It never caught my interest. I thought it was just a goody two shoes show about girls. LOL Nope! There have been SEVERAL episodes that will punch you in the gut. I won't give it away but one episode has a scene that was VERY upsetting and sad.......maybe even disturbing. LOTS of great story lines in that show. But....I always gravitated to The Waltons. Maybe because I grew up around so many from that era and even as a kid, I always had a fascination with that generation. AAAAAND....Like you have said, the first 5 seasons are the best.