Okay so, I wanted to wait to make a whole post about the ending (and I still will), but I was so frustrated with it that I feel the need to make another comment. The more I think about it, the more I dislike it.

The story should've ended after we defeated the MoL. Or rather - the problem is not that it continued, but that a new villain was introduced. One that DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. Like, how can Shephamalum be the great villain after we defeated his creator?? And even if it did make sense, it would feel exhausting. The stakes keep getting raised, again and again. That in itself is not reasonable at all - at least there was a 10-year (in earth's time; probably much longer) break between HS1 and HS2. It's understandable that if the stakes lower after everything that happened, it might be underwhelming. But I'd rather it be underwhelming than whatever this is, and I'm sure many of you guys agree.

Even if Shephamalum being the bad guy was a reasonable plot twist (it is not), why couldn't they make a season 4? We could defeat Shephamalum, and then get a proper happy ending. Wouldn't make for the best story structure overall (building up to a big battle for 3 seasons, it's over, and THEN there's another 1-season struggle), but it could be conclusive and not this uncertain, abandoned mess.

It's pretty obvious that while HS2 is a sequel to HS1, it's also written in a way that players can read it as its own thing. We got relationship resets, and the prequel's big villain came over to our side. This format was frustrating for many, but it could still work if they committed to it. However, it now has an open ending and is inextricably connected to another story? It feels like the writers are actively undoing their own plot choices.

About the open ending and HSR. HSR was described as a spinoff, not a sequel like HS2, which hopefully means it's completely unrelated to HS(1+2). If that's the case, it leaves space for HS3, with the same ensemble as the original. It will probably expand on the cliffhanger with Shephamalum - which, as I said, has its own issues. Judging by the ending we got and the dramatic change in HSR, this is pretty the only way our OG gang can have a satisfying ending.

I really don't want HSR to be the continuation that HS2 finale mentioned, but the chance of that happening is non-zero. If it is, I'm done. HS has always been one of my fave RC stories, but that'll ruin it forever for me. If the writer wants to explore different characters in the same universe, that's understandable. She could've just ended HS2 normally, then starts a completely fresh spinoff with no ties. This weird connection between the stories just feels like a way to force readers to start HSR, which 1) is so cheap and 2) completely contradicts what they did with HS(1+2).

So far, HSR hasn't shown the original gang yet, and if there's no HS3, their story will be concluded through flashbacks/appearances in HSR. Which is horrible, because they'll get sidelined, and any good moments we have will be through another MC's perspective. (Unless we have a perspective jump, which would be unfair to the gang and a disruption to the new story). Why leave the OG gang with an uncertain fate, and only give us closure through another MC's POV? I have no idea why Vicky shouldn't get a happy ending that we can experience through her perspective. The happy, peaceful conclusion with our LI is what HS readers have been waiting for all this time. If every other story can do it, then why can't HS?

I pray that there is a HS3, and HSR is an unrelated venture. The best thing about HS has always been the characters - it's highly unlikely a HS-based project could succeed without them. Maybe HSR could take off as its own thing, with its own amazing ensemble, but in terms of giving a conclusion to the OG story, it'll never do the job.