I feel like I spent a lot of time critiquing this season but honestly, it wasn't bad. I just don't feel like it lived up to its potential. I think this season's major flaw was 1. its lack of bite when it came to realistically exploring the consequences of season 1, and 2. underserving its side characters
On the first note, I want to be clear that I didn't want the season to be packed wall to wall with homophobia but it did feel like there weren't enough true consequences on Simon's life as a result of the video. Rather than Simon facing institutional homophobia for being so publically outed or interpersonal homophobia from his peers the story rather centres on the personal turmoil in Willie and Simon's relationship. And don't get me wrong the first 3 episodes handle his reluctance to date someone in the closet really well. But I feel that given his intense determination to go to the police when he finds out August leaked the video I wish we could have gotten to see just how much this video impacted his life more throughout the season.
Onto my second problem, Season 2 had a significant lack of robust plots outside of Wille and Simon's relationship in contrast to Season 1. With the notable exception of August and Sara's relationship which I did enjoy this season really didn't invest time in crafting conflict outside of the main romance. I think the person who suffered the most from this was Felice. While she was certainly present in this season there was no denying she played a much more diminished role here than last season. This became increasingly frustrating as the season rolled on and it became clear Felice had fully been shunted into the role of the best friend. So disappointing given how interesting and dynamic Felice's character was last season.
Even outside of Felice, I wish the story would have invested some time in sitting with side characters like Victor, Nils and Alexander. All of them were characters who were given some play in the season but whose roles could have been punched up to add a little more spice to the overall season because as much as I enjoyed the main romantic plot there are only so many scenes of Wilhelm and Simon broodily sulking at the state of their love life I can take before it gets a little boring. I was especially disappointed that Victor's subplot as a tyrannical Prefect was never taken anywhere after episode 3 because that felt like it was being set up to cause a lot more problems than it did.
Overall again I did really like this season. The angst of Willie and Simon's broken relationship. The cuteness and heartbreak of Simon and Marcus. August trying to be a better person for Sara only to regress back into the worst version of himself. All of it was really compelling TV. But I don't think this season quite lived up to its potential.
Review by TshepisoBlockedParent2023-04-15T09:03:34Z
I feel like I spent a lot of time critiquing this season but honestly, it wasn't bad. I just don't feel like it lived up to its potential. I think this season's major flaw was 1. its lack of bite when it came to realistically exploring the consequences of season 1, and 2. underserving its side characters
On the first note, I want to be clear that I didn't want the season to be packed wall to wall with homophobia but it did feel like there weren't enough true consequences on Simon's life as a result of the video. Rather than Simon facing institutional homophobia for being so publically outed or interpersonal homophobia from his peers the story rather centres on the personal turmoil in Willie and Simon's relationship. And don't get me wrong the first 3 episodes handle his reluctance to date someone in the closet really well. But I feel that given his intense determination to go to the police when he finds out August leaked the video I wish we could have gotten to see just how much this video impacted his life more throughout the season.
Onto my second problem, Season 2 had a significant lack of robust plots outside of Wille and Simon's relationship in contrast to Season 1. With the notable exception of August and Sara's relationship which I did enjoy this season really didn't invest time in crafting conflict outside of the main romance. I think the person who suffered the most from this was Felice. While she was certainly present in this season there was no denying she played a much more diminished role here than last season. This became increasingly frustrating as the season rolled on and it became clear Felice had fully been shunted into the role of the best friend. So disappointing given how interesting and dynamic Felice's character was last season.
Even outside of Felice, I wish the story would have invested some time in sitting with side characters like Victor, Nils and Alexander. All of them were characters who were given some play in the season but whose roles could have been punched up to add a little more spice to the overall season because as much as I enjoyed the main romantic plot there are only so many scenes of Wilhelm and Simon broodily sulking at the state of their love life I can take before it gets a little boring. I was especially disappointed that Victor's subplot as a tyrannical Prefect was never taken anywhere after episode 3 because that felt like it was being set up to cause a lot more problems than it did.
Overall again I did really like this season. The angst of Willie and Simon's broken relationship. The cuteness and heartbreak of Simon and Marcus. August trying to be a better person for Sara only to regress back into the worst version of himself. All of it was really compelling TV. But I don't think this season quite lived up to its potential.