Personally I think they should add some kick, some drive back into the SMG34 ship. Like add some angst, trauma, fights that last over multiple episodes. So here is my rant.
Personally for me, I really want them to delve into SMG4's trauma with IGBP because there's no way in fucking hell he doesn't have struggles from that still. Or even just moments where he's pained wit what happened and what he did to people. Even if they have forgiven him, add some interesting angst to him. Or give him an obstacle that forces him to recollect IGBP or reface those very emotions he felt during that time.
Then with SMG3, as much as I love the silly character he is now. I want to see more of his struggles. In the movies he has been in it's not like he's had to like grow from his actions or in actions. Unless we count when he went to save 4 and Mario at puzzlepark, or 4 in IGBP. But even in smaller episodes it feels like when he does have growth it's not touched upon. And no I don't want them to spoon-feed fans characterizations, but I want more of a focus on a change on the characters as episodes go further. Personally I want a movie around him as his struggles and maybe have him do it with some of the nonmain cast. Put an obstacle in his way to make him get either a traumatic experience or something that makes it hard for him to act as he usually does.
SMG3 is such an interesting character if we want to look at him being a rival. I guess they aren't much anymore but normally the more angsty codes rival gets beat down on time and time again making them come to terms with some new emotions or trauma. We haven't really seen much of that lately in the last few years. As much as I love him being silly in the cafe, make it an apparent issue of why the cafe is something important to show how far he's come. Or anything else really. In a sense I kinda want him to get the shadow treatment but obviously not in the same way. Like why is it not covered more on why he feels lesser than 4? That is such an interesting thing to consider that the have not really delved into. And I really don't understand why they aren't. Its something they could really use to open up his character and then make him falter or face some obstacles. Why are they letting this go to waste? Please I just want him to get a little fucked over.
Maybe I'm just an English major looking to hard into characters, but fuck I want my favs to get some interesting stories again. Not that I don't like they're current stories, I think they deserve a little trauma as a treat.