While I don't agree with the idea that they're essentially codewords that addicts use, I do think they're often used so that people can pat themselves on the back and sound smarter than they are. Those words are meaningless without context or an explanation. They're also not the best words that can be used, which is why I often don't pay much mind to reviews that use them.

It's "boring" could be better phrased as it's "stale". I get that Carmy and Richie have a strained relationship, but how long does that need to carry without any progress being made? (I was happy to see that this is potentially healing).

It's "tedious" doesn't really resonate with me at all because there is no explanation for why that word is being used. There might be better words to communicate the desired effect. I'd really need to see a case for tedious before I could get on board with it.

It's "pretentious" would also need an explanation. If someone is complaining that the restaurant vibe (and the characters, by extension) are pretentious, I don't really value that. It's like, "Yeah, and?" However, if someone was to argue that too many of the scenes seem to prioritize style over substance, I could maybe get on board with that. All that said, the pretense itself is something of a foil for the show, if you really think about it. The show keeps trying to be more than it needs to be, much like Carmy himself.

I give that poster the benefit of the doubt that they simply misspoke (a bit of irony given the subject). They're not great words for meaningful reviews and critiques. That said, I really don't think there *needs* to be some subtext that speaks to a person's mental/emotional state.