SoA is over the top without being ridiculous. It has been too long since I watched SFU, so I can't say much about it, but I remember loving it. It's a pure drama though, so lots of people don't like it. BWE gets hate for the same reason. People just have a hard time sticking to something of high quality even if it doesn't jump out at them. Just keep in mind that all the slowness of BWE is a part of the exposition and rising action for the mega climaxes, and each season does it better than the previous