I think there's enough semblance of a plot to be entertaining. Lots of history to be entertaining. I think if it had more time not introduce so much in so little time it would've been one of the more horrific seasons. I felt real tension in most the episodes. The last two (which to be fair is half the season) were veering into goofy territory. The good bones from the good idea was there. Both seasons had good bones that felt like nothing happens when they're so short. 

Loads of body horror throughout. Tense scenes especially in the beginning. These scenes where a supernatural and scientific defying entity breaches the most top secret, locked down government facilities. Our defenses are truly worthless.

and tons of conspiracy theories that show a darker history then were aware of. The weird passage of time experienced on abudctees on the spaceships drives people crazy like Amelia Earheart. Historical events recontextualized like Amelia's disapperance. . Existential horror about whether humans deserve a beautiful world if a more altrusitic species takes over if someone is above you on the food chain. The message being aliens that kill us because " they make things better " is like the ruling class who lies and throws out conspiracy, does unethical experimental on its population like the Tuskegee men, because they are better than us. Even though a better species would live in peace with others, instead you have to bow down to your overlord. Its timely in that sense. The way they slowly assimilated a few people at a time to help them convince everyone around them to bow down to the overlords. Especially Mamie the chief executives right hand.  

I didn't say it was good. It truncated way too much story into 4 episodes that while having amazing bones its blink and you miss it. Also, gripe about one thing and you miss it.

I still think its got interesting history, interesting characters, its just goes nowhere in that amount of time. I don't see why the teens being insufferable is such a big deal. It felt like again you are supposed to root for the slaughter. They all die in the end. If they had to redo it I think a 13 episodes series where the main plot is the black n white parts and the teenagers were subplot like the adam levine subplot in asylum. Just some openings to show the future of the apocalypse. It would've ranked in my top 3 easily if it gave the story more time to enjoy. 

I don't think Death Valley is a bad season