I'll take that overall conclusion of yours as a satisfactory response to that provocative idea that "this whole 'evil' thing is nonsense".
That said, while the action scenes outperformed the manga, it is a bitter disappointment that much of the more substantive insights provided by Riful were watered down or even omitted. She didn't give an account of her routine activities and what roused her to take up the fight. She didn't complain about the actions of Easley and "that thing". Even Priscilla was reduced to that "one-horned woman".
Clare's reaction seemed dumbed down as a result.
Jean's awakened form was...beautiful however. And wearing Clare's cloak not wearing anything...um, down there, was quite suggestive if not provocative. Hot! I'd have to rate the episode a 9.