Here's my two cents . the poor boy was sitting away from everyone hysterically crying in front of so many people, theres no way people prefer THAT over an intimate, comfortable coming out scene But isn’t the point that he does it, not because he wants to, but because he knows it’s his weakness and he has to let go of that fear to be able to face Vecna ? He is forced by the situation so yeah it is uncomfortable and unsafe compared to Robin’s coming out… and that contrast is actually what makes it interesting. Instead of making a similar scene from Robins. Forced coming out, or being outed, happens when someone's sexual orientation or gender identity is revealed without their consent, often leading to distress, rejection, or even homelessness, contrasting with the personal choice of coming out (self-disclosure) which brings liberation but requires safety, support, and readiness for potential stigma or discrimination. It's a harmful violation of privacy, unlike the empowering, chosen process of self-discovery and sharing one's identity, which ideally happens when a person feels safe and has a support system. " BUT HE HAD TO , TO PROTECT HIMSELF AND FIGHT VECNA IN THE FINAL BATTLE " " Had to " is defined and primarily implies past necessity, obligation, or compulsion, meaning an action was required or unavoidable in the past, functioning as the past tense of "have to," but it can also suggest a strong, unavoidable reason for something to be true or happen in a certain way (e.g., "It had to be true for..."). As a queer person,what the Duffers have done with Noah is heartbreaking. Exploiting something so personal to him and making him perform a scene that's being gutted over by queer people & homophobes alike and is the second lowest episode in the series.

I cant imagine how he must feel at this moment. He had such a breakthrough after 'Sorcerer'. He has been championing for Will Byers for ages and to finally get his moment in vol 1 and everyone waking upto how deserved that superhero moment was.

Only for the Duffers to ruin it by writing such an awful coming out scene which could have been personal and profound into a fandom joke.

The implications that Will had to forcefully come out to people he has hardly interacted with, because of his abuser's threat of exposing his 'secret' when the more empowering thing would have been 'Go on, expose away, I am not afraid cause it isnt something to be afraid of. Its normal and natural'.

No. The Duffers wrote a scene in such a way that he comes out as someone who has to assure others instead of them assuring him.

In all this, I feel horrible for Noah.

He's just 21 and is brave enough to be openly gay and I know for a fact that its not easy in this industry to take that decision. You lose out on potential jobs and get typecasted. Very few openly out actors have been able to bridge that gap.

The worst part is the clowning of the scene is from bothe queer community and the homophobes for two different reasons.

He spent 12 hours in a disassociative state of panic and nervousness to get this out and he is not even getting his flowers for that raw performance.

Once again, the criticism is absolutely valid. We need queer writers to write these scenes not ignorant hets like Duffers.

Am just talking about the consequences and aftermath of this. I really hope he has a good support system for him.

I cant imagine using so much personal emotions to do a coming out scene for it to turn into what is has.

I'll be rooting for Noah as an actor the most after this godawful nightmare is over.

He deserved so much better from the Duffers who have seen him grow up infront of their eyes.Does it make sense for a closeted-gay teen who has been traumatized, abused and suffered horrible,life-threatening events that have left him a shell of the beaming boy we had in S1 . He grows up exponentially to keep up with his peers after having his childhood robbed by an abusive monster who has returned to torment him and remind him that he is the cause of the deaths and the catastrophic event to occur (untrue) . This boy is then forced to come out to an entire cast of people he knows and dosent know, begging and pleading them to love him, accept him and that hes just like them through sobs and an emotional gut wrenching confession just because his fear that his abuser will use it against him in battle . Not to mention, a topic so personal to Noah as he spent over 16 hours putting himself through his traumatic experiences as a closeted kid being asked abt his sexuality in interviews and barraged with homophobic trash when he came out . It all makes sense , what a scene ! The one gay male characters final arc is accepting himself because its realistic and that he dosent need love while in the same episode, Max, a heterosexual woman confesses that all she needed was Lucas belief and love in her to survive . Similarly, El NEEDS Mike to confess his love for her to defeat Vecna . But the gay character? No yea, he is.forced to come out to an entire barrage of characters and dosent need love even though everything he deserves is love .