Having watched the Arrowverse shows, I was pleasantly surprised that this show is actually well written! The story and characters undergo a lot of development over the course of the series which not only keeps things fresh and interesting, it deepens your sense of connection to each. It never feels like the writers have simply run out of ideas or lost creativity, or need to artificially create drama or storylines. Plot lines all feel like they flow as natural consequences of how each character would respond in a given situation.

There's a great balance between action and interpersonal dynamics in a way that both build on the other.

I worried after the first and second seasons that the characters had run their course and that the series would grow stale, but was happily surprised to the contrary. The writing allows for lasting consequences for the characters, rather than simply having things always turn out perfectly in the end or to be corrected someway after-the-fact. Because of the darker tone and these lasting stakes, the threats faced by these characters carry more weight than I ever felt watching the Marvel movies. I love the movies, and their light tone does allow for some hilarious levity, but this series feels deeper. Because characters do sometimes die or otherwise depart, the stakes feel more real. Not sure it requires quite as much gore as is displayed though; there are a few images that are pretty unsettling that I personally could have done without. However, the fundamental themes of the show are positive and able to stand on their own without having to rely on that type of sensationalistic tactic.

On a final note as many other reviewers have mentioned, I still don't understand why this show exists. It does feel all but completely detached from the rest of the MCU. But does stand on its own merits.