I think in the attempt to only show what is "required" of the story, it loses the ability to show little side-stories that may never conclude, but still add flavour... though too much is certainly filler... zero is just as bad, i mean this isn't a movie.
That's the problem, they are entering the issues movies have, Lack of time.
They have given themselves a time limit and it shows. It's a shame, but still best thing on TV imo.