Season 1 is excellent science fiction. Season 2 is ridiculous in a trashy soap sort of way. It's almost like Netflix wanted to cancel the series, but had a contract to fulfill. The acting is seriously under par and the script reeks of cheap emotionalism and needless posturing. Why, oh, why, when the novels are so good and this could easily have been a brilliant series. So, in conclusion, watch S01, then read/re-read the novels!