I pretty much agree with you and Del. I too was struck by the plot device that conveniently gives them a fresh venue every episode or two; feels even more literally a "wagon train to the stars". Isolation leads to a static cast like ST:Voyager, but the parade of locals makes up for it...like ST:Voyager. Not the most original schtick in the universe, to be frank, but a workable framework for smaller episodic plots.

After seeing the trailers and ads, I was a little trepidatious because there seemed to be Ronald D. Moore's fingerprints on the project, in terms of the self-consciously "gritty" style, dark sets, etc; and the chilling phrase "reimagining the wheel". After the way the "reimagined" BSG turned out, I won't watch any more of his work. But no sign of him, officially, though it's a close call: Apparently SGU is filmed in the same Vancouver studio once used by BSG. But we'll know eventually: If SGU ends with the revelation that it was all God's plan, Moore was involved.

All in all an OK effort so far. I expect to watch it regularly and not feel too cheated. What more can you ask of the Syffy Channel?