I finally got around to watching the first 2 and I thought it was fine. They seem to be doing the storyline for Strange Dogs once an episode.
For the prior complaints about characters being snippy, if I recall that was present in the books as well. War fatigue basically wearing down on people. I am glad they did make the Earth issues more closely match the books - in the 5th season, it seems far underplayed. But now they are really going the full nuclear winter angle.
They also haven't forgotten Alex. I do like they keep touching back on that and them trying to get over it. I would have liked it if he was still on the show,