauma, and identity. That, perhaps, is its greatest achievement.