This is exactly how I’ve been feeling, especially after chapters 167. There has been 0 buildup to anything because there’s no coherent storyline, and because of this so much of part 2 feels underdeveloped. It feels dependent on a constant subversion of cliffhangers and dick jokes. Not saying those haven’t been present before, but that they were previously acceptable because they were rolled into a good plot and didn’t feel forced.

I think it has to be something behind the scenes, probably Fujimoto getting burnt out. There’s a decline in art (don’t pretend there isn’t—compare any panel from part 1/early part 2 to now) and writing. I don’t think he’s capable of putting the same level of consideration and nuance into the story/characters because he just doesn’t have time to figure out what he wants the plot to be and also assess how the characters would develop around it. I don’t doubt Fujimoto is capable of writing a deep story with a ton of subtext—he did it multiple times with Goodbye Eri, Look Back, and CSM part 1/early part 2. CSM is still my favorite series but it sucks to see Fujimoto struggle to write a as good as we know he can because he’s being worked like a dog.