It really was. And that's exactly the vibe I got—perhaps more so for marathoning it, since I came to the show late. It ends on a good note (for a certain value of good), but how it gets there is just such a mess, yet a mess executed as well as possible? Like you say, I also get the feeling that everyone else was giving it their all.

I don't know much about the behind the scenes roles, but in particular I think S3 is pretty beautifully acted (and shot). The lines are baffling, but there was definitely an effect where I'd be sold while watching and then five minutes afterwards: "wait, what??"