The first episode of Saturday Night Live in 2026, hosted by Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, has ignited a fierce online debate after a sketch parodying fan theories about the Netflix show's ending included a controversial joke.
SNL Sketch Roasts Fan Theories
Finn Wolfhard made his debut as host of the iconic comedy show on Monday 19 January 2026. During his opening monologue, he was joined by surprise guests and former co-stars Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin.
The trio later appeared in a pre-recorded sketch that directly targeted the persistent online rumours of a secret bonus episode following Stranger Things' divisive series finale, which aired on 31 December. The sketch, framed as a parody Netflix advertisement, promised "sequels, prequels, requels, and spin-offs."
It featured fake trailers for imagined shows like Strangerous Minds, following Steve Harrington's teaching career, The Wheeler Report with Nancy Wheeler as a journalist, and a Sex and the City spoof starring Wolfhard's Mike Wheeler.
Controversial Joke Sparks Outrage
The sketch took a turn that has since angered a portion of the fandom. A voiceover addressed the character Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, noting his absence: "And before you get all mad and go, 'How come Will isn't in that?' It's because his coming out scene is still going on."
This quip referenced the five-minute monologue in episode seven where Will's character came out as gay to his friends. Many fans found the joke to be in poor taste, taking to social media to express their disappointment.
"It's unnecessary to make fun of Will's scene, even if the dialogue was bad," one critic stated on Instagram. Another agreed, writing, "That Will joke was so unnecessary." A third fan called the move "disrespectful" and "ridiculous."
Defence and Division Among Viewers
Not all viewers condemned the sketch. Some defended Saturday Night Live's comedic approach, arguing the satire was aimed at the scene's prolonged length and writing, not the character's sexuality.
"SNL is not a teen show and has mature jokes, you shouldn't watch if you don't like dark comedy," one supporter commented. Another simply urged critics to "relax," reminding them that edgy humour is the show's standard.
The controversy comes after the show's finale sparked widespread criticism for its perceived lacklustre ending, which in turn fuelled fan theories about a hidden final episode. Vecna actor Jamie Campbell Bower has previously appeared to shut down these rumours, calling the aired finale "the ending the show deserves."
