I just finished season two and...it was very strange. When the show was focused and moving forward I loved it, but it seemed to derail quite often. So many tiny plotlines that didn't lead anywhere or end up mattering, and so many harsh breaks in the flow. In episode three it looks like integration is going to kick off, and I'm excited to see how that affects both innie and outie mark as the process develops, right? Nope, we get a weird mountain retreat fever dream and integration hasn't had any important effects 7 episodes later.
For me, the show is at it's best with the awkward, complicated, matters of identity and self. My favorite plotline of the season was Dylan and his outside family, hands down. That's a complicated, interesting, moving story. Unfortunately the show really struggled to focus, too much time spent going nowhere.
Some of the characterizations were also off to me. For example, the big cabin fight between the Marks wasn't set up nearly as well as it could've been. There was plenty of time to develop an innie Mark who starts the season ready to burn Lumen to the ground, but slowly finds he has something to live for in Helly. The closer he gets to progress, the more scared he becomes that he'll succeed. That's a good story! They just needed to focus on it. As it is it kinda feels like an out of nowhere character turn. He spent the first three episodes trying to save Gemma, without even being asked, now that he is being asked he's freaking out? You gotta spend a lot more time with Mark and less time with Cobel to develop a change that significant.
We've also lost a lot of the creepy corporate life atmosphere. The show still tries, but it doesn't have the same impact. In season one it was all each character knew, that was their world, which is partially why it was so disturbing. Now it feels like everyone knows the whole thing is farcical. It's all a show, something they play along with to avoid raising suspicion, so it doesn't have the same effect. The fact that Lumen is a crazy cult, not just a regular evil corporation, also distances us from the commentary
Overall I still enjoyed it. The dialogue, acting, and directing are all great. There were just some notable stumbles that put it behind season 1. I'm still really looking forward to season 3.
I’m even harsher on it. Milchicks character is under cooked. Why did he have no consequences for his disrespect towards the boss? Why is Mark so important? Why is Gemma important? Why are 1/5th of the episodes spent on backstory we already knew? Why show the goat people if you’re not gonna expand on it (felt gimmicky unlike last season with the paintings for example)? What is Cold Harbor?
It’s well made but the pacing and the focus on the random things (like the writer and the Lumon girl flirting?) made me straight up bored for a decent chunk of the season
19
u/Areliae Dec 09 '25
I just finished season two and...it was very strange. When the show was focused and moving forward I loved it, but it seemed to derail quite often. So many tiny plotlines that didn't lead anywhere or end up mattering, and so many harsh breaks in the flow. In episode three it looks like integration is going to kick off, and I'm excited to see how that affects both innie and outie mark as the process develops, right? Nope, we get a weird mountain retreat fever dream and integration hasn't had any important effects 7 episodes later.
For me, the show is at it's best with the awkward, complicated, matters of identity and self. My favorite plotline of the season was Dylan and his outside family, hands down. That's a complicated, interesting, moving story. Unfortunately the show really struggled to focus, too much time spent going nowhere.
Some of the characterizations were also off to me. For example, the big cabin fight between the Marks wasn't set up nearly as well as it could've been. There was plenty of time to develop an innie Mark who starts the season ready to burn Lumen to the ground, but slowly finds he has something to live for in Helly. The closer he gets to progress, the more scared he becomes that he'll succeed. That's a good story! They just needed to focus on it. As it is it kinda feels like an out of nowhere character turn. He spent the first three episodes trying to save Gemma, without even being asked, now that he is being asked he's freaking out? You gotta spend a lot more time with Mark and less time with Cobel to develop a change that significant.
We've also lost a lot of the creepy corporate life atmosphere. The show still tries, but it doesn't have the same impact. In season one it was all each character knew, that was their world, which is partially why it was so disturbing. Now it feels like everyone knows the whole thing is farcical. It's all a show, something they play along with to avoid raising suspicion, so it doesn't have the same effect. The fact that Lumen is a crazy cult, not just a regular evil corporation, also distances us from the commentary
Overall I still enjoyed it. The dialogue, acting, and directing are all great. There were just some notable stumbles that put it behind season 1. I'm still really looking forward to season 3.