[quote name='strayfoxx']not to thread hijack, but i've only seen the first two episodes and am not much of a fan. i'm aware it comes highly regarded from people typically with good taste, should I push on?[/QUOTE]
I guess it would depend on why you don't like the first couple of episodes, but for the most part I would guess that if the pilot doesn't have you hooked, you aren't going to like the show.
The most impressive thing about the show to me is that they have kept up a hollywood film level of polish and excitement each episode since the opening scene of the pilot through the current season. It isn't like most shows which will recycle the same plot lines over and over, waste time on extended scenes of cliched dramatic dialog (except occasionally between the lead character and his wife), or throw in a bunch of minor plot lines which never seem to tie in to the main story.
I really like the quirky directing and editing, and the fact that the writers have mapped out the story well in advance (or at least give the impression of doing so) - there's things that happen that aren't explained until many episodes later, or a new twist in the story explains a characters motivation for something that you saw the season before. I also really like a lot of the camera shots - you don't see much prime time TV shot in that region of the country.
Again though, I really was hooked after the pilot..