For those that were still in doubt, yes this is actual Star Trek. And this is coming from someone who's watched literally every ST series and film along with a slew of other great sci-fi material.
Unlike Discovery and Picard, this looks and feels like a genuine Star Trek story with genuine Star Trek characters. Not only that, but the production values are the best they've ever been in the franchise. And this very episode is the culmination of what has been an extremely strong first season in a franchise that is not known for its particularly good first seasons. Without sacrificing its much missed episodic format which allows for greater storytelling opportunities, this episode has a sort of gravitas and urgency to it that has characterized some of the greatest episodes in ST, and indeed, TV history (think The City on the Edge of Forever, The Best of Both Worlds, and In the Pale Moonlight). If this is only a taste of what's to come then we're certainly in for something great.
I'm writing all this since I feel it's important. If you're a senior Trekkie don't let the (fortunately) few negative reviews rambling on about wokeness (as if Star Trek wasn't politically conscious from the beginning) and bad acting (possibly one of the best cast essembles we've seen in a while) dissuade you from what has, against all odds, been a miracle of a show so far. And if you're a newcomer to the franchise then let me be the first to welcome you aboard as this is as good a place to start as any and likely the most accessible (although I'd recommend watching a few eps from the original 60s series first for a deeper understanding. Namely: The Cage, The Menagerie Pt. 1 & 2, and Balance of Terror).
My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts: "GO AND WATCH THIS SHOW NOW!"
