The idea that Beverly Crusher got pregnant: she's a doctor in the 2th century. It didn't happen by accident. The idea that, in addition to that, she'd think her son was safer running around a lawless area of space than in Picard's comfy place on Earth: that's character assassination. The idea that dozens or hundreds of crew members can be killed and Picard only worries about his son: that's character assassination. Then there's the scene with Riker and Troi discussing the life they were living in one of the show's best episodes, "Nepenthe," and laughing at how stupid they were. More character assassination. Then there's the way they casually killed off a few old characters they could have done so much more with just to convince us things are bad.
The other big flaw in the third season of Picard is the idea that worked in The Wrath of Khan and never again: the idea that a Star Trek story needs a capital-v Villain. Looks like Starfleet Academy is about to make the same mistake, but maybe that'll be over by the end of the first season.