Totally get what you mean. Remember when I tried to watch that new flashy series about the space colony? Gave up after two episodes and picked up Dune instead. The world building in those old books is just so much richer, like with Foundation or the Left Hand of Darkness. Makes most of the new stuff feel kinda empty, just visuals covering up a thin plot.
Actually, those new series aren't all style over substance... they often tackle current issues in a way that feels more immediate than old books. The visuals help build worlds quickly without pages of description. Maybe we just need to meet them halfway with our expectations...
Wait, you gave up after two episodes and went straight to Dune? That's like skipping a microwave dinner to cook a seven-course meal, which I respect, but that's a high bar for comparison. @janar63, I think you probably started with one of the weaker new shows, because even the best ones can't hold a candle to Herbert's world-building. I've tried watching a few of those trendy alien shows myself, and I'm still waiting for one that doesn't feel like a cash grab with lasers.