The entire first season is more alt-history than sci-fi, and that can take some of the wind out of your sails. The ratio changes slowly over time, but they’re trying to at least plausibly start with our world, circa 1965, as a jumping off point to fork the timeline (I think the conceit is some key soviet scientist and administrator who died in real life survives here and quietly keeps them on track).
The entire first season is more alt-history than sci-fi, and that can take some of the wind out of your sails. The ratio changes slowly over time, but they’re trying to at least plausibly start with our world, circa 1965, as a jumping off point to fork the timeline (I think the conceit is some key soviet scientist and administrator who died in real life survives here and quietly keeps them on track).