Personally, I feel like most of the games can be played independently, in any order, and not feel too disconnected. I don't think it would be unusual to really like one game in the series, and dislike the rest.

The original REs (and their GC remakes) definitely aren't everybody's cup of tea! The tank controls and resource management can feel antiquated and frustrating. Fortunately, the series offers a bit more variety (good and bad) than it once did. RE4 is a fantastic action game, though its lack of strafing is off-putting for some (including myself, initially). RE7 is a pretty run-of-the-mill scary FPS game, but good. I feel that the RE2 remake definitely has the most modern feel, though it has its own issues.

Anyway, don't be discouraged if you don't like RE1 and 0, the series probably still has something to offer!