It's so good. I was a TNG & DS9 fan, but I just didn't like Enterprise or Discovery, and I watched the first few episodes of Picard, but it was so dark and not like the others. SNW brings back the original Star Trek ethos, relentlessly optimistic and ethical with a realist streak, fantastic writing, great character development, and great special effects. They even have the traditional episode "types," like a Klingon politics episode, a courtroom episode, and a fantasy episode. My point is I love it, and I hope the writers'/actors' guilds get what they want soon so they can start filming season 3.
My new Star Trek thoughts basically boil down to Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, and Picard S3 are all amazing, Prodigy was pretty good too (RIP), Disco was pretty bad even if it had its moments here or there, but Picard S1&2 was truly miserable.
I agree Discovery was/is a travesty. SNW on the other hand is surprisingly decent. Not my favorite Trek ever but definitely the 2nd best in recent years. The best being the 3rd season (and only the 3rd season) of Picard.
Lower Decks is absurdly good. It hits that sweet parody spot that only people who really love the source material can pull off. Can’t believe how much I’ve ended up loving that show.
And SNW definitely has more of a lighter and often comedic vibe to it, with two episodes this season feeling like straight up sitcom romps. It takes itself not at all seriously in a manner very much in keeping with the TOS era.
As a TNG/DS9 fan, I really like it - it has that feeling of old Trek again where it’s optimistic about the future while commentating on contemporary issues. Pike is also a really good captain, kind of a nice blend of Kirk and Picard - and it might be “shiny new toy” syndrome, but he’s probably my favorite captain now.
I came to say just the opposite: the show is lesser than the sum of its parts. It's not cerebral, it's just boring.
The acting is above par, the characters are semi-interesting, the screenwriting shoots mostly above the bar. And yet somehow...yawn city. All the qualities you mentioned regarding the writing are exactly why it trods along; at the end of the day, the drama is just not gripping. And I so wanted to like it, don't ask me why.
It can't even get a theme song right. Go ahead...whistle/hum/sing it. I'll wait. Five dollars say you can't even remember it.