I share a lot of sentiments that I explained in my first thoughts about season 1. There is barely any plot advancement to larger story arcs like Mark reuniting with Gemma, what Lumon does, etc. Maybe 20% of the show is about the main plot. The rest of the show revolves around the character interactions and largely fluff. While following the characters stories is interesting, too much time is spent on filler. They could've cut down a lot of screen time for the Irving-Burt-Fields menage-a-trois, condensed Cobel's and Gemma's episodes, mammalian nurturing didn't need an episode, Miss Huang vs Milchick was a weird side plot, Reghabi seems to pop in and out. That's like half the season that didn't add much to the main story. I'm glad I didn't watch it week to week. I started watching the season somewhere after the 8th episode aired, I think. I'd probably get frustrated from the slow moving plot watching it weekly. Don't get me wrong. Overall, I enjoy the show. But I'm not singing praises for it. It's a good show. 8/10 IMO. Could be a lot better.
AppleTV is struggling with cost overruns. They're going to stretch out their crown jewels like pizza dough. Silo comes to mind with how expectations get in the way of enjoying an apple series. I was kinda pissed after how season one ended, so I had more tempered expectations with this one. It bookends enough to be a season finale and how it ended it is totally about how the characters evolved.
Enjoyed the show, have thoughts on the season, overall positive but I am starting to hate the cliffhanger endings to the seasons though.
We have very similar feelings as others here regarding the season two finale. Definitely knew what was going to happen in order to set up season three. But I do have a question about Lumon: Spoiler As large as the company is, why is there not more security in the building besides Milchick and Drummond? And where's Natalie and the other important Lumon employees for such a momentous Cold Harbor completion?
I like the show. The show is a puzzle. Every week they give us a new puzzle piece and the viewers get to work on how the pieces fit and what the final puzzle looks like. I think it’s fun, and I like cliffhangers.
I'm kind of sad to see the negativity towards this season in this thread. I finished season 2 a couple days ago and I absolutely loved every minute of it. I feel like they balanced further the plot and mystery of Lumon just the right amount with still leaving some things to be explored but also focusing on the characters. Someone earlier mentioned that some of this season felt like filler (Bert and his trio as an example), but to me everything that didn't directly move the plot forward was still amazing character growth or exploration. I love every character in this show and what they've done with them and I can't wait until season 3 (which I'm gonna guess won't take 3 years since there won't be a writers/SAG strike in the middle of it).
I like the Lost comparison and I've enjoyed how they've pushed and pulled character development where it's not just 4 office characters anymore but more like 8. I mean the Helly R debate... Spoiler It's not about whether she's Eagan posing as her, and more about how the last ep builds up Helly's ambition be the Outie with the cunning and ruthlessness of an Eagan. When she says "I'm her", better freaking pay attention Mark
Spoiler Well it seems like Helly is the key to having innie Mark stay alive next season. He murdered one of their top employees. He would be decommissioned permanently, he has no purpose anymore. Except now it seems like Jame wants Helly to take over the company, not Helena. Helly will probably say she wants innie Mark alive or else she won't cooperate. I could potentially see a story arc next season where Helly takes over Lumon and then tries to take down the whole company from the inside.
Avid Lost watcher here but darn this first season is slower paced than slow.....whereas Lost was action from the get go.
Wife and I binged season 2 this week and finished it yesterday. Its a very slow burn but I personally its approach to everything, character work is important in series its something that a lot of series fumble the ball on. They don't give you a ton of answers but I think the Lost comparison is pretty apt mixed with Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. On the finale did anyone else catch.... Spoiler: Finale Discussion A lot of references to the minotaur (Drummond) story with the maze, sacrifices and Helly R helping the hero. There seems to be a of heavy deconstruction of organized religion throughout but that might just be my reading on it......
