I'm going to throw a title out which is perhaps the most polarizing action series in existance: One Piece.
So odds are you (and everyone else) already have an opinion on it. For those that dismiss it, I completely understand, because I was one of those people years ago. For me, it was the stupid looking artwork and the stupid sounding rubber powers of the main character... and even his stupid sounding name, Luffy. I was always like "The artstyle hurts my eyes. A rubber body is lame as fuck. And what the hell kind of name is Luh-fee? What? It's Loo-fee? Even stupider."
However, one day, I stumbled upon this review...
http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1197
That review was an epiphany. It was the first time I had read comments about a series I knew nothing about aside from my own first impressions (which were only based on pictures and artwork), and the subjective comments I had perused in anime forums. It was the first time that I heard the opinions of a true fan of the series, and the perspective in those opinions were highly detailed and thus made sense. What occurs to me now, having watched One Piece up to the current Dressrosa arc, is that the people that flame the hate of One Piece was the exact same person I WAS... an anime fan that never actually watched it. Another demographic that dislikes it are those that gave it a chance, but dropped it after a handful of episodes.
I don't blame any of those fans, because, again, that used to be me.
I've seen One Piece.
What it requires, however, is patience and dedication through the early phase. My take on it, is one must hold off on their decision of One Piece's worth until episode 45, which is the end to the Arlong Arc... which was the turning point in the series for me. It was at that point that I finally realized that the review I had read was absolutely correct, and I was an idiot for having judged it on nothing but the artwork and a rubber power.
Romance Dawn Arc (ep 1-3) is just introducing Luffy and Zoro.
Orange Town Arc (ep 4-8) introduces Nami.
Syrup Village Arc (ep 9-17) introduces Usopp
It is within those episodes that someone giving One Piece a try may determine the series is too stupid, or too silly, and decide to drop it. And with that premature decision is their own reassurance that all the "hate" thrown at One Piece was correct. I myself was not convinced at that point either. It's over the course of the next two story arcs that true nature of One Piece starts to surface.
Baratie Arc (ep 18-30) introduces Sanji. This is when the first sign shows up that, to me, separates One Piece from every other action series... it has heart. Its characters are driven by emotion, which, in turn, inflicts you with that same emotion. The characters are filled with pain, and Luffy becomes their path, their journey, to overcome it, to deal with it.
Arlong Arc (ep 31-45) introduces... the brilliance of the villians. More than any other action series I've seen, the villians in One Piece excel for one sole reason: You will TRULY hate their guts. You will grow to despise them. You will feel the agony of the victims. And you will wish with great desire that SOMEONE smashes their bastard faces in. And that "someone" is always Luffy. As the series continues, you will grow to anticipate each and every moment that Luffy beats the fuck out of someone that truly deserves it.
It is at this point that I feel someone can make a legitimate decision about One Piece. Just know that it's a journey, and set sail.