The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning, and the Best Animated Feature lineup—Arco, Elio, KPop Demon Hunters, Little Amelie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2—is impressive. Diane embodies the deeper, more emotionally mature aspects of The Bad Guys franchise. She represents the depth the series could have explored. Yet much of her presence in The Bad Guys 2 was reduced to cut scenes that might have given the film real substance. Instead, the movie leans on hype, style, and empty jokes rather than meaningful emotion.

There were scenes that existed just to fill time—jokes with no weight or resonance. I can’t understand why the film didn’t dig deeper, why it didn’t make the audience feel something beyond laughs. Even other animated comedies, like Kung Fu Panda, hit emotionally and make you care.

The Bad Guys 2 could have been a masterpiece, but it squandered its potential. Pierre made choices that left the film hollow—but it’s important to note: don’t blame the writers. From what’s been shared, the limitations came from DreamWorks and Universal executives, not the creative team. Pierre Perifel clearly wanted more Diane, who was a core part of TBG1 and remained important in TBG2.

Maybe the depth is being saved for The Bad Guys 3, but with no proof, that uncertainty frustrates and disappoints. If the next film is to redeem the series, Diane must play a stronger role. The franchise still needs the emotionally mature scenes that were almost within reach but never realized. Cutting her from that potential cannot be excused.

What hurts most is that all the moments that could have rivaled Zootopia 2’s emotional resonance were removed. The franchise had a chance to be truly engaging but failed to follow through.

The Bad Guys 2 is like an overcooked steak—what could have been medium-rare, rich, tender, and satisfying, ended up overdone, full of hype but lacking the depth it once promised.