H&K has stated that they have a idea of how they want this story to play out over 5 seasons of an over arching story. The individual pieces / stories will fit with that arch. I think that is why they write filler stories and plan nuggets for the over lying story in the fillers. They have a master plan and are trying to pace each season to that plan.
Where did you hear them say that ?? Would love to read or hear that interview..