This show stinks but visually it's amazing.
To each his own, but I don't think it stinks at all. Wish there were more shows like it made today. I LOVE this show. I've commented about it on this site numerous times of the years. True, the pacing is slow compared to the modern MTV conditioned audience, but there is some real depth in that slow pacing.
I remember watching it with my Dad when it aired in the US in '71 or '72. I've got the DVD boxed set.
Great show - good sci fi; some real social issues explored.
Poor character development? You obviously have not watched many episodes. Check out "Confetti Check A-OK" or "A Question of Priorities." You'll see why Bishop's character is as grumpy as he is.
No plot? What's not to love about an alien possessed cat? How about "Kill Straker!" which gets pretty intense between Ed and Paul (hint, Straker really hates traitors).
At the time, they used some FX that really pushed the envelope. They were the first TV series ever to synch the on-screen v-retrace with those on the cameras so on-screen monitors don't flicker. They used all models and miniatures; in this day of near constant griping about crappy CGI, I'd this would be viewed as 'classic.'
The best web site for this series that I've found is
UFO Series His grading system of the episodes is pretty good; only one or two stinkers in the whole line-up.
It was a sort of precursor to SPACE: 1999. I never got into that one even though it was much more popular.
And who could not LOVE Gabrielle Drake, purple wig or no?