I appreciate this post, but I'm not certain that I agree with it. I think the hyper bombastic style and pace right now sort of fits with how the story has naturally progressed. They've been writing the episodes for a little while now and nobody has seemed to mind that much. The pace does make your head spin though. For me, the mark of a brilliant show is that it can stir such a heightened level of discussion and debate. The show is descending into schmaltz, but I still love it. I've never experienced such a universal obsession like this before, it's pretty funny. Everybody talks about this show around here and I assume most places. I'm fully enjoying this mania. Pissed that we have to wait 2 years now.