So I just finished season 1 on E4.
Overall I really enjoyed it. It lacks the classic Trek episodic nature and as a consequence the plot revolves around Burnham too much but I can live with that, the plot and pacing were pretty good. The production values were great it looked really good. I liked the arcs of the season and the use of the mirror universe was good it drove the plot.
The last episode where Burnham gives a speech at Starfleet was totally cringe worthy and patronising. If any should have given a similar speech it should have been Sarek or the Admiral making reference to how we fail we can pick ourselves up. Modern writers are too preachy and the aggrandisement of Burnham really irked, she may have been pardoned but she was a mutineer. She should not have been reinstated Commnder, work your way back up I say.
Spore drive is a dumb McGuffin not changed my view on that, whilst it totally breaks canon it worked in the plot, I just wish a better plot device had been found.
I'll say it again, I really enjoyed this show but it played to loose and fast with canon. The Klingon War is never mentioned to my memory as being the verge of annihilation. The Klingons never mention it so, the Federation ever mentions it show and one assumes time line wise it can only be what 10 years before Captain Kirk on the Enterprise, he must have fought in the damn war. I think a plot more like a Korean War, stalemate with escalating behaviour that undermined the Federations values (exactly as the last episode does) would have been more plausible. Is the Federation going to just carry on as normal after that ass kicking?
Overall I really enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to Season 2 I understand Pike is really good, as was Lorca. I can live with the Burnham centric plotting at Season 1 levels but any more might begin to grate.
In many ways this was better than Picard at least it didn't damage beloved existing characters.