TV Stevie from Rogers/Yahoo recaps the first episode:

• Those were the Best Years of our lives
  “Best Years has the potential to be a winner. I’d never denounce a show on a few holes in its first episode. In fact, it probably takes more than an entire season (if it lasts that long) to get a proper read. The first episode laid the groundwork for some future storylines, and I can see the plot going somewhere.”

From Infinite Monkey Theorem:

• The Best Years
  “Samantha, the plucky orphan, is alright. Casting Charity Shea was a great choice, she’s likable and brings a quirky charm to the role that elevates it. She’s the high point. The rest of the characters are laughable. We have the rich-bitch roomate (who’s blonde in case you didn’t guess). The basketball jock love interest. The Asian nerd we can’t help but love. None of the characters provide a twist on the stereotype. None of them have a whiff of originality. They’re flat out boring.”