S1 did an excellent job of its storytelling, such as show don’t tell; character actions driving the plot, not the other way around; and well-written villains with clear motives. S2 fell flat on a lot of those fronts. I’d need to rewatch it for a proper write-up, but some examples from what I remember:
spoiler
Jinx (and to a lesser degree Vi when interacting with Jinx) acts in a number of ways that felt entirely plot-driven. I could not take the entire Vander comes back plot line seriously (the emotional moments felt forced and cheesy). Isha was a really weak character, obviously only there for Jinx’s character development (no wonder they made her mute). It seemed like characters got killed off based on whether their survival would be inconvenient for the plot (e.g. Maddie, Loris, Isha, Vander). The Jayce torture felt excessive. Ekko turns into an exposition-spewing device. The AU plot line was forgettable. Neither Ambessa nor Viktor remotely matched Silko in terms of being a good villain. Minor characters in S2 aren’t anywhere near as rich and fleshed-out as those of S1.
A lot of what made S1 great continues over into S2, such as the soundtrack and animation. But the character development, writing, and little details just didn’t match up in S2.
Ah I see what you mean, I kind of meant that with my poorly worded take on jinx being impulsive.
I thought their strategy was to work on characters in the first season and basically focus on plot in the second. I did enjoy the second season very much but it did have a different feel to it.
I personally didn’t love how they ended the first season and imo the first season third episode was the highlight of season 1. Season 2 also had episode 7 which imo was very good world building with a clever twist. So given all that I didn’t feel a big drop in quality from 1 to 2.
I actually thought the ending to S1 was brilliant, especially for a cliff hanger, and that the first arc of S1 was the weakest of the three (although E3 was quite good), and that S2E7 was just okay, so it’s likely that we have different tastes.
Jinx’s actions are extreme, but I think the writers do a satisfactory job of setting up the final scenes. They show Jinx overhearing Silco and her misunderstanding that he will turn her in to show her feeling cornered, they show her losing previous allies like Vi and Ekko to emphasize how she feels completely abandoned, and they show her suffering hallucinations to demonstrate her fragile mental state. What she does is sad but completely tracks with her character and the setup from previous scenes. Then her attack on the council is (I interpreted) a means of lashing out after Silco dies, while also to get revenge and honor him in a way that she thinks would have made him proud. Again, completely tracks with the setup.
S1 did an excellent job of its storytelling, such as show don’t tell; character actions driving the plot, not the other way around; and well-written villains with clear motives. S2 fell flat on a lot of those fronts. I’d need to rewatch it for a proper write-up, but some examples from what I remember:
spoiler
Jinx (and to a lesser degree Vi when interacting with Jinx) acts in a number of ways that felt entirely plot-driven. I could not take the entire Vander comes back plot line seriously (the emotional moments felt forced and cheesy). Isha was a really weak character, obviously only there for Jinx’s character development (no wonder they made her mute). It seemed like characters got killed off based on whether their survival would be inconvenient for the plot (e.g. Maddie, Loris, Isha, Vander). The Jayce torture felt excessive. Ekko turns into an exposition-spewing device. The AU plot line was forgettable. Neither Ambessa nor Viktor remotely matched Silko in terms of being a good villain. Minor characters in S2 aren’t anywhere near as rich and fleshed-out as those of S1.
A lot of what made S1 great continues over into S2, such as the soundtrack and animation. But the character development, writing, and little details just didn’t match up in S2.
Ah I see what you mean, I kind of meant that with my poorly worded take on jinx being impulsive.
I thought their strategy was to work on characters in the first season and basically focus on plot in the second. I did enjoy the second season very much but it did have a different feel to it.
I personally didn’t love how they ended the first season and imo the first season third episode was the highlight of season 1. Season 2 also had episode 7 which imo was very good world building with a clever twist. So given all that I didn’t feel a big drop in quality from 1 to 2.
Maybe I would on the second watch
I actually thought the ending to S1 was brilliant, especially for a cliff hanger, and that the first arc of S1 was the weakest of the three (although E3 was quite good), and that S2E7 was just okay, so it’s likely that we have different tastes.
Don’t get me wrong it was a good episode but
Tap for spoiler
She killed Silco, I hated that, especially given how jinx saw him as a father figure and Silco fully said that he would never give her up.
Then she just fires at the council, I get how she is a wildcard but that imo was too far even for her.
Man, I want to watch it again now
I agree that
spoiler
Jinx’s actions are extreme, but I think the writers do a satisfactory job of setting up the final scenes. They show Jinx overhearing Silco and her misunderstanding that he will turn her in to show her feeling cornered, they show her losing previous allies like Vi and Ekko to emphasize how she feels completely abandoned, and they show her suffering hallucinations to demonstrate her fragile mental state. What she does is sad but completely tracks with her character and the setup from previous scenes. Then her attack on the council is (I interpreted) a means of lashing out after Silco dies, while also to get revenge and honor him in a way that she thinks would have made him proud. Again, completely tracks with the setup.