I checked out the reviews on here before I watched the first episode, and proceeded despite the overall negativity. I'm glad I did - I was hooked right away and I won't find the wait until the next episode easy.
I understand how some people care about historical accuracy - but I couldn't care less and I'm sure that's true for many viewers too, and I don't think you could call any of this show's mistakes egregious. They made some compromises for convenience, some to spice things up, and some probably out of ignorance but if it's spoiling someone's enjoyment of the story then that's on them because there's nothing ridiculous.
Overall I think it's a finely polished show, focused mainly on the relationships between the characters, and particularly the struggles of the new female arrivals to find their place in the settlement and carve out some agency for themselves. I like all of the main characters a lot, and I don't get to say that very often. Verity and Jocelyn in particular are delightful. I can't wait to see what they are going to do and say next.
It's not as witty as Downton Abbey, but it's soapy in the same way. However, I wouldn't assume it would attract the same kinds of fans.
