“Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms. […] If we cannot learn to actually enjoy those small differences, to take a positive delight in those small differences between our own kind, here on this planet, then we do not deserve to go out into space and meet the diversity that is almost certainly out there.” ― Gene Roddenberry
Also, first season is a little rough of TNG so try to stick it out. It gave rise to the antonym of "jump the shark" which is "grow the beard" (a main character grew a beard and the show got better at the same time).