I agree with the "too early" statement. Many fans at the time, were not ready for blackmail of any kind. (Despite this element being present in most corruption games). Sophia was (& by some still is), considered an inviolable figure on a pedestal. Bennett could have provided a more sophisticated approach to the whole blackmail route, if he'd been given a chance. Elaborate scenarios, like task 3, most excellent as it was, would not necessarily have been required. Fans disgusted by the groping at gang HQ would never have needed to see it. There are still fans who play a corruption game but don't want too much corruption, or only want it to correlate precisely with their own kinks. I understand this POV but I don't empathise. I've assumed that they must have influenced L&P.
So, Bennett is a sleaze-ball & that's the point but had the episode been written as you suggest, he would have been a clever, devious, thinking, plotting sleaze-ball, instead of just an obvious, big-headed, entitled prick.
So much of AWAM could do with an overhaul but it's just been allowed to spiral into something resembling a plate of spaghetti & we all know it's true potential will never be realised. We need something similar to AWAM but with less complexity & timely, regular updates. I'll try to remember this next time I'm at a wishing well.
