The finale of Stranger Things was a huge moment for streaming, wrapping up the story of Hawkins in a three-part release that everyone talked about during the 2025 holidays. However, despite years of anticipation, these final episodes were the most controversial in the show’s history. Both critics and fans gave them the lowest ratings ever, with some episodes, like “The Bridge,” being criticized for being slow and having strange storytelling choices. Disappointed fans even started a conspiracy theory called “Conformity Gate,” believing the ending wasn’t real and was a trick created by the villain, Vecna. They hoped a hidden ninth episode would eventually appear with a true conclusion. Although the creators, the Duffer Brothers, and Netflix have said these theories aren’t true, the show’s fanbase remains upset, and a recent sketch on Saturday Night Live only added fuel to the fire.
During the January 17th episode, Saturday Night Live aired a funny sketch poking fun at Netflix’s plans to continue the Stranger Things universe even after the main story ended. The sketch showed fake spin-offs, and one of the highlights was a parody called Mike in Manhattan, which was styled after Sex and the City. It followed an adult Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard) as he tried to become a writer in New York City. Original cast members Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Caleb (Caleb McLaughlin) appeared in a brunch scene to talk about their lives and relationships. The sketch jokingly explained that Noah Schnapp (who plays Will) wasn’t present because his character would still be going through a long, drawn-out coming-out storyline in the fifth season of Stranger Things.
Why Are Stranger Things Fans Angry at SNL‘sWill Joke?
In a recent sketch, a fictionalized version of the character Will playfully alluded to coming out, using puns like “gay-ning courage” to delay the reveal. While Saturday Night Live is known for its edgy humor, this joke sparked significant controversy. Many viewers felt it was insensitive to make light of Will Byers’ coming out journey, which they saw as a meaningful and hard-won moment after five seasons of emotional struggle. The joke quickly drew criticism on social media, with many calling the wordplay a dismissive and trivializing take on an important moment of LGBTQ+ representation on television.
The latest Saturday Night Live featured a sketch that parodied a coming out scene from the show Stranger Things, where a teenage boy in the 80s feared his sexuality would be used against him. The actor, Noah Schnapp, found the scene difficult to film, and it’s disheartening to see it mocked by adults. It’s time for some perspective.
— Noah Schnapp Updates (@dailyschnapp) January 18, 2026
Because the character Will is a teenager in the 1980s dealing with his sexuality during a time when it was often not accepted, many fans believe it was important for the show to depict a difficult coming-out process. Some viewers feel the show is being unfairly criticized for a supposed slow pace, and that the real issue is that it’s making light of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals rather than addressing any actual writing problems. This criticism is especially strong because the original storyline was meaningful for many young viewers who connected with Will’s journey of self-discovery.
“The reason Will Byers isn’t here is because he’s gay” —
SNL comedy. Embarrassing.
— Stranger News (@StrangerNews11) January 18, 2026
Noah Schnapp’s absence from the recent reunion has made things even more awkward. While the other three main actors from Stranger Things appeared in a Saturday Night Live sketch celebrating their growth from child stars, his character, Will, was played by someone else. This meant Will’s more sensitive storyline was singled out for jokes, while the other actors got to participate in a lighthearted parody of their own fame.
To those upset about the SNL sketch tonight, please understand it wasn’t meant to mock Will for being gay. The joke was about the sketch’s poor writing and excessive length. It wasn’t created with any malicious intent, and some of the reactions have been a bit extreme.
— GamerLoop is playing Arc Raiders (@fatedtwoshot) January 18, 2026
Others argue the criticism is an overblown response to typical late-night comedy. They believe the sketch wasn’t targeting Will’s sexuality, but instead was a commentary on the show Stranger Things’ tendency to repeat storylines and unnecessarily prolong emotional moments. From this viewpoint, the sketch was making fun of the drawn-out scene itself, not the character’s journey. Whether that was the intention or not, the strong and divided reactions prove that Stranger Things still sparks intense debate.
Stranger Things Season 5 is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Was the Saturday Night Live sketch a fair jab at the writing in Stranger Things, or did the joke about Will cross the line? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-19 15:11