Where to Stream: Stranger Things

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Spoilers ahead. There’s a lot that can be said about Stranger Things’ fun but somewhat inconsistent second season, but we can all agree on one thing — that ending was damn delightful. During one magical middle school dance, we saw puppy love play out in the form of not one but two kisses between major cast members. However, knowing the backstory of one of those kisses makes it a little less adorable.

In Season 2’s final episode, “Chapter 9: the Gate,” Max (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) share a kiss. It’s a sweet moment particularly because so much time was spent exploring the chemistry between the duo this season. However during an episode of Beyond Stranger Things, the show’s after show talk show, Sink was quick to point out that the Max and Lucas kiss wasn’t originally in the script. Things only got weirdly heated from there.

The 15-year-old actress is clearly upset as she explains the shock of learning that she had to do an onscreen kiss without any forewarning. She admitted the looming kiss stressed her out. “One of you, I think it was you Ross, you say, ‘Ooh, Sadie, you ready for the kiss?’ I’m like, ‘What! No! That’s not in the script … that’s not happening,” Sink said.

In response, the Duffer brothers didn’t console her or apologize. Instead Ross Duffer told Sink that adding in the kiss was her fault. According to Duffer, they originally brought up the kiss as a joke, but Sink’s reaction prompted them to include it in the episode. “You reacted so strongly to this. I was just joking, And you were so freaked out that I was like well, I gotta make her do it now,” the director said. “That’s why I’m saying it’s your fault.”

The story about the kiss has angered some fans, especially during a climate when more attention than ever is being paid to questionable sexual practices in Hollywood.

However, it’s a thread by Twitter user Anna Marquardt that sums up the outrage best.

The Duffer brothers have yet to address this criticism.

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix