Many people understood what the show was about, but when it fails to deliver in execution, the story itself can feel pointless. That is solely on the showrunners, not the viewers. As for the gore, it's not about quantity, but about how it's used. If they make me yawn and roll my eyes, then they're not done very well. Also, 2016 had way better shows with good character development, which is why Re:Zero's felt so weak in comparison to me.