I'll say you needed the break. You've been dreading that chapter for a long time before it became the next chapter to post.
If I ever get a comment on an older piece it usually is because I've posted something else recently in a more active fandom. Despite seeing the easy logic it happens so rarely it still catches one off guard when it finally happens. Lovely to hear it happening to you!
The part of season 2 was such an upgrade jump from season 1 I'm trying very hard not to have higher expectations for the next set!