Well, I was greatly impressed. Namely because of having read the comics, but it was a really good way to introduce Negan. Yes, they showed he likes to make speeches, but it showed how utterly calculating and violent he is. There's a reason he's considered the greatest villain in Walking Dead and why he is loved (and hated) by fans.
I also think it helps that Negan was JDM's favorite character and he signed immediately upon the casting call when they told him what attributes they wanted for the audition. Watching his interview on the subject was rather enlightening. JDM knows his character and wants to be extremely faithful to him (hence the separate takes so they can have his favorite word be said almost every other word), so I only expect Negan to get better as the show goes on.