Jordan Catalano said: "This season really is a hot mess. But I think the problem it's having is the same that most other shows are having lately. This new model that's being used is terrible, where it's no longer one season a year, it's two "mini seasons", the first ending with the "winter finale". It used to be until a year or so ago that shows would just not air many (if any) new episodes from Thanksgiving to the New Year, but now they decide they need to have a big finale. That means that they have to set up something huge and build towards it, not once but twice a year and it's obvious they're just trying WAY too hard on these shows.
Shonda shows, in particular, tend to have this problem because she feels the need to throw in useless "shocking moments" whether they're important to the narrative or not. I remember this all starting back when Lost was on the air- they wanted to air the season without interruption and repeat weeks, so they broke the seasons in half. I seem to remember 24 also doing this.