I know a lot of people never got past the the total re-write of ... well, everything. I understand that. If you go in wanting the source material or you will be horribly disappointed. If, instead, you go in saying, "Alright, I know the fans are in revolt, but let's just see why this got made if it is so far from the source," then I think you will see that yes, every aspect is changed, and the story mash-up misses the original points, but... But -- BUT as a show, it was a change of pace (within what limits TV allows) and still retained a feel of a Watch novel. It wasn't a clone of Game of Thrones or Black Adder, or anything else -- and, true, it certainly wasn't a clone of Night Watch, either. It was its own thing, and I'm a bit bummed out that the hatred means it will never get another season.