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The scenery is fantastic and that includes the brilliant blurring of CGI into their set construction. Plus, while I knew the soldiers of the Boston "Massacre" were provoked by the mob throwing clubs and [not mentioned in the show] broken bottles and didn't fire until then, I did not know it was John Adams who defended them in court, eventually producing an acquital based on the rule of law. This principle which the British stripped away despite justice being served, is what clearly pushes John Adams toward independence, particularly when it strikes him so closely to home.
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I'm half way through the book. It makes a great pre-read, though they might catch up to me (single father = no time to read).
Adams is an overlooked founding father. I had skimmed his contributions and his history before, but I way understimated him. I am now of the opinion that he was the biggest factor in the success of our even declaring independence as well as it's success (next to Jefferson).
His winning of the trial reaffirmed to him the necessity and propriety of law. It was Brittish law he was upholding. He used it when formulating later various legal items and issues. He felt that the King was in violation of law by treating his rightful and loyal subjects in America as second class citizens. He knew that would not change. He wished for a complete break as he felt the only way England and the world would recognize the U.S. was if they unified and declared Independence as a complete nation.
I believe the smallpox inclusion in the show is very important. First, not many people know that during the revolution a second front was being fought by both sides - this disease. Second, it helps to focus the viewer more on the fact that this man was away from his family for up to 2 years at a time. A family struggling to make ends meet (they should've included his buying things for her to trade in lieu of limited $), on a slave-free working farm, and family suffering from a often fatal disease. He did this for his country.
The show is very close to the book, written well, directed and edited well, and the acting across the board is fantastic.