First off, things I liked. I liked how they handled JJ's death, especially with Kie. I always complained (and was not the only one) about the fact that Kiara was always more of a love interest than a character and this season give her more dimension (it helps that Madison Bailey is giving her all in her scenes). The dialogue still feels somewhat realistic among the group. No matter how much the quality goes down, I always feel like they are a real young adults group talking. Okay, that's it.
First of all, get rid of that blue ass filter por favor, like what is this. Then everything is a mess, everything is severely underdevelopped. I didn't like how they wrote female characters this season at all. I'm gonna say it, I have a huge problem with Sarah's pregnancy for several reasons. One and the obvious one, how is she pregnant and still get in danger left and right, like sit down two minutes PLEASE. When Sarah's friend mom told her that she should get rid of that baby, it's treated as bad but she's not wrong. I can't fathom that she would consider bringing a baby in the horrid living conditions she's in. Also, I thought she was one month pregnant but when I learned it was 3, I was truly wondering if the writers wanted us to act fool. Also, can you count the numbers of time they said they weren't going to get in troubles and shady affairs and still went back at it ? Literally in this season, Sarah asked John B to not do stupid shit because they are about to have a bb and that's the first thing he does and Sarah... doesn't get more mad than that, what ??? Madelyn Cline herself said on an interview that when they started to have Sarah pregnant, she knew it was time to wrap it up and I agree 100%. Also, it doesn't stick at all with Sarah's initial characterization. We had a wonderful scene in season (the iconic episode where Sarah and John B are cosplaying as Vlad and Val) in which she says how she doesn't want to be trapped in a box at her young age. She also had a clear drinking problem. And this season throws everything in the window. She gets married at 20 and have a kid, come on now. I'm not saying those things are bad, actually i'm the biggest romantic there is. I yearn for a good family life but even I knows that having this at 20 is... not the best and can definitely feel trapping.
Pope and Cleo...sigh. Pope has the same arc of getting his life together and is not the same character I saw in season 1 (and not in Willow Rosenberg from Buffy type of way but moreso in a "the writers didn't know what to do with him" type of way). Cleo also get married, because why not, despite her never giving that vibe and out loud saying that she's not the married type. But no, wait "it was the only way for her to stay in the country" how very... colonizing of you. That scene where she's in court seems so deliberate and did not give me a good feeling but just not necessary, even her whole scene had no point but to keep her away from the characters the creators think matter (they did it twice this season, one when it was Sarah's birthday). Also, I was praying for Cleo to have a real duo this season...nope. She had one scene with Sarah and it was to discuss Pope (not counting the very first scene when she ask how is the baby because no.). It never felt like the Pogues actually cared about Cleo and what she's going through (the season 4 episode when her father figure dies and no one really... bat an eye and also she was kidnapped that entire episode. It gives me Bonnie Bennett from The Vampire Diaries flashbacks but even in TVD she had her moments). Waste of Carlacia Grant, hope she gets a better project.
Now, Rafe. Let's give Drew Starkey his flowers one more time because he delivered as usual. Wish I could say the same thing about the writing of his character. I don't think I speak for myself only when I say that one of the biggest thrills for that final season (which replaced the feeling of sadness of JJ's death) was that we were finally going to see Rafe as a being part of the team. Exploring new dynamics, seeing his change WITHIN the group. But no, they choose the good ol' Hollywood sexist rule of "he's changed because of his girl who forgives everything about him and does not exist outside of his own self". In the whole season, I was waiting for more Sarah and Rafe genuine siblings moments because we really didn't have any. Season 1, we got some scenes but nothing really huge, I forgot they were brothers and sisters for a while until he killed the Sheriff. Then in season 2, he was basically the main villain so every interactions they had were antagonistic (even with him trying to kill her). Season 3 doesn't really have scenes with them. Season 4 has three total scenes with the two of them, two of which they are not very nice to one another and their final scene is mostly carried by Drew and Madelyn's phenomenal acting moreso than their connection as characters. And then this season, once again, we get two scenes with the two of them, one scene with him and Kiara (another thing I liked was the fact that they didn't listened to the crazy shipping people who just want to see two people make out and didn't gave Rafe and Kiara any love relationship) and two scenes between Pope and Rafe (the first one being where Pope is speaking facts about how they are NOT the same but it's framed like we're supposed to feel for Rafe). Also, can we talk about the "this isn't you" line from Sofia. Let's not act like Rafe was a bad boy who is just putting up those walls. He has walls but this is still him and there's nothing wrong with that, he's a complex character (or was in this case).
Anyway, this show had gold in season 1 and ruined it (just like the Pogues with their own gold but let's not talk about it). Never trusting the Pate brothers again (just like the Duffer ones).