I'm really enjoying it, but I have reservations.
I think it has taken the state of play as we last saw it in Berman Trek, and taken what little we know about since through oblique references since, and pulled some fantastic, interesting and unexpectedly logical world building out of it.
In that respect, it feels like the beginning of a new Trek series used to feel, pre-Enterprise: An exploration of the unknown future. That single element is such a welcome return that it elevates all the storytelling. And thankfully it's validated by overall decent story-telling which takes an evidently rich knowledge of Star Trek canon (in contrast to Discovery) and extrapolates and builds on that with confidence and verve.
In other words, it's not another bloody prequel!
It sets up some really fascinating ideas - and then it sets up some more... and then some more.
And this is where it starts losing points. It seems to be endlessly setting interesting things up and then moving on to set up others. I'm really hoping this foundation can build to a structurally sound narrative conclusion (or at least denoument) by the end of the season, but I don't feel confident in that at all.
While there are tonal or conceptual wobbles here and there, I think overall it's hitting the right notes in terms of logically extrapolating from the last known state, presenting us with a mix of old and new characters who feel grounded in the world by having been changed by or formed in the events of the intervening time, and in large part giving me the "Prime Universe" vibes I've been jonesing for - albeit in restricted doses: This team is proficient at making a kind of Star Trek I don't like - this "Quality" stuff is new to them, so they get credit for trying, praise for succeeding so often and gratitude for actually giving a shit this time.
They also get a generous allowance of passes from me for the effort.
It feels a bit like coming home to find some of the furniture has been moved around and an obnoxious lodger is snotting up the place a bit - still warm and familiar but a bit bloody weird.
Overall: Well worth watching, and despite some sub-plot related flaws, the latest episode is an absolute masterpiece.