This holiday weekend, viewers were treated to two major TV releases: the much-anticipated drop of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 on Netflix and the gripping finale of Heated Rivalry on HBO Max. At first glance, these series appear distinct, yet they share a common theme that emerged this Christmas: both featured heartfelt coming-out moments.

**Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 and Heated Rivalry Episode 6, both available for streaming**

The latest installments of Stranger Things and Heated Rivalry concluded with poignant revelations. Each show’s emotionally guarded young male character faced the daunting task of coming out as gay. Both Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp) and Shane Hollander (portrayed by Hudson Williams) navigated the delicate process of revealing their true selves to loved ones, confronting not just the fear of immediate rejection but the broader anxieties about their futures.

In Stranger Things, Will decides to reveal his sexuality as a strategic move against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), who has been haunting his mind with visions of abandonment following his coming out. By sharing his truth and receiving unconditional support from his friends and family—including his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and his crush Mike (Finn Wolfhard)—Will dismantles Vecna’s psychological hold.

Meanwhile, in Heated Rivalry, Shane’s coming out is less about choice and more about circumstance. As a professional hockey player in a world where traditional masculinity reigns, Shane has secretly fallen for his rival, Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Despite accepting his own identity over the season, Shane fears others won’t. His secret comes to light when his father (Dylan Walsh) discovers him with Ilya at a secluded cottage. Although his mother (Christina Chang) is initially more astounded by his choice of partner than his sexuality, she quickly turns to planning Shane’s public revelation. Shane, however, hesitates, unsure if his dream of a future with Ilya is possible.

What’s heartening is that both series take Will and Shane’s fears seriously, but neither allows them to come to fruition, quite yet. Will is obviously embraced by all of his friends. After all, he runs with a group of people who have had to wrap their heads around Demodogs and Mind-flayers; boys liking boys isn’t quite as shocking, even if the show is set during the height of the homophobic AIDS panic. Shane’s parents are more aghast that he’s been shacking up with his arch rival, a player they presumed was their son’s nemesis, than the fact that he’s gay.

Will and Shane are naturally embraced by their inner circle, by those who love them best, but a tension lingers in the air. It’s doubt about the future. In Stranger Things, Will is literally headed towards a final showdown between himself and Vecna. He could easily die. For Shane, he has a dream of a future with Ilya, but one he can’t imagine without years of careful PR management. Neither has to live with the fear of their family’s rejection anymore, but they still can’t be sure what’s next.

It might be a strange, beautiful coincidence, but this holiday season, both Stranger Things and Heated Rivalry are using their massive global platforms to accept their gay characters for who they are and what they still fear.