Why this is a good TV show . . or was a good show
I read the book - and the actors in this TV show fit the original four characters in the book very well . . . . except the part about Ned Mallone being American. The rest of the characters had to be thrown in . . . you can't have the same four people being the only characters througout a whole season. Their interactions were good - and the stories were entertaining.
As for the special effects . . what did you expect from a low budget TV show? Industrial Light and Magic? Steven Spielberg?
My chief complaint was the show ended abruptly after the third season . . . with no resolution. They should have at least made a movie out of the ending.