Just finished watching the first season, and despite the underlying premise, I really was engrossed in this series. It helps that it has the experience behind The Wire behind it to build upon, and does very well. If anything, The Wirespotting (i.e. finding actors from that season popping up in this one) is a big interest.
Concentrating on this, we have a sewer level look at the dawn of the modern porn age, and it's creepy. Yet we love & loath the myriad of characters, all with complicated personalities.
Maggie Gyllehaal and James Franco are the stars pushing this through all the way, but I'm not convinced the James Franco dual roles works (can be confusing). The myriad cast are wonderful, and you have to accept the gratuitous nudity & porn, it was never going to be Boogie Nights (and didn't want to be).
It's dark, nasty but sheds a light on the underbelly of society in the XXX world. I was engrossed, and am already looking forward to the next season. It's not one series that will have you talking about it in the office, due to the XXX aspect, but I'm sure if you recommend it to colleagues when out for drinks, then they'll be happy you recommended it.
Pass on the word...