Bloody hell my sibling is really going crazy tonight on something. Looks like I won't be able to get any reading or story writing done.
Also my light novel arrived and have been reading it earlier. For a spin-off of one of my favourite anime (Spice and Wolf) it's really fun. Might finish Demon Slayer then and check it off the list.
While I agree that the second half of Franxx needed more time in the oven and wasn't anything close to what I expected, it's not like the whole VIRM twist came out of complete nowhere since there actually were a few hints sprinkled here and there, most notably with Papa and the others discussing their plan in space at one point and the Klaxosaur Princess' encounter with APE to where she remarks "damned human wannabes". I don't know; I think there's objectively much better anime out there but I can't help but still love the show, and I feel even stronger about it after rewatching it recently with my brother (who also really enjoyed it).
Still think that is why I still have issues with the show. Most of the first half was great despite a bit of pacing issues here but it takes a strange turn. There was too much crammed in it felt. I feel like 24 episodes was not enough and maybe something like 40 to have smoothed it better.
Like about five episodes of a prequel to have seen more of the political or economical ramifications of magma energy and seeing APE trying to get countries to go with their grand plan. Seeing some places like China or US refusing and not going down without a fight and how some think klaxosaurs are the bringers of the end times.
Also stuff like the VIRM twist was just lackluster even with the hints as you mentioned. There's a bunch of other stuff but I'll leave that for another day.
Darling in the Franxx is to me something I'd give 7/10 of an anime. And when I place it as exactly the same number of rating as Rising of the Shield Hero and Konosuba its part of a where place in my ranking system. To say about those three in common, all have characters that I do adore which I think is the strongest point of them all.
Again I know and understand why you loved the anime, just didn't click with me as much.