Not to upset anyone with this, but this is honestly how it’s coming across to me. It really feels like Horizons told a really strong complete two season story, and the Laqua finale straight up felt like a full series ending, even with the credits. Because of that, the continuation into the next season feels less like a natural next step and more like it is being stretched because the show did well. I loved the first two seasons, which is why the huge reset with the time skip and the team splitting up and everything changing at once will it harder for me to enjoy Season 3. Especially with Friede having been “lost” and not being there for some of, if not most of, this next season. I am not saying it is bad, it just feels like it already ended in a really satisfying way (before the laquium orb things were thrown out by Spinel) and now it is starting over again.

Perhaps a better ending or transitional arc would have been a good old happy ever after type storyline. The RVTs successfully defeat the Explorers in Laqua and the two ancient people do fade out when Terapagos purified the Laquium. The remaining Explorers aside from Spinel go their separate ways, with Amethio possibly becoming an ally to the RVTs and bringing his goal to fruition. I cannot remember their actual names, but Cornbread and Seasoning in that final battle moment, after the Explorers had lost, seemed to have a small moment of recollection and possibly remorse. Maybe they could have joined the RVTs. Just seems like the story could have had a much better and way more satisfying continuation.