I agree with this. Maybe this is a consequence of binge watching SG1/SGA over the course of 3-4 months, but their episodes ended up feeling very repetitive, formulaic, and too often leaned on Carter/Rodney being super geniuses to get them out of trouble. SGU was a much needed shake up and, even though it did get too soap opera drama sometimes, I appreciated that it kept that BSG back-to-the-wall energy up from episode to episode. It may not be as good as SG1/SGA, but it never dragged like those shows did mid-season.

It wasn't darker, it was just whiny. They basically had teenagers mooning over each other and one of the main characters was literally just there to have sex with all the female characters (including the female lead). Even the adults acted like teenagers. There's a subplot where the cheating male lead has his wife cheat on him with the guy whose body he uses to talk with her back on earth.

The only good thing about the series was Christopher McDonald, and they kill him off in the pilot.