I think I had you down as exempt-from-crossover-reading, just on general principles. *g*

I watched it intermittently before the hiatus, bur pretty constantly for the last third of the season -- I remember some time, pre-hiatus, thinking that it was dull and I couldn't remember anyone's names -- and it really came together at the end. But I liked most of the characters, by the end, as well. Sorry you couldn't get into it.