Just finished episode 2.
(booted into my original save for ep1 and was spawned on the other side of the door -- yay.)
I didn't really like episode 1. I liked episode 2 a lot, great sense of place and an ending that made me want to immediately restart the first game. Combat started to drag near the halfway point but I found it constantly more enjoyable than episode 1 (which was way too stingy on ammo and way too aggressive with enemy respawns... it was more efficient to cheese my way through combat and sacrifice cash than it was to actually put effort in and play the game).
I am not sure what the point was for either episode, besides fan service. But sure, they were well crafted even if the story wasn't necessary.
I wonder, since Elizabeth saw all the doors, did she have any concerns about those timelines where Jack hijacks a nuclear sub and becomes the splicer king?
Regardless of the quality or necessity of the story, regardless of the shortcomings of the combat gameplay, no one crafts environments like Irrational did. What a joy to wander through. There were several times I was tempted reflexively to reach toward my TV, as if I could touch the game world. Really incredible work. Playing it maxed on PC is truly a sight to behold. Even the dingiest parts of Rapture look inviting, as if I could step through and enter that world. I can't think of another shooter that achieves that sense of place or context.