What I love about the Mandalorian is it managed to tell a serialised storyline in 8 episodes but each episode also had its own completely standalone mini-story. It makes it easy to think back and go "I loved that chapter in particular!" (also the non-convoluted storyline without a million plot holes helps too). With Picard (and Discovery) all the episodes kind of blur into one, so I find it hard to do that, with exceptions like Nepenthe.
As for Picard dying... my issue is it was completely pointless. They introduced the idea at the very beginning, then again in the season finale, killed him then brought him back to life. Why?? If it was to have him speak to Data, a more technobabble answer could have been found like their magical device that makes your dreams come true.