Ever wonder why Warrior Cats is split into six books? Well, it's an expansion of the classic Trilogy system, which works because we, consciously or no, understand a work of fiction as three acts in one: exposition, confrontation, and resolution.
Now, with as explosive as the final battle in The Darkest Hour of TPB is, you might assume that to be the climax of the series, but keep in mind the second Act is not a climax, but a confrontation. Tigerclaw's assault on Bluestar is the Confrontation and his rise to power and eventual defeat is the fallout. The Prophecies Begin may follow Firestar, and his internal conflict is EXTREMELY important to the themes of the novels, but the structure of the books revolves around Tigerstar. This is Tigerstar's tragedy.
The New Prophecy does this, too. The "confrontation" in this case is the end of the Great Journey and the discovery of the Lake Territories. But, with the exception of Sunset's iconic lake scene, TNP is often criticised for lagging in the latter half. Why is that? Why is the resolution so hard for the Erins to hit?
Arcs 2, 3, 5, 6, and potentially 8 (though ASC is not over yet, I can already see this issue taking form in Wind) have a fundamental misunderstanding of what a resolution is. It is not the end of the main conflict. It is the aftershock. The reason why The Broken Code was such a comeback was because the plot didn't end when the confrontation ended... the plot was altered. Ashfur was unveiled as the imposter, but he wasn't immediately done away with like Darktail or the First Battle or the WindClan Civil War. He fled and was pursued, and his takeover of the Dark Forest was the resolution.
The Third-Act Trap is what happens when an author assumes confrontation=climax. Imagine a The Prophecies Begin where Fireheart kills Tigerclaw and assumes deputyship. What next? They would have to make up a new conflict, and this conflict may be exciting (like the random ass badgers in TNP:Twilight) but it would not be memorable. If Cinderpelt didn't die from the badgers, would anyone care? It was a plot device to compensate for lack of plot.
A Starless Clan is walking a fine line here. Splashtail's assumption of power, the confrontation, has not ended the main plot. Now the main characters have to work together to oust him, and they certainly will. But Wind's laboured pace worries me. I'm concerned he will simply be voted out or killed with little fanfare in Star, and that scene will act as ASC's lake scene. A thrilling conclusion to an empty story that does not warrant it.
Wind was a mistake, but we still have Star, and my hope is Star can avoid the Third-Act Trap that has plagued this series for so long. I love Warrior Cats and I'm a lot more forgiving than most fans, and I LOVE some of these Arcs that don't quite stick the landing. It's not a death sentence, just a disappointment. A disappointment I hope can be avoided.
Thank you and stan Whistlepaw =]