I feel like this one is going to want its own thread.
I certainly liked the first episode, and was surprised by how short it was, expecting an hour and getting less than 40 minutes. I'm not geeky enough to get into the Star Wars lore and all the hidden references and meanings, but I am production savvy enough to watch how Star Wars looks on a smaller budget. If you compare it to the movies, there are visibly some corners cut in the effects and production design, though the costuming and make-up is of the same high quality. However, it looks exceptional for a television show. Besides, TV is more about characters than spectacle and having people like Carl Weathers and Werner Herzog means everything.