Most shows were like that at the time, but many could still prevail. Battlestar never fully clicked with me though. I found the space realism interesting but it kinda lacked a narrative focus and the "filler" stuff just did not catch my interest at all, and neither did the characters, which often at least can make up for it.

I definitely appreciate it when shows start with a fully written story already in mind though. But even then they're not safe of cancelling, because the start might be slower than viewers would like.

Ironically, I'd say the mentioned Stargate started out pretty weak and got better over time (excluding SGU). SG-1 had absolutely horrendous acting in the beginning and a lot of lacking filler episodes with plot points that never resurfaced again. I still vaguely remember one of the episodes where they planned to ambush the Goa'uld, but failed and Carter hysterically cries out for O'Neil in the most cringeworthy fashion.

My initial comment was more thinking of how sci-fi stuff tend to go all spiritual nuttery towards the end though, which is especially sad when they start out with such a heavy emphasis on science. Always feels like the writer wants to push some narrative.