As I mentioned before, I no longer play the lessons as soon as they come out. And honestly, I'm not alone - there is no buzz after lesson releases now, no shared screenshots, no speculation, no theories.
It's just that unenjoyable, and it's why I am not doing theories for Season 4. No workarounds, no fixits, no digging for deeper meanings.
As far as I'm concerned, Season 4 is not canon.
Let's take Lesson 69 - I decided to actually play this one today as people were so upset about it, and I wanted to see for myself 😑
Belphegor is upset that he isn't spending any time with MC, that time is being taken up by the new characters (other classmates). This is true, but it's also shitty to put that on MC when, y'know, the player doesn't write the plot.
Mammon is worried about Simeon, as in the previous lessons, and seems to be the only one who is. We actually do get a nice scene with Mammon, with smooches if you want them but it's also an exact copy of a scene from an earlier Mammon devilgram (You Always Ride Shotgun, see pic comparison) ಠ_ಠ
There's a dig at Mammon of course (because it's anti-Mammon season), and the story gets railroaded onto one of the new characters instead. Cue cooking jokes with Solomon and Raphael - the angel who was on the side that fought against Lilith and her family.
Simeon blows off giving an explanation, and MC doesn't push it. Which with good writing would make sense, but here it looks like MC doesn't care.
Beel reveals he is jealous that MC isn't spending time with him. Again, due to the new characters. Again, the player did not write that MC should spend time with new characters instead of their legit family.
We find out Lucifer and Satan have had an argument. Then it is 2 weeks later, and MC is surprised(!) that Satan has been MISSING for those two weeks. Literally no character cared to look during those two weeks. We are expected to believe that Lucifer, who consistently put his family before duty, who demonstrated how much he cared for Satan, who had built a better relationship with him, did not care.
Beel reveals he is sad that Satan might not come back because now nobody will make him a drink that he likes 🙃
Barbatos reveals Satan is in the human world. He didn't check on him beyond that either, he simply opened a portal in exchange for tea. And there is no upset with the reveal, just an, "ah well, I guess we should go get him" vibe.
It's one thing that season 4 contradicts stuff from season 1 regarding the past, and has "reset" characters back to how they were before MC arrived and got to know them.
It's one thing that season 4 contradicts stuff from season 2 and ignores character profess there too.
But the fact it ignores season 3... the season that literally happened just before this one, and all the character progression, MC being so much a part of their family that everyone, demons and angels, relocated to the human world to not lose them, Diavolo included; all the friendship building between Lucifer and Satan, between Mammon and Luke, between MC and Diavolo; the growth of Diavolo beyond petty antagonist, of Beel struggling with the trauma he still carries because of Raphael, Simeon opening up to MC more...
All of that has been erased. MC is a stranger. Diavolo doesn't care. Lucifer doesn't care. Mammon gets hated on and doesn't act like himself. Satan is now literally forgotten. Lucifer acts like there's no bad history between him and Raphael. Simeon refuses to open up, and MC doesn't care. Beel is mean. There are new characters that barely matter, and we get no one on one time - no family time, no romance, no friendships, nothing! - with anyone.
We spent a whole lesson climbing a wall for... nothing. I don't know who MC is meant to be anymore but it ain't my MC. Those aren't my demons, or my angels. It's so terribly written, it doesn't make sense next to any previous season, any old devilgrams, nothing. It's absolute 100 per cent bullshit.
And when you add in events that are stripped of romance, of even platonic care, cards that are impossible to get, fucking loot boxes... Why. Why would anyone bother with the actual game now?
Fandom aside, which does not require keeping up with the game, who is this game now for? It really does feel like either Solmare are purposefully trying to tank it, or they're so confident the first couple of seasons get enough newbs by the wallet that they can afford to sit back and shit out crap now 🙃
And I say fandom aside because that doesn't rely on what happens in the game. Headcanons and fanart and fics and AUs are all much more rewarding to invest time and care into. Fanon can ignore a season entirely if needs be.
Not enjoying the game doesn't mean having to leave the fandom, by any means. But it still sucks.
Yes events always have to reset characters for new players. But Season 4? With how difficult it is to get to? With the character progression that even a lacklustre Season 3 had continued, now abandoned?
Solmare has a track record of running games into the ground. It's sad that even with the success of Obey Me, they are doing the same with this game too.
PS I haven't read the current event yet but apparently it's not great either, welp. Not that many of the events lately have been tbh.
I may have some Twisted Wonderland theories coming up tho, if folks are interested 👀
OM Season 4 = Anti-Mammon