Ryan Britt had a good review for Inverse, and an interesting take on the show overall.
It’s tempting to say that SNW succeeds because, of all the newer Trek shows, it's the one that feels the most like fan fiction. Or perhaps, to put it another way, it’s Star Trek version of Marvel’s What If? In this case, the “What If?” scenario that is floated in nearly every episode is “What if the 60s Star Trek show were made today?”
Given how much of a OG fan Akiva Goldsman is, this seems a fair assessment - even if other, mostly younger fans, have different ideas about where the show should link up with the original.
https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-season-3-review
I’ve been wondering how much of the decision to wrap SNW with a short sixth season might have to do with Goldsman’s contract with Paramount coming to an end and his new one with another franchise and major studio.
SNW really was his project, regardless of Alonso Myers being the co-showrunner.
There’s a possibility that this is also about a change in leadership as the show transitions to a true TOS show, perhaps hopping to a time post-TAS but before the movies, and even shifting somewhat in tone.
All of this would make sense of casting an older actor as Jim Kirk.