This is just my thoughts and I am open to correction from anyone knowledgeable.

After the release of the underwhelming subscriber special, criticism for TPOT has skyrocketed, and while I have always been a bit critical of this season, I think the hate its getting now is because of a lot of factors coming together, rather than TPOT suddenly becoming bad.

TPOT will always be closely tied to BFB, its predecessor and arguably its counterpart. What is important to note is that TPOT was made to apparently separate people who wanted to see silly BFDI(post-split BFB) and serious BFDI(TPOT).

From what I can gather, both seasons were supposed to run concurrently, but BFB really just finished before TPOT even got started.

TPOT....started off slow, to say the least. Even though I wasn't there for it, TPOT 1-3 took a super long time to come out, apparently because of Satomi's writing insufficiencies. Pressure was really on TPOT in these episodes because now that BFB finished, it was going to be the only thing carrying the show for the conceivable future.

Sam became the main writer in TPOT 3, which is where everyone says TPOT plunges into its dark ages. Due to Sam being a bit experienced with writer serious storylines, it is understandable that this happened. However, people expected more from TPOT, since it was promised to be the big character driven season, not a super silly one like BFB. From what I can gather, TPOT was supposed to feel more like Inanimate insanity invitational rather than a funny kids show. However, Sam soon improved, and TPOT 7 was a sign to the end of the dark ages(although TPOT 9 was the real one finally end it).

By this time however, a new season appeared, well not a new one. A revival. BFDIA.

I can't keep thinking that it's hardly a coincidence that TPOT finally starting taking itself more seriously when BFDIA got revived. Because BFDIA was basically what post-split wanted to be. A fun, silly season.

At that time, BFDIA was regarding as inferior to TPOT by like 80% of the community form what old posts and digging can find. In fact, it was apparently actually a hot take at the time to prefer BFDIA(which certainly isn't the case now).

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. BFDIA writing wasn't great from BFDIA 6-11. BFDIA 9 is really the big exception where it showed that it could make a good challenge, but otherwise it was on a slightly lower quality level to TPOT at the time.

Then a shift happened.

TPOT gained the One arc. It started in TPOT 9 but became more prevalent by TPOT 12. TPOT was slowly gaining more serious storylines(while trying to kind of be comedic). It was hit or miss for a lot of the community, but the plot was ramping up and this was beyond anything BFDI had ever done, so hype was high.

BFDIA got Joseph Pak.

Now I'm not going to epitomize him and say he's the best writer ever, but it's telling that BFDIA noticeably improved after he joined the writing team.

BFDIA 12 is the first episode that I can say comfortably beats TPOT in enjoyability, and that was one of the first episodes he wrote.

Anyway, by now I think about 70% of the community preferred TPOT, and only 30% loved the quirky BFDIA. The TPOT fans I'm guessing preferred the higher stakes and more overt character development TPOT was giving some of its characters, meanwhile BFDIA fans loved the fun and whimsy the season had to offer, along with the tighter cast and better screen time distribution.

BFDIA 13 and 14 released next, and they gave BFDIA a big boost in popularity.

BFDIA 13 and 14 showed a lot of fans that BFDIA wasn't just a reboot season. It could stand on its own legs and even give TPOT a run for its money occasionally. BFDIA 14 is by far one of the most popular BFDIA episodes, and BFDIA 13 is still regarded as one of the best non-competition episodes.

TPOT released TPOT 13, which often is said to be the best TPOT episode. The quality had improved since the dark ages by a huge degree and people were excited to see what the One arc had to offer.

Fan favourites began to really emerge in both seasons, and by TPOT 15 and BFDIA 17, while TPOT still had a 60% majority in fans preferring it, BFDIA had amassed a large group of supporters in its own right.

TPOT then released TPOT 16 & 17, some of the best written TPOT episodes in my opinion, and were highly regarded by the community. However, now that BFDIA was increasing in quality, these episodes received some criticism, especially on screen time for the characters and plot-lines, since BFDIA(with its smaller cast and looser arcs) could give its characters more individual moments compared the large scale TPOT.

BFDIA also recently released BFDIA 18, and BFDIA got a huge upgrade, again.

Joseph Pak wrote this episode by himself, and it goes to show that this writer can actually cook.

This episode singlehandedly flipped the scales to even for the BFDIA vs TPOT split.

BFDIA 18 is probably one of the best written challenges for the whole show.

I remember this one vividly since I had just gotten to the OSC at the time, and this was one of the first episodes I had the absolute pleasure to watch upon release on my TV. That is a moment I will treasure for a while.

TPOT 18 was a stinker. No one liked this episode and for a while(and still today kind of) was regarded as the worst BFDI episode, especially due to its pacing.

One thing BFDIA always had over TPOT was its pacing. Since BFDIA never felt the need to become large scale or push boundaries and had less characters, good pacing was just easier for BFDIA to achieve. Not to say there aren't any badly paced BFDIA episodes(BFDIA 22 and 11 come to mind), but the low character count makes it manageable compared to when TPOT pacing goes off the rails.

TPOT 19 released and while it was another ambitious episode, this time was different.

I and a few others were worried on the direction TPOT was taking, and there was a lot of criticism of contestant sidelining, screen time issues, and that TPOT had jumped the gun a bit. Hype was still there and TPOT was still half of the community's favourite season, but more fans looked at TPOT with a skeptical eye.

BFDIA 21 came out a bit later and once again was pretty solid. A lot of people were getting invested in BFDIA, almost the same as people had gotten invested in TPOT earlier, however, BFDIA's natural advantages made it an easier season to root for, as the low character count and predictable future made it easy to get into.

TPOT requires BFDIA/BFB homework.

Many reaction YouTubers can watch BFDIA without even looking at the first season. That's why you see people reacting to BFDIA more than TPOT.

Anyway, TPOT released TPOT 20, and the response was mixed. It was certainly an ambitious and visually stunning episode, but a lot of people disliked certain aspects and how sidelined the contestants were getting, compared the contestant focussed BFDIA.

Then another theatre release and BFDIA 23 came out. It was widely loved and finally, BFDIA had more fans than TPOT. People really got worried for TPOT at this time, and hadn't seen their favourite characters for a while.

BFDIE and later TPOT 21 came out. BFDIE was a fun little season, and TPOT 21 was met with more mixed reviews. Again, only BFDIA 23 was the only theatre episode to hit at this point.

BFDIA 24 released and man it was loved again. Seriously, BFDIA 23-25 was a generational run that I'm scared won't ever be replicated, because 3 episodes that are least 9/10s in a row!!??! That was crazy.

BFDIA 25 came out in theatres. It was beloved by everybody and BFDIA fans cried tears of joy and then sadness realizing that now they had to rely on TPOT for enjoyment.

By this point, TPOT was the only season running. Again. All eyes were on it to deliver.

TPOT announced its trilogy. And now the hype had turned into hype with a side of skepticism. People were scared they were going to rush this and the future of the season, although most were cautiously optimistic especially since TPOT 22 was solid.

TPOT 23 flopped hard.

Contestants were sidelined(again), BFDIA Book and TB fans apparently killed Liy, and the episode had really bad pacing. One's villain status was revoked and now she was a fraud.

The TPOT bubble had begun to collapse.

TPOT 24 got people's hope up a bit. It was good, not crazy good like past TPOT episodes or lategame BFDIA but good.

Then TPOT 25 released. While certain things were good, it epitomized all of TPOT's problems it had been having for over a year, and some since forever.

Bad screen time distribution

Awkward pacing

Mid comedy

Power inconsistencies

TPOT 25 was not beloved. It was as controversial as TPOT 20.

On top of that, the character with the most development for the past 18 months(Pencil) quit, leaving a bunch of underbaked characters to spearhead a now 10 episode long merge with a doomed rejoiner.

TPOT was now officially regarded as flawed in the community.

Now on top of that the gosh darn drama started. We were already unsure about TPOT's future at this point, but this made it worse. Until we get a response, this drama is going to be looming at the back of our minds whenever BFDI is mentioned.

I think the drama broke how untouchable BFDI was for a lot of people. TPOT wasn't the epitome of the OSC anymore, it was a high budget object show that many have fallen out of love recently.

Then, we have that dumb 2763 part 2.

Florence Chapel isn't the most experienced writer, so I wasn't exactly surprised at low lacklustre it was at points, but I think that was the community's straw to break the camel's back.

A community of now majority BFDIA fans who are dissatisfied with current TPOT who are worried about the future of TPOT and BFDI as a whole, just watched a boring followup to what was the best BFDI subscriber short.

People are agitated and worried about BFDI, and this along with subpar writing is why criticism has been so harsh lately.

Ultimately, what I want people to remember is that BFDI isn't over, or doomed. It'll likely go on.

While I wasn't there, this community got through post-split, and apparently it's the worst season to ever exist from what some of you guys say.

BFDI will survive, and while TPOT or IDFB may not come out this year or be delayed, we can wait.

( I mean, I've never had to but some of y'all had to go years without BFDI episodes so it's possible)

I hope this post could alleviate some people's worries while also being a nice opportunity to go back down the memory lane of BFDI lol.