[storus]

No, the real reason for the code review is to protect the moat of senior engineers/leaders that would nitpick on minute details of code while ignoring the big picture to make sure they can gatekeep any promotions and their competition.

[seabrookmx]

If that's how it functions where you work, I'd be looking for a new job.

[storus]

There is a difference between how things are intended to be used and how they are used. Code review has been weaponized this way even at Google.

[seabrookmx]

Sure, but that doesn't mean it works that way everywhere or is inevitable.

Where I work, a senior would be reprimanded for such behavior. A key metric to their success is how well they can transfer knowledge and teach others, and their peers' feedback is used to determine this.

The senior that "punches down" does not go far in this case.