It's insanely good. Personally, I had to grind out the first 3 episodes or so. It didn't really grab me. I actually watched the first episode like at the end of the 2nd season, then dropped it until the end of the 7th season. I revisited it just cuz so many of my friends loved it. BUT i remember when i was at the end of episode 3.... i was totally hooked. Binged the crap out of the entire series and waited for the 8th season like waiting for NNN to be over.
But yes. season 8 sucked so much, it was completely laughable.