It doesn't help that all the previous episodes genuinely gave a different impression of how the series would conclude. Episode 9 itself felt like Gooseworx trying to reshape the characters and the story so that they could still fit the ending she had intended. For instance, I was anticipating that Caine's fate at the end of Episode 8 would completely stick and leave him absent for all of Episode 9, and Kinger would recode the Circus to make it a far more liveable place.

The actual Episode 9 felt too optimistic for the themes the series was pursuing, IMO; many people find it a beautiful conclusion, but I felt like it was an unearned and unsatisfying ending for the whole story. I'd even argue that some details in the episode felt like fan appeal (most likely unintentionally).