Supercritical systems are systems poised on the brink of a phase transition.

E.g. in The Emperor's New Clothes, the system is in a supercritical state.

Everyone can see with their own eyes that the emperor is naked, but no one wants to point it out lest they lose their head.

But all it takes is one child laughing to set off a cascade of mutual awareness.

Before a supercritical system shatters, it looks impossible that it will ever explode.

After a supercritical system shatters, it looks inevitable that it would explode.