It is apparent that the writers are starting to run out of ideas and have labeled a dart-board with various plot devices. This is how I'm imagining their writer's room now. You get three darts and whatever 3 plot devices your darts land on you have the challenge to try to convincingly write them into the episode. The other writers cheer and marvel at what the writer has to do..
dart 1: character = ???,
Dart 2: flashback,
dart 3: gay love interest!
How provocative! How edgy! How brilliant! We're sure to get a nod from one of the award committees now!
Let me guess what's coming next..
dart 1: new character,
dart 2: love triangle!,
dart 3: a goat!