I'd reiterate what others have said about sticking with the early seasons. I joined TNG in season 4, so when I originally went back to the older episodes, I hated them. I thought they were cheap, overly-dramatic and the characterisations all over the place. That was pretty much my view for years afterwards.
However, I've just completed a marathon of season 1 this week, and I've found that there is much to enjoy here.