I am running behind on watching some shows and did not watch episode two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds until last night. Just a fantastic episode and stacks up well with offerings from other Star Trek series.
From the franchise's beginning in the 1960's, Star Trek has had its space battles, techie talk, etc. That is part of its long running appeal. Yet, what also makes Star Trek Star Trek are those down-to-earth episodes that focus on the human condition itself--highlighting the good, bad and everything in-between.
I think SNW's Ad Astra per Aspera compares favorably in that type of 'what makes humans human' exploration (pun intended) with previous Star Trek episodes like The Devil in the Dark (TOS), The Measure of a Man (TNG), Far Beyond the Stars (DS9), Living Witness (Voyager), Carbon Creek (Enterprise), But to Connect (Discovery) and No Win Scenario (Picard). Loved it.