Well this is going to be unpopular...
So here goes... I actually think the story writing has gotten better this season. Now hear me out, I'm not saying the story is good, just that there are a lot less cringe moments that don't make any sense. I actually noticed a slight uptick the season after Rick left, and this season seems better still.
I was skeptical, when they did the whole Judith is a bad A** first episode, but after that it wasn't bad writing. Now the story itself can use a little bit of juice, but I'm enjoying not having so many episodes that I turn it off shaking my head in disgust.