This is an excellent and unbiased review. /s
First, Sidonia no Kishi bears at most a superficial resemblance to Shingeki no Kyojin. If anything, it more resembles Battlestar Galactica (the newer series), though Knights of Sidonia is definitely its own distinct show.
1. Sidonia's 3D CG is employed to stunning effect, particularly in action scenes. The framerate issue is most notable in early episodes. While it still pops up every now and then, Polygon's work has generally improved.
Overall, Sidonia's art is excellent, particularly in terms of visual detail and sound direction.
2. People die, but they are not expendable. The world they live in is quite different from ours, but that does not make them less relatable. The story actually does a good job of getting you to care for some rather strange characters.
Cloning and genetic engineering are just medical facts, not the stupid way cloning is often treated in fiction. Even the identical clones are only identical in appearance and certain capabilities, not interchangeable personalities.
Also, FYI, artificial photosynthesis does not have to be based on a certain color, or even use visible light.
3. I gather that this story is not to your taste, but I think those with a modicum of open-mindedness should give Knights of Sidonia a chance.
Everyone knows the best opinion pieces lack bias!
For the record, I wholeheartedly recommended the show in my review, and having just started the second season I can only double-down. Sidonia is easily the most hilariously terrible (yet watchable) anime I've ever had the pleasure to mock.
Please don't let me stop you from relating to such deep and meaningful characters as Neo-Sephiroth, Blank Slate Protagonist, Cooking Bear, Metal Gear Boob Ninja, The General Grievous Sauna Council, Glasses Waifu, Genderless Waifu, Green Hair Waifu, Deep-Fried Waif and Penis Monster Waifu. I have no idea what any of them were actually named, nor could I fill and index card with a description of any of their personalities, motivations or backstories, but I have derived great enjoyment from watching all of them stumble about their world at 10 FPS.
Ok, welp, you can not like it but I got to say this: Knights came out well before attack on Titan, so its the other way around: Attack on Titan is Knights in a fantasy world.
But, I just noticed your statement, that I skipped, sorry about that, still, I hate it when people get the order backwards. Draws blood to my eyes.
I can you understand not liking it.
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It's like Attack on Titan, In Space! And terrible! (Anime review)
As a preface, I am fully aware that the manga for Sidonia came out before Titan.
Knights of Sidonia is one of the worst things I've ever watched. It's also one of the most entertaining. The show is desperately awful garbage for three interrelated reasons:
1. It looks terrible. The anime is completely computer-generated and has the appearance of a circa-2008 MMORPG run on a PC with a dying internet connection. For reasons beyond my comprehension, Sidonia has what I can only describe as severe framerate issues. Characters are deep in the uncanny valley, jerking and bobbing like corpses on strings.
2. It's impossible to relate to or care about anyone. Not only does the cast resemble ineptly-piloted marionettes, but they have backstories and motivations which defy conventional thinking. Most of the characters (and there are a lot of them crammed into a paltry 12 episodes) are explicitly identified as being expendable. They're interchangeable, nigh-identical cogs devoid of all but the most basic character traits ("coward", "duplicitous asshole", etc). Most are clones (not a spoiler past the first episode) and conduct "photosynthesis" despite being pale-skinned and living on a ship apparently illuminated by massive fluorescent lights. Dozens of people are introduced and then immediately killed, for zero emotional impact. It's moronic, and brings me to my third point-
3. The plot is incomprehensible nonsense. Hardly anything that happens in the show has a rational explanation. There are a half-dozen random subplots going on at any given point and none have any payoff. It doesn't help that the show constantly uses jargon never translated in the English subs. The good people of Sidonia appear to be only vaguely cognizant of their own mission. Thousands die on multiple occasions and are casually forgotten by the next episode.
All that said, this show is definitely worth watching. It's a laughably bad trainwreck from start to finish. I recommend bringing a friend and some beer. You'll likely need both.