If you're questioning my reasoning, watch one episode of the first or second season and compare it to an episode from this season and pay attention to what is actually happening on screen. Notice that nothing is actually happening asides from sliding camera pans.
The overall trope showcasing the underdog/secret overdog reforming the system as well as the theme of pristine, heartless, haute cuisine v.s. personal, self expressive cooking has always been the lifeblood and undercurrent of SnS. It doesn't knock you in the head screaming in your ear that it has these themes. There was at least some subtlety to it and respected the viewer's intelligence. But this season, the show just shoves it front and center making the most basic, black and white scenario. The whole "rebels" of polar star vs Central just was beyond basic. Took away all forms of subtlety to the show's theme. Given, this is probably the manga's fault.
And following the dumbing down of themes, episode structure has somehow gotten even blander than the first half of this season. It's always the same buildup and payoff, with stakes that are nonexistent to the viewer. Oh, the stakes are there. It's just that we've become completely numbed to the "If Soma doesn't win this, he'll be EXPELLED!!" threat.
The fact the show is still apparently just as popular as the prior two seasons will give the creators no incentive to bump up the standards.
