The first season is pretty bad, but necessary to set up the various arcs.
Season 4 crammed the final two major plot arcs into it because they thought they were getting cancelled. But then they didn’t. Season 5 is almost entirely filler.
In fact, once you finish Season 4, I’d recommend jumping right to the series finale (last episode of S5) and watching that. Then watch Season 5 from the beginning and think of it as a spin-off show that didn’t go anywhere.
This was how I went through my last rewatch of the series a few years ago and it was perfect.
The first season is pretty bad, but necessary to set up the various arcs.
Season 4 crammed the final two major plot arcs into it because they thought they were getting cancelled. But then they didn’t. Season 5 is almost entirely filler.
In fact, once you finish Season 4, I’d recommend jumping right to the series finale (last episode of S5) and watching that. Then watch Season 5 from the beginning and think of it as a spin-off show that didn’t go anywhere.
This was how I went through my last rewatch of the series a few years ago and it was perfect.
S1 is overall more watchable than I usually give it credit for, but there is some atrocious acting at times. And some of the sets are rough
And maybe just skip the pilot.
The pilot is an odd one. On one hand it does start some story arcs. On the other, the production is a rather large step off.
Maybe it’s one to go back and watch at the end of S1.