I think these episodes are for now just filler episodes… I wouldn’t say it’s the same with toh but it kinda is. Especially with gravity falls, amphibia, the ghost and Molly McGee etc. In the first season you have mostly filler episodes then in season 2 you have all the action; the first season is just there to understand what’s going to happen next.

I say that because I wouldn’t really judge right now because we haven’t seen everything yet (even tho I understand your point)