Optimistic. Not always utopian, especially in the TOS era.Well a Pike series would more in line with the Gene Roddenberry traditional concept of Star Trek as being about a Utopian future and space exploration whereas a Section 31 series would be about espionage and the antithesis of everything Star Trek is supposed to be about and represent. Still, on the other hand it wouldn't be another prequel or be encumbered by canon restrictions.
And, if Star Trek cannot endure exploration of ideas antithetical to it that it has no business continuing.