I agree with your assessment of the story, the boys' perceived feelings about telling the story, and the fan reaction to the story and criticism of it.

People need to let people enjoy what they enjoy as well as voice criticisms where they feel it's necessary. If someone doesn't like something you do like, it doesn't diminish your enjoyment. Likewise, if someone likes something you don't it doesn't make them wrong, it just means they reacted to it in a different way than you did.

I still think the boys are great storytellers in this format, but there is something known as the "sophomore slump". The second outing of any creative endeavor often under-performs in relation to expectations, and/ or in objective output. That's OK. I'm willing to bet that they have learned from this experience and their "junior" effort will improve as a result. Either that, or they will take a much needed break, and their other projects will benefit from their rest.