Submitted by thehandsomecontest t3_zzet7b in television
Dan_Felder t1_j2bdz4a wrote
Covid hurt the second season a lot, but in general it changed from having some likable characters dealing with the insanity of an over-the-top game company to just a bunch of unlikable insane people being jerks to eachother.
Season 1 is about Poppi being undervalued and Ian growing to share the spotlight with her. Season 2 shows that Poppi was a nightmare once she got power.
Nomahhhh t1_j2bq74g wrote
You nailed it. I found everyone so unappealing with no redeeming qualities.
The two women testers especially were given too much screen time. They could have been great side characters but there wasn't enough there to watch.
Poppi was great in the first season - I was rooting for her - and then she just turned into something unappealing. I think that's what they were going for, but it didn't work for me.
Cricket was just pathetic - he didn't seem real in his feebleness. At some point he needed to have an arc but it never happened.
I binged the first season but struggled through the second. I don't think I'll watch the third.
hoexloit t1_j2c62wr wrote
Hahaha that guy is always going to be known as Cricket
Dan_Felder t1_j2c959m wrote
Yes, the Producer was almost awesome in the wonderful Covid special episode where he got to almost pull one over on Brad - but they were too committed to the joke about him being pathetic. It's not fun to watch pathetic characters.
Most of the best series that get stronger over time show you new depths to their characters, new reasons to admire or respect them. Even Kevin and Gary/Jerry from the office and parks and rec specifically - two characters that exist to be mocked for incompetence - are frequently shown to be talented and exceptional in various areas that aren't their main job. When a character is pathetic solely to be pathetic, there's nowhere to go and it isn't that fun to watch.
He worked in season 1 because he wasn't pathetic so much as delusional about others respecting him. He allowed himself to be pushed around. That was why his fighting-game sharking in the covid episode was so satisfying, he was playing into the underestimation. It'd be cool if he WAS skilled at many things but was a nice, conflict-adverse guy that rarely felt the need to show it or had been promoted out of the areas he was most skilled in due to previous excellence.
The "let's mock him for being undatable" episode in particular was just painful. The guy is an average-looking wealthy tech executive at a powerful company. He's kind and respectful to others; he repeatedly puts himself on the line to protect the creative ambitions of his team, he does it again for the benefit of his workers during contract negotiations. You're telling me he's incapable of getting a date with any human woman?
It's just absurdly mean-spirited for the sake of being mean-spirited. I don't want to watch that.
Ryase_Sand t1_j2bz0ip wrote
MQ Is one of those shows where the tone is off. There are genuine moments like in the flashbacks where they seem like real people, and then other moments where the characters are absurd or over the top. It's like Silicon Valley (grounded) one minute and Toast of London (absurd) the next.
Mrofcourse t1_j2crh5m wrote
This explains why the HR lady was my favorite character
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