I like this new series, having seen the first 3 episodes. But worth noting, that despite its structural traditionalism, it takes a blowtorch to the official Federation/Star Fleet ideology. Previous series have depicted the Federation as sometimes failing to live up to its principles. But this one suggests the principles themselves are wrong.
SPOILERS ahead!!!!
Episode 1 is essentially an attack on the Prime Directive. Captain Pike and the Enterprise blatantly violate it, and save billions of lives in the process, interfering to prevent what would likely have been a massive WMD war.
Star Fleet lets Pike get away with it on a legal technicality (while also coining the term "Prime Directive" to make the rule stronger for the future). But the episode is obviously meant to convey the idea that Pike was right, and the rule is stupid. This isn't the first ST episode to condone a violation of the Prime Directive. But the others portray such things as exceptions to a generally good rule. Here, the message is that the rule itself is wrong.
Episode 3 is a similarly aggressive attack on the Federation's ban on genetic engineering. Genetic engineering literally saves the Enterprise and the entire crew. This isn't the first time this issue has been examined on Star Trek (DS 9 went into it extensively). But previous episodes featuring the issue treated it as a tough question, and gave the official ideology a relatively balanced hearing. This episode pretty much flat out condemns the policy, and analogizes hostility to genetically engineered humans to racism. Unlike in Episode 1, there is no figleaf of legality here. Captain Pike and his senior officers just blatantly defy the rules, and (presumably) plan to cover it up rather than seek some kind of retrospective endorsement from higher authority.
On DS 9, by contrast, Dr. Bashir eventually gets an exemption from the ban on genetically engineered personnel serving in Star Fleet, and his situation is treated as a special case. Captain Sisko sympathizes with Bashir's situation, but never seriously considers simply ignoring the rules.
When it comes to breaking major Federation and Star Fleet rules, Sisko, Kirk, and all other captains we have seen, are pikers compared to Captain Pike.
I think Federation ideology is badly wrong on both these issues. So I like this new approach! But Star Trek traditionalists may not be so happy.
I wonder if the series plans to slaughter any more Federation sacred cows. Perhaps even its socialism?