Protect the canon, lift the craft, keep the new team.
01
Close the animation gap toward SFM-grade. Hardcore, Lore Theorist, and Skeptic clusters miss the SFM craft, so lift Episode 2's animation to win them back.
02
Protect the canon and keep the cast in play. The fandom fears the new direction breaks the true canon and sidelines the cast, so state Episode 2's canon relationship early and keep the ensemble central.
03
Take the time on Episode 2. Tighten the silent logos and the exposition dump to lift completion above the 62% baseline, and let the new team trade cadence for quality.