I think the serialized season is largely to blame. If you do away with the episodic format, then I better like your season long arc. If not it's likely to overshadow any good moments in specific episodes.
I think the serialized format of Picard and Disco are overestimated. I mean a lot of them are wacky one-shots that just tie into the larger plot loosely.
I'm not big on "dark Trek" myself. When TNG and DS9 were both on, it gave two different views on the same era. Now with Picard the only 24rh Century Trek and 31st Century trying to rebuild, I would personally prefer something more positive. Am I going to get it? No. Hell naw. I'm still watching, though.
Lower. Decks. It's positive as all hell 24th century Trek. It's okay if you don't like it, but it exists.
I got into arguments with posters online in the late-'90s and early-'00s about this very topic. Fact is stranger than fiction sometimes.
I loved Season 1. I'm Mariner to the core. I'm holding off on re-subscribing to Paramount until November to save money.
It's not that the events that actually happen in the story are more "dark" than the rest of the franchise. But the show does seem to emphasize the more tragic/dramatic elements of its world. Most of the death scenes are played like something we'd more likely have seen in a very intense theatrical movie back in the day, rather than a "Star Trek" TV episode. Compare the deaths of Icheb and Bruce Maddox to those of Tasha Yar or Jadzia Dax. On top of all that, the show is literally dark, visually. Not that I personally have a big problem with any of this. Q knows I like new-Trek a hell of a lot more than "Enterprise." But, I can certainly see how it would just feel overwhelming for a lot of people. In fact, even myself, as I love "Star Trek: Picard" and "Discovery," even I do wish both shows would lighten up, both figuratively and literally, and give us some space (har har) to breathe.
Good. Tragedy in Trek is often very tritely dealt with. Lingering and reflection are an asset not a deficit to expanding the world, treating the characters as people rather than toys.
This right here. I could have done without the level of gore that it hit with Icheb, but I much prefer the how this is all being handled. I think the show fumbles a few times, but overall I like what it went for, rather than the same old same old. It gives hope for the upcoming shows, that none will be cookie-cutter.
There was also a nice bit continuity where his butcher asked where his cortical node was. That was the device he removed from himself to give to seven in voyager so she wouldn’t die.
PIC is not as dark as the naysayers often make it sound. Some people really cannot handle the idea of an ST show where the Federation isn't portrayed as Pollyana-ish Lawful Good at all times.