Great premiere episode.
Really it just feels great to watch something that feels and looks fresh and original. Yes I realize it's based on a film, but there's nothing quite like this on television and I'm having a hard time thinking of a comparison at least on TV. This definitely looks like a more "cinematic" series (a phrase which I'm always hesitant to use, I've always thought of episodes as mini-movies and a season as just one long movie).
Maybe it's just the Crichton association, but Hopkins' Dr. Ford feels just like Richard Attenborough from Jurassic Park. I love that sort of character. Someone who might be pushing the boundaries of science into dangerous territory, but you understand his position and maybe even see the value in it. I feel like there's a lot more to him.
I mean the whole cast and everything about this just gets an A+ from me, what a ride (no pun intended).