Upon first glance, you're greeted with a dull, pale brown substance that has a satiny appearance and near-perfect consistency. However, none of that matters once you taste that off-putting flavor.
Your gravy will only ever be as good as the liquid that you are using, so if you're ending up with bland results, it might be time to re-evaluate the base of your gravy. Many store-bought stocks and broths are packed full of salt but lacking in dimension.