Tilgare

With a finale like that, I have to admit, I broke the rule too!

They missed the good times. No rush now.

Well everyone's certainly entitled to their opinions, and you're clearly not alone. I see where you're coming from better now, even if it just doesn't make me feel the same way.

Re: goal post shifting - my point wasn't that my experience rewatching was what informed my decision, I wasn't trying to imply that at all. It was simply that it was all fresh in my mind is all I meant. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

I don't so happily welcome our dystopian future. I don't need my car to police me. I can't where you're coming from on that, but it's kind of a horrifying thought imo. You're absolutely correct about the safety matter, but that's also a pretty steep cost for safety. I'm very conflicted.

Yeah, I do get that. I really liked how they took full episode deviations and explored the world more, like an episode 4 in Woe's Hollow or Sweet Vitriol. Chikhai Bardo definitely leaves you hanging with Sweet Vitriol right after... But it gives you another week to think about it. Same with episode 1, then 2. They're telling stories of the exact same time frame, but you're off the Severed floor for a full week until Who's Alive - and episode 3 definitely paid off both episodes for me.

I honestly don't mean to be argumentative. I think this is the best show on television full stop. I'm just trying to wrap my head around all the critical comments. I'm a little shocked to see it.

Sure, I said REwatched though. And I never had an issue with the pacing in the first watch week to week either. Do you feel like the pacing was any different from season 1? I'm not so sure it is any slower. Both seasons really slow down and let you soak in the artistry. Season 1 left you with questions and not many answers. And this season was spent answering all sorts of questions from season 1... Honestly I thought they crammed a ton into this season.

I was praying for her to save Mark S - and as soon as she did, I said, "now SHE can handle herself in this fight!" And I'll be damned if she didn't do exactly that. So glad Gwendoline got another major fight scene here. That RULED.

I can't believe I'm reading all these comments about this season being "padded". I've watched through the whole season again this week in advance of the finale and I just couldn't disagree more. We gained CRUCIAL information and back story throughout. Every episode was riveting. I don't get where everyone's coming from.

I agree, I never sensed Helena this episode. My hackles were raised earlier in the season, but I didn't detect any thing this time. I don't think Helena would have made the same choices Helly just did.

Cobel has been highly invested in Mark. Last season, she basically proved out what Drummond proved this season - that they showed no emotion and no personal connection, the two spouses put face to face; this time, it was Gemma only, showing no emotion in the face of her miscarriage. But Cobel did it covertly, and wasn't sharing results with the company (yet). She's helping Mark for now, but I suspect she orchestrated Mark and Gemma's entire hell 2 years back. She feels guilt, and she worked and lived with Mark. Complex emotions. But she probably genuinely cares in her twisted way.

They have said they have a path and ultimate end in mind - let them tell the story they set out to tell. It's a rare case where they know where this is going, unlike LOST where they didn't already know the answer to questions they were asking. It won't drag.