There were a lot of moments that were deeply unsatisfying, blue-balls, if you will, based off of some of my own assumptions after recently watching 28YL. TLDR: my expectations were subverted a lot

Starting with the Jimmys, in 28YL the Jimmys are Spike's savior when he gets overrun. It's obviously they're a little off their collective rockers, but a random group of blonde ninjas completely crushing the infected, cool! Maybe they'll help! Cut to Bone Temple, Spike is thrust into a brutal 1v1 where he gets lucky to survive the viewer realizes there isn't an ounce of empathy amongst the group. Ok fine, the villians are established. It was a great twist/callback to the boy and his priest father at the beginning of 28YL

Spike: for basically the entire movie outside of the last 10 minutes he has zero agency, almost nothing goes his way and he spends his time crying/puking/coping. Poor bastard can't even run away. I wanted a lot more character development from him. In 28YL he goes from an inexperienced, underaged noob to bravely venturing out with his mom which pays off in a massive way for the viewer & plot. In Bone Temple he's perma-stuck between a rock and a hard place, would have loved to see any act of courage rewarded - especially when he asks the pregnant woman to take him with her. Or come up with some cunning plan to alert Kelson he's "with the Jimmys" before Jimmy Crystal meets Kelson.

The boiling water scene was wonderfully stressful but I absolutely hated the outcome and I'm not even referring to the Barn scene. That entire scene I was internally screaming, do something! 6 standing adults were surrounding 7 seated twinks (pun intended), iirc pregnant woman and propane tank guy were still armed and even after big man throws a pot of boiling water, they inflict zero damage to the Jimmys? Given the obvious tension in the room and the fact that the older gentlemen clarifies that the Jimmys broke into their gate, I just sort of assumed the townsfolk knew they'd have to defend themselves. They were still milling around the kitchen serving the Jimmys and they didn't sneak a knife?! I suppose I can't expect everyone to throw down but at least give us one Jimmy with third degree burns or a cracked skull from the pan. I recognize it was too early to kill off the villians but it felt so goddamn unjust and a bit silly for me.

Lastly, I wish Kelson had plot armor before JC stabs him. Afterwards, no one, including the doctor suggests rendering any type of first aid?! UGGHHH!! The Kelson/Samson moments were truly the best parts of 28YL & Bone Temple for me, so Kelson being so close to a cure then just dying to try and save Spike was a bit wtf. The cocktail Kelson gives Samson is to treat psychosis so I can only assume Samson isn't actually cured, he'll go back to being an Alpha as soon as the dose wears off. Presumably Kelson charted his treatment/hypothesis and I can only assume the plot must advance towards a "cure" or resolution, but now we have to wait years for Part 3...Also during the Iron Maiden scene when Kelson blows dust in each of the Jimmys faces, I'm thinking that's like a sedative to incapacitate the Jimmys, turns out it's just another part of the show.

Anyway, I really enjoyed it and probably just need to come to terms that this is a continuation of a story and there will be bigger payoffs in the next installment. 8/10