[Veratyr]

You basically summed up my experience with episode 3 as well, but I finished the episode and decided to give it one more chance.

Episode 4 is a better episode to judge it on I think so I'd encourage you to give it one last chance.

3 has definitely been the worst so far and I'm not a fan of 9 (though it has some character development) but I haven't regretted watching the rest.

At this point I feel like it's basically Star Trek made more accessible to the kind of person who can't sit through Inner Light or "Shaka, where the walls fell". Tone down the moralising and philosophy (it's not entirely gone but it's definitely reduced), throw in some crude humour and you've got something that much of the US TV audience could actually watch, while still being somewhat like Star Trek to those who want it.

[gonehome]

Good to know - a bit of a bummer though since the two episodes you mention are some of the best.

Maybe this kind of thing is an easier introduction for people though, and that might be a good thing.