This drives me absolutely bonkers. It’s one thing when several different authors think the universe is cool and want to create unique stories within it (e.g. the Star Wars EU), but it’s entirely another when one approving board is seeking to maximize profits through a heavily templated story arc. It’s disingenuous to storytelling and lacks more than a modicum of authenticity. It’s why I struggle to watch any serial with more than three seasons. At a certain point as a viewer, you can tell when the story should naturally end and when the writers are told to drag it out.