My lord people, an 8.1 overall rating? The series began as an 8 or better as the actors embodied their characters and followed a coherent script path that progressed through later teenage years. Seasons 4 & 5 worked as the developments of the 1st 3 seasons were expanded and explored. The quality then began to decline so precipitously that two of the main cast members fled. This was a typical series that stayed on 3 years longer than it should have, but unlike many, was truly magical in the 1st seasons.