Part 5/9:
Controversial figures and tactics are often employed in the battle for viewer attention. Instances of creators and promoters branding critics as “istaphobes” for their viewpoints reflect the underlying tension between the production teams and the audience. This defensive posture threatens to alienate a fanbase that once thrived on shared love for the franchise. Rather than addressing the concerns raised, the focus seems redirected to controversies around social media backlash.