Ive seen an analysis (possibly in The Guardian) looking at votes rather than seats which suggests that the GPEW did much better than the results (by seat) would suggest at first sight.
Equally, there was a chart here earlier - which I didnt boost due to lack of AltText - pointing out that the nature of these staged local elections show that overall & nationally the number of Reform ltd seats on English councils isn't that much greater than Green seats, and in overall numbers both are well down the table.
It's not great, but it's not all gloom & doom