When the criticism is, “you didn’t enjoy the thing the way I did, therefore you’re wrong,” that’s not a valid criticism and they need to stfu. It’s an air of superiority saying that there’s only one correct way to interpret media, which obviously is their way. That’s the issue. And this is about entertainment, not science.

It’s the same argument about an author’s intent vs the reader response, if people find other meanings and themes within a work other than what the author of a book intended, are they wrong?

At least in that case, the author is an authoritative figure for that medium, after all, it is their fictional story, so you could make that argument, even if it is weak. In this case, the author of the article has no relation to the medium and is just shitting on people for not enjoying a thing for the exact reasons that they do. Criticism on people seeing themes in a work that the critic denies exists is bad form.

If you haven’t read the article, I’d highly suggest that you do, and I’m sure you’ll understand where I’m coming from.