History YMMV / GenLock

* FanonDiscontinuity: Virtually almost the entire fanbase would like to pretend or outright ignore that Season 2 ever happened [[DarkerAndEdgier due to its bleaker tone]], [[HotterAndSexier the inclusion of sex scenes]] (which even Season 1 animator Torrian Crawford - who left Creator/RoosterTeeth earlier in the year - [[https://twitter.com/AnimatedTorrii/status/1461771262502576128 made his dislike for known]]), and turning several named characters such as Colonel Marin and Miranda into [[TookALevelInJerkass assholes]]. The latter is regarded as an egregious example as despite having an amicable relationship with Chase in Season 2, she acts much more harshly towards him [[spoiler:and even sells him and his team out when he expresses his doubt in the Polity after learning they started the war with the Union, in exchange for a promotion which proves [[AllForNothing for naught]] when Marin orders her execution with the rest of the team's]]. That is to say nothing of her sudden change in relationship [[FriendsWithBenefits to casual lovers at best]] with Jodie.

* HarsherInHindsight: Leon's blatant BusCrash in the first episode of Season 2 was a somewhat amusing statement that disgraced creator Gray Haddock would not be returning. It became less amusing when [[spoiler:the rest of the season witnesses CharactersDroppingLikeFlies, with the characters chosen to kill off coming across as nothing so much as the show getting rid of some of its more expensive voice actors.]] The jab at Haddock becomes even harsher than ''that'' with 2022's revelations that his abusive directorial practices were more the fault of Rooster Teeth corporate culture in general rather than his alone and were very much still going on after his firing.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Virtually almost the entire fanbase would like to pretend or outright ignore that Season 2 ever happened [[DarkerAndEdgier due to its bleaker tone]], [[HotterAndSexier the inclusion of sex scenes]] (which even Season 1 animator Torrian Crawford - who left Creator/RoosterTeeth earlier in the year - [[https://twitter.com/AnimatedTorrii/status/1461771262502576128 made his dislike for known]]), and turning several named characters such as Colonel Marin and Miranda into [[TookALevelInJerkass assholes]]. The latter is regarded as an egregious example as despite having an amicable relationship with Chase in Season 2, she acts much more harshly towards him [[spoiler:and even sells him and his team out when he expresses his doubt in the Polity after learning they started the war with the Union, in exchange for a promotion which proves [[AllForNothing for naught]] when Marin orders her execution with the rest of the team's]]. That is to say nothing of her sudden [[FriendsWithBenefits change in relationship]] with Jodie.

** "This one's about the characters."[[labelnote:Explanation]]During the production of Gen;Lock, this was made to be the founding core tenet of the writing. This statement would be mercilessly mocked by the show's detractors, both for the criticisms levied towards the characters, and for the implication that other mecha series ''aren't'' about their characters: a common FandomEnragingMisconception about the mecha genre and its fans.[[/labelnote]]

* SecondSeasonDownfall: Season 2 is widely regarded by fans as a step down, thanks to the show downplaying the slick mecha action and character moments (widely regarded as some of the best parts of the series) in favor of half-baked political drama, having various characters [[TookALevelInJerkass take several levels in jerkass]], [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dropping bridges on]] characters like [[spoiler:Kazu]] and fan-favorite [[spoiler:Cammie]] for shock value, and its unrelentingly bleak tone.

* SeasonalRot: Season 2 is widely regarded by fans as a step down, thanks to the show downplaying the slick mecha action and character moments (widely regarded as some of the best parts of the series) in favor of half-baked political drama, having various characters [[TookALevelInJerkass take several levels in jerkass]], [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dropping bridges on]] characters like [[spoiler:Kazu]] and fan-favorite [[spoiler:Cammie]] for shock value, and its unrelentingly bleak tone.

** Anything good that one can say about the tasteful, creative, and trans-affirming sex scene between Kazu and Val in Season 2 Episode 4 is overshadowed by what surrounds it. Firstly, it's the second sex scene in the series, the first being between Jodie and Miranda in the previous episode; as that was the first time the series had ''ever'' featured sex and nudity, came completely out of nowhere, was loud, and focused primarily on Miranda's irritation at their total lack of chemistry, the fans were a bit too taken aback by the awkwardness to be receptive to a ''good'' sex scene an episode later. Secondly is [[spoiler:the fact that Kazu [[DeathBySex is killed off later in the same episode]], coming across as an instance of BuryYourGays, a trope which does not sit right with modern audiences.]]

* FanonDiscontinuity: Virtually almost the entire fanbase would like to pretend or outright ignore that Season 2 ever happened [[DarkerAndEdgier due to its bleaker tone]], [[HotterAndSexier the inclusion of sex scenes]] (which even Season 1 animator Torrian Crawford - who left Creator/RoosterTeeth earlier in the year - [[https://twitter.com/AnimatedTorrii/status/1461771262502576128 made his dislike for known]]), and turning several named characters such as Colonel Marin and Miranda into [[TookALevelInJerkass assholes]]. The latter is regarded as an egregious example as despite having an amicable relationship with Chase in Season 2, she acts much more harshly towards him [[spoiler:and even sells him and his team out when he expresses his doubt in the Polity after learning they started the war with the Union, in exchange for a promotion]]. That is to say nothing of her sudden [[FriendsWithBenefits change in relationship]] with Jodie.

* VindicatedByHistory: While Season 1 was not bad per say, many fans felt that it was SoOkayItsAverage and didn't do much to stand out, citing how it followed many of the usual cliches of mecha shows. And then Season 2 happened...

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Season 2 has received a ''swathe'' of criticisms regarding a number of changes made to the series following Gray Haddock's departure. The significant DarkerAndEdgier shift away from the Season 1's more lighthearted tone, the increased amount of [[BloodierAndGorier visceral violence]] and [[HotterAndSexier sexually explicit]] content, several named characters such as Miranda [[TookALevelInJerkass Taking a Level in Jerkass]], and the Battle Tapes ThemeTune [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking being dropped]], have all been major points of contention since the show's debut on HBO Max.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The Union were heavily criticised in Season 1 for being generic villains with no backstory, with the series never explaining why they seek to control the world. Season 2's press summary makes a point to mention that the series will gain several Union characters as [=POVs=] to show their side of the war and why they fight.

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: This has become the case with the vast level of criticism regarding Season 2. While Season 1 was not perfect by any means, nevermind the controversy surrounding it and series creator Gray Haddock, but several fans would rather have Creator/RoosterTeeth remain in charge of the series.

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: This has become the case with the vast level of criticism regarding Season 2. While Season 1 was not perfect by any means, nevermind the controversy surrounding it and series creator Gray Haddock, but several fans would rather have Creator/RoosterTeeth remain in charge of the series.

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: This is for things that are considered meta.
** This is Rooster Teeth's first project approved by the Screen Actors Guild, and with it, they bring one of the ''weirdest'' {{All Star Cast}}s ever committed to film.
*** The series is headlined by four genuine A-list actors: Creator/MichaelBJordan, Creator/DakotaFanning, Creator/DavidTennant, and Creator/MaisieWilliams.
*** Some of the budget goes into cast members who aren't quite marketable names but have very respectable careers, such as Creator/GolshiftehFarahani, Creator/AsiaKateDillon, Shari Belafonte, and Anisha Nagarajan.
*** Popular SugarWiki/NamesToKnowInAnime like Creator/MonicaRial and [[Creator/ProZD SungWon Cho]] turn up, and in perhaps the weirdest casting choice of all, Creator/KoichiYamadera, one of Japan's most popular seiyuu, is in a leading role speaking entirely in Japanese, a fascinating display of this world's AugmentedReality tech.
*** The major cast members to come from within Creator/RoosterTeeth consist of those renowned for being genuinely great voice actors, such as Gray Haddock, Miles Luna, Chad James, Blaine Gibson, Lindsay Jones, Lawrence Sonntag, and Matt Hullum.
*** Season 2 adds Creator/AngusSampson to the cast and manages a one-shot appearance from Creator/ZehraFazal.
** The fact that Rooster Teeth has included so much diversity and LGBT representation. Casting Asia Kate Dillion as Valentina was amazing, and having ''Valentina'' be genderfluid too makes the ActorSharedBackground trope all the more poignant, especially in the entertainment industry where LGBT roles and other minorities are dubbed over by Hollywood with white washing.
** Creator/MonicaRial, whose previous credits have mostly been limited to anime dubs and video games, recorded Colonel Raquel Marin's dialogue for the original teaser fully expecting she would be redubbed later by some Hollywood actor, especially when she learned Michael B. Jordan would be the voice of the lead. "[[https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/in-rooster-teeths-genlock-monica-rial-brings-authenticity-to-a-puerto-rican-character So when I found out that I was cast as Marin I really had like a girly screechy moment.]]"
** The first episode's rather glorious subversion of StuffedIntoTheFridge. As one viewer put it in a text shared online, "I was really worried they were gonna kill off Michael Jordan's girlfriend for his character development, but then they killed off Michael Jordan for Michael Jordan's character development and THAT, that is ballsy."

* OvershadowedByControversy: ''gen:LOCK'' was meant to be a breakout hit in a similar vein to Creator/RoosterTeeth's previous show ''RWBY'', with the intent to put RT on the map for animation projects. While the show was well-received critically, it being locked behind Rooster Teeth's FIRST premium membership meant the viewbase was small and reports suggest the show's massive budget (especially its high-profile voice cast including Creator/MaisieWilliams, Creator/KoichiYamadera and Creator/DavidTennant) lead to it underperforming. Discussion about the show, however, would be dominated by [[https://www.popdust.com/rooster-teeth-crunch-2638895587.html revelations in June 2019]] revealing how harrowing of a production it was for the Rooster Teeth animation team, who reported no overtime leading to as much of a third of ''gen:LOCK'' (and a third of the corresponding ''RWBY'' season) being effectively made for free. Further accusations would be levied against at-the-time Head of Animation and showrunner for ''gen:LOCK'', Gray Haddock, for prioritizing resources and sabotaging other animated shows (like ''WebAnimation/NomadOfNowhere'') to siphon their budgets to compensate for ''gen:LOCK''. Even worse, it was rumored that the show's financial problems, combined with the disastrously poor sales of Rooster Teeth's new game, ''Vicious Circle'', were a direct cause of the company laying off 30% of their staff later that year. Discussion about the show without acknowledging the production is now near-impossible.

* OvershadowedByControversy: ''gen:LOCK'' was meant to be a breakout hit in a similar vein to Creator/RoosterTeeth's previous show ''RWBY'', with the intent to put RT on the map for animation projects. While the show was well-received critically, it being locked behind Rooster Teeth's FIRST premium membership meant the viewbase was small and reports suggest the show's massive budget (especially its high-profile voice cast including Creator/MaisieWilliams, Creator/KoichiYamadera and Creator/DavidTennant) lead to it under-performing. Discussion about the show, however, would be dominated by [[https://www.popdust.com/rooster-teeth-crunch-2638895587.html revelations in June 2019]] of the show being a harrowing production for the Rooster Teeth animation team, who reported no overtime leading to as much of a third of ''gen:LOCK'' (and a third of the corresponding ''RWBY'' season) being effectively made for free. Further accusations would be levied against at-the-time Head of Animation and showrunner for ''gen:LOCK'', Gray Haddock, for prioritizing resources and sabotaging other shows to siphon their budgets to compensate for ''gen:LOCK''. Even worse, it was rumored that Haddock's sabotage, combined with the disastrously poor sales of Rooster Teeth's new game, ''Vicious Circle'', were a direct cause of the company laying off 30% of their staff later that year. Discussion about the show without acknowledging the production is now near-impossible.

* OvershadowedByControversy: ''gen:LOCK'' was meant to be a similar breakout hit as Creator/RoosterTeeth's previous show ''RWBY'', with the intent to put RT on the map for animation projects. While ''gen:LOCK'' was well-received critically, it being locked behind Rooster Teeth's FIRST premium membership meant the viewbase was small and reports suggest the show's massive budget (especially its high-profile voice cast including Creator/MaisieWilliams, Creator/KoichiYamadera and Creator/DavidTennant) lead to it under-performing. Discussion about the show, however, would be dominated by [[https://www.popdust.com/rooster-teeth-crunch-2638895587.html revelations in June 2019]] of the show being a harrowing production for the Rooster Teeth animation team, who reported no overtime leading to as much of a third of ''gen:LOCK'' (and a third of the corresponding ''RWBY'' season) being effectively made for free. Further accusations would be levied against at-the-time Head of Animation and showrunner for ''gen:LOCK'', Gray Haddock, for prioritizing resources and sabotaging other shows to siphon their budgets to compensate for ''gen:LOCK''. Even worse, it was rumored that Haddock's sabotage, combined with the disastrously poor sales of Rooster Teeth's new game, ''Vicious Circle'', were a direct cause of the infamous 30% layoffs later that year. Discussion about the show without acknowledging the production is now near-impossible.

* OvershadowedByControversy: ''gen:LOCK'' was designed to be a similar breakout hit as their previous show ''RWBY'', with the intent to put RT on the map for animation projects. While ''gen:LOCK'' was well-received critically, it being locked behind Rooster Teeth's FIRST premium membership meant the viewbase was small and reports suggest the show's massive budget (especially its high-profile voice cast including Creator/MaisieWilliams, Creator/KoichiYamadera and Creator/DavidTennant) lead to it under-performing. Discussion about the show, however, would be dominated by [[https://www.popdust.com/rooster-teeth-crunch-2638895587.html revelations in June 2019]] of the show being a harrowing production for the Rooster Teeth animation team, who reported no overtime leading to as much of a third of ''gen:LOCK'' (and a third of the corresponding ''RWBY'' season) being effectively made for free. Further accusations would be levied against at-the-time Head of Animation and showrunner for ''gen:LOCK'', Gray Haddock, for prioritizing resources and sabotaging other shows to siphon their budgets to compensate for ''gen:LOCK''. Even worse, it was rumored that Haddock's sabotage, combined with the disastrously poor sales of Rooster Teeth's new game, ''Vicious Circle'', were a direct cause of the infamous 30% layoffs later that year. Discussion about the show without acknowledging the production is now near-impossible.

* VindicatedByHistory: While Season 1 was not bad per say, many fans felt that it was SoOkayItsAverage and didn't do much to stand out, citing how it followed many of the usual cliches of mecha shows. [[SeasonalRot And then Season 2]] happened...

* SeasonalRot: Season 2 is widely regarded by fans as a step down, thanks to the show downplaying the slick mecha action and character moments (widely regarded as some of the best parts of the series) in favor of half-baked political drama, having various characters [[TookALevelInJerkass take several levels in jerkass]], [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dropping bridges on]] characters like [[spoiler:Kazu]] and fan-favorite [[spoiler:Cammie]] for shock value, and its unrelentingly bleak tone.

* SeasonalRot: Season 2 is widely regarded by fans as a step down, thanks to the show downplaying the slick mecha action and character moments (widely regarded as some of the best parts of the series) in favor of half-baked political drama, having various characters [[TookALevelInJerkass take several levels in jerkass]], [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dropping bridges on]] characters like [[spoiler:Kazu]] and fan-favorite [[spoiler:Cammie]] for shock value, and it's unrelentingly bleak tone.

* MisBlamed: When it became clear that the series was taking a much darker turn, many fans believed the changes were caused by Creator/RoosterTeeth. In actuality, RT has nothing to do with Season 2 whatsoever, with one of the animators from the previous season also expressing his displeasure, especially in regards to the sex scene.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Virtually almost the entire fanbase would like to pretend or outright ignore that Season 2 ever happened [[DarkerAndEdgier due to its bleaker tone]], [[HotterAndSexier the inclusion of sex scenes]] (which even Season 1 Creator/RoosterTeeth animator Torrian Crawford [[https://twitter.com/AnimatedTorrii/status/1461771262502576128 made his dislike for known]]), and turning several named characters such as Colonel Marin and Miranda into [[TookALevelInJerkass assholes]]. The latter is regarded as an egregious example as despite having an amicable relationship with Chase in Season 2, she acts much more harshly towards him [[spoiler:and even sells him and his team out when he expresses his doubt in the Polity after learning they started the war with the Union, in exchange for a promotion]]. That is to say nothing of her sudden [[FriendsWithBenefits change in relationship]] with Jodie.

* MisBlamed: When it became clear that the series was taking a much darker turn, many fans believed the changes were caused by [=RoosterTeeth=]. In actuality, RT has nothing to do with Season 2 whatsoever, with one of the animators from the previous season also expressing his displeasure, especially in regards to the sex scene.

** Before its official name was released, [[spoiler:Nemesis]] received the nicknames General Nanomachines, [[{{VideoGame/Warframe}} the Stalker]], and [[Film/RevengeOfTheSith Grievous]] from the gen:LOCK official Discord, and was dubbed [[spoiler:[[OffWithHerHead Headsnatcher]]]] by Tumblr.
* FanonDiscontinuity: Virtually almost the entire fanbase would like to pretend or outright ignore that Season 2 ever happened [[DarkerAndEdgier due to its bleaker tone]], [[HotterAndSexier the inclusion of sex scenes]] (which even Season 1 [=RoosterTeeth=] animator Torrian Crawford [[https://twitter.com/AnimatedTorrii/status/1461771262502576128 made his dislike for known]]), and several named characters such as Colonel Marin and Miranda into [[TookALevelInJerkass assholes]]. The latter is regarded as an egregious example as despite having an amicable relationship with Chase in Season 2, she acts much more harshly towards him [[spoiler:and even sells him and his team out when he expresses his doubt in the Polity after learning they started the war with the Union, in exchange for a promotion]]. That is to say nothing of her sudden [[FriendsWithBenefits change in relationship]] with Jodie.

** Episode 6 has Dr. Weller leave the story by [[spoiler:performing a HeroicSacrifice via blowing himself and a bunch of Union soldiers up so the gen:LOCK crew can escape.]] Many immediately voiced their skepticism afterward, namely due to him being an important character to the narrative, and being the only one capable of properly upgrading the Holon's into the forms displayed in the intro sequence. Soon ideas ran wild of him either [[spoiler:surviving the explosion and escaping on his own or with other Anvil survivors, or that Caliban has a cyberbrain itself and a copy of Dr. Weller's mind is uploaded into it. Others believe the explosive was actually an EMP like device allowing for his survival.]] And then [[spoiler:it turns out they ''would'' in episode 7: while David Tennant is still in as ''Caliban'', an early gen:LOCK experiment that possesses Weller's accumulated knowledge and some of his mannerisms, Caliban doesn't have a true copy of Weller's personality. Episode 8 would then confirm that Dr. Weller did indeed die in the explosion.]]

* OvershadowedByControversy: ''gen:LOCK'' was designed to be a similar breakout hit as their previous show ''RWBY'', with the intent to put RT on the map for animation projects. While ''gen:LOCK'' was well-received critically, it being locked behind Rooster Teeth's First premium membership meant the viewbase was small and reports suggest the show's massive budget (especially its high-profile voice cast including Maisie Williams, Koichi Yamadera and David Tennant) lead to it under-performing. Discussion about the show, however, would be dominated by [[https://www.popdust.com/rooster-teeth-crunch-2638895587.html revelations in June 2019]] of the show being a harrowing production for the Rooster Teeth animation team, who reported no overtime leading to as much of a third of ''gen:LOCK'' (and a third of the corresponding ''RWBY'' season) being effectively made for free. Further accusations would be levied against at-the-time Head of Animation and showrunner for ''gen:LOCK'', Gray Haddock, for prioritizing resources and sabotaging other shows to siphon their budgets to compensate for ''gen:LOCK''. Even worse, it was rumored that Haddock's sabotage, combined with the disastrously poor sales of Rooster Teeth's new game, ''Vicious Circle'', were a direct cause of the infamous 30% layoffs later that year. Discussion about the show without acknowledging the production is now near-impossible.