Another comment/idea,not directly related to gating. Do they not have any original story making ideas? They have been beating the same horse for years now. Is it not possible to create a new story arc? Can we not have a semi completed story.

A new cast of characters would revitalize the story some. No reason that some people can't make cameos. But It sure feels like they have engaged in some soap opera (skewing old) type story telling to keep the same cast of characters.