The show has always been at its best when Rambaldi was somewhere in there. I, too, have found most of last season and the majority of this season somewhat dissappointing. The first 2 seasons were just so damn good that it may never reach that high again. I have a feeling that the season will pick up as it has been the last few weeks.
The good thing is that Jack and Sloan are still hiding something from the rest of the group. Sloan is still scum and will betray everyone in the end. We still don't know what the deal was with David Carradine's character. There are many mysteries that still need to be revealed but they need to concentrate on those things.
The show has lost something since Francie and Will are now both out of the picture. There is no double-life drama and the show certainly feels less "real." This season needs a Big Bad. Now. I have a feeling that Anna Espinoza will be killed soon, which is a shame as she should be on the show until the end. She is the anti-Syd.