The 7 minute trailer had more depth and development than any of these 8-10 minute episodes. I'm not sure if it was because he's trying too hard now, or if the limited budget and time frame for the trailer really brought out the best. I know that Tancharoen met with Ed Boon after the Rebirth trailer and I'm assuming Boon gave him some "suggestions" for the series (include more mystical shit and magic fireballs).
The Raiden episode was only better than the Kitana/Mileena episodes because it didn't have cartoons, fantasy world shit, Shao Kahn with a bowl-cut, or Baraka looking like a troll.