Eric's struggle to lie about his true self to his family in Nigeria was very moving, and made me appreciate how privileged I am as a straight person not to have to deal with such a dilemma. Similarly, the redemption arc for the old headmaster Mr Groff is unexpected but wonderful to see. The cinematography was excellent as usual.
However, the scenes with the headmistress were completely unbearable and unbelievable. Shaming and bullying students would never in a million years be tolerated by the other students, parents, or teaching board; she would be fired immediately. I could no longer suspend my disbelief when the students sat in silence after she had just psychologically abused Lily, Adam, and Cal. A pretty fatal mistake for fiction. I appreciate that she is the antagonist, but her character is so abhorrent that I am almost tempted to skip ahead whenever she appears.
Furthermore, I feel that the morality of the protagonists has declined from earlier seasons, and not in a good way. The Otis we know and love from earlier seasons would not insult his mother in such a cruel fashion; the Eric we know and love would not cheat on Adam with some random bloke. I do wander where this downward trajectory is headed; they are supposed to be comedic characters to whom we can relate and on whom we can rely.
However, the scenes with the headmistress were completely unbearable and unbelievable. Shaming and bullying students would never in a million years be tolerated by the other students, parents, or teaching board; she would be fired immediately. I could no longer suspend my disbelief when the students sat in silence after she had just psychologically abused Lily, Adam, and Cal. A pretty fatal mistake for fiction. I appreciate that she is the antagonist, but her character is so abhorrent that I am almost tempted to skip ahead whenever she appears.
Furthermore, I feel that the morality of the protagonists has declined from earlier seasons, and not in a good way. The Otis we know and love from earlier seasons would not insult his mother in such a cruel fashion; the Eric we know and love would not cheat on Adam with some random bloke. I do wander where this downward trajectory is headed; they are supposed to be comedic characters to whom we can relate and on whom we can rely.