I think what I liked most about this show is the chemistry which develops between the characters, especially Ernie and Dud, but also many others. This is probably the true alchemy in the show. If you liked writers like Thomas Pynchon or Don DeLillo you might like this. The title Lodge 49 probably alludes to Pynchon's The Crying Of Lot 49. The Lodge's founder is named Harwood Fritz Merrill, perhaps a reference to Franklin Merrell-Wolff? The producer Paul Giamatti also appeared in the film adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel Cosmopolis. If you can handle the slow pace of this show you will be rewarded eventually, just as if you were a lodge member. The show has enough quirks and strange twists to keep you engaged. David Pasquesi does a good job as the serious believer who is still intensely searching. I remember him from an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Brent Jennings is consistently good in this series. Bruce Campbell is hilarious. Wyatt Russell's portrayal of a down on his luck optimist is almost touching. Sonya Cassidy does a good job of playing an underachiever struggling to stay afloat (in more than one sense of the word). If you watch the extras on AMC you'll see her use her American accent on some segments and her native British accent on other segments. The American accent she uses for the show is perfectly executed. If Cheech Marin carries over to Season 2 we may be in for a wild ride.
Review of Lodge 49
