Gritty, realistic, and excellently paced.
Season 1 was the introduction/world building season. Season 2 is the ramp up. Season 3 is going to be explosive.
Every episode will suck you in. There's an intersect between The CIA, The Cartel, Franklin Saint's crew, and the way it delineates Iran-Contra and how it wiped out the Black Panthers and infected minority-majority communities with drugs that have perpetuated generational poverty and criminality.
It's a no holds barred white knuckle thrill ride. If you need a well written crime saga, look no further.
Edit: RIP John Singleton. I hope Snowfall sees a third season despite Singleton's death.