>I'm coming in blind. Didn't watch any trailers and I'm not
>familiar with the books.

same here and i'm glad...the book readers gonna be constantly disappointed because they already have expectations/constant comparisons...i'm glad to get to enjoy the show on its merit, free of that.
>
>The only thing that bugged me was after their run-in in the
>small town.
>After they were chased from the restaurant, and there's a high
>speed chase on the road
>where they nearly escape thanks to an unknown assailant,
>the very next scene they're sitting around a dinner table
>drinking and laughing.
>The contrast of those two scenes together just didn't work.

I was initially taken aback by that, as well...then I saw it from a different perspective...that they are so used to the shit...their life is always in danger and some wild white-related shit happens so much that its like whatever, imma still enjoy life in these private times...and i kinda like that. Because its what we do now...we Black people live in a constant state of danger from white supremacy, perceived or not. Its just our lives and we're used to it.