Series seven has suffer the same fate as our hero; unexpected disasters coming out of nowhere, a dizzying sea of troubles assailing them. The disease rampant through the world interfered with the flow, significant cast changes, & it's taking a while to find it's feet and hit its stride again, but the flash battles on figuratively and literally.
Filming schedules disrupted. Major cast members bowing out. Writers and producers scrambling to fill the holes and cover the gaps.
Were the other episodes bad? No, not really. Modest by necessity perhaps, but OK. The problem is the series was hoist with its own petard; we've come to expect so much, taking what could be done in the presence of life-threatening disease was a bit of a letdown. But now we're back with the bread and circuses the public craves! Only...
... only it almost feels like now they're trying too hard. Like now we're going to be assaulted with a barrage of 'grab them by the tear ducts and heartstrings and don't let go!' It feels like they were going to try to cram all the edge-of-the-seat nailbiting dramatic tension they can into the remaining episodes and hope for an 'Old-Faithful-at-Yellowstone' eruption at the end. It's like supernatural not being able to be satisfied with interesting characters and creatures and their histories, so the series staggered from one mega disaster to the next.
I don't know. I think it's like doing acrobatic tricks while jumping the shark. I think with Valdes' & Cavanaugh's departure, The fat lady is warming up in the wings. I will enjoy it for the rest of the time it's on, but at this point it's almost like a compulsion, or a habit.