[TheJaz]

Like many people online have said already, it seems in all likelihood that the early production is simply bc if they want the show to simul-release in China, the episodes need to be done way in advance, bc government agencies in China need to okay all officially released media before it goes out. This seems like the most simple and believable reason, and it seems it would be true regardless of who wrote the show. It seems extremely unlikely the change in pace has anything to do with the writer selected, at all.

I am curious to see how this change will affect the show tho, certainly it'll force them to stick to their guns more. For example, if a character cements themselves as a fan favourite in episode 24, then dies in episode 32... Well they can't just write them back in due to audience reaction bc the show will be done filming lol