The animation seemed a bit choppy at times (take a close look at the horses in episode one) and the character story lines started in a very interesting and compelling way, but they became very straight forward and linear as the show goes on.
Honestly, the first villain introduced in this story is much more compelling and interesting than any of the others in the show. He's dynamic, relatable, and has a better ark than any of the characters overall. Every step forward he takes to his goal feels earned, and by the end of it I really began rooting for him rather than the main cast of "heroes". However, the main character seems to move through the events of the story only because the plot demands it, and on top of that he comes across a bit whiney and preachy at times. If you watch this show, watch for the first "villain" everything else just feels like filler.