Although around season 7 or 8 the story and pacing did became a bit stagnant as they rounded up several plotlines and it felt a bit as if the writers didn’t quite know where to take the show from there.
If I remember correctly, the last few seasons were each written in a way that they could be the last season because there was uncertainty about renewals. So more like the writers often weren’t sure if they were going to be taking the show anywhere at all.
Although around season 7 or 8 the story and pacing did became a bit stagnant as they rounded up several plotlines and it felt a bit as if the writers didn’t quite know where to take the show from there.
If I remember correctly, the last few seasons were each written in a way that they could be the last season because there was uncertainty about renewals. So more like the writers often weren’t sure if they were going to be taking the show anywhere at all.