After offloading the rest of the delayed Covid episodes and leaning into the "humanity off full tribrid hope" this show really started to pick up.
Gone were three seasons of the same repetitive Hope-Landon storyline and the power rangers level action scenes with "the squad" facing off against the latest, corny, "monster/bad guy of the week." It seemed like they were moving the tone towards a slightly more mature The Originals/Vampire diaries vibe.
Then this week hit... we have a corny Western subplot with hokey accents and acting and a ridiculous sequence of a school talent show to convince hope you come back. It was a return to the overly childish dialogue and bits. The played out "dark Josie" also returned - that gets cornier and cringier every time.
It would seem that the writers are having a hard time figuring out who their target audience is - it was obviously meant to target a younger demographic than TVD and TO targeted... yet, it is now in its 4th season... the viewers of this show have grown up - of the writers are smart... they will start writing for the actual demographic that watches the show and stop trying to appeal to the younger demographic that is either not interested in the show, or not allowed to watch it.