I think "best of the last 20 years" is probably hyping it up a bit too much. The show is doing some things well, it's definitely a step up over the past two seasons, and there are some terrific individual scenes - Beverly's confrontation with Jean-Luc in Episode 3 was the best writing she's gotten ever - but I don't think it's "best of the last 20 years". Coming from a lifelong fan of Trek both old and new, here's what I'd say about Picard S3:

• The legacy TNG characters are getting some really solid writing finally, and some excellent individual scenes. Riker's scene with Picard at the beginning of Ep 4 was terrific as well. Worf's introduction was very cool, but I want to see him get something more substantive as well, and find out how exactly he's a pacifist. (TBF there's something greatly appealing to me about going from a warrior to a pacifist, but we'll see what actually happens.)

• Captain Shaw is a compelling new character; he reminds me of Lorca. It's interesting to see someone who's not all high-minded stars in his eyes, but who is still just as much a Starfleet captain as Picard or Riker. Seven is also interesting; she has one good line about struggling with the restrictions of Starfleet when she's used to the freedom of the Fenris Rangers. If we end up with a Titan show with those two, I wouldn't be unhappy. (If Shaw dies, I'd be mad. The first episode made me curious about him, the second episode and after made me like him.) Vadic, played by Amanda Plummer (the daughter of General Chang actor Christopher Plummer from STVI) is clearly having a blast chewing the scenery.

• The pacing is working a lot better. Each episode that raises a problem has it solved in the next episode. It provides a good sense of progression, whereas I think the first two seasons kind felt like every episode threw a ball in the air and hoped to catch them all in the finale. The only really running mystery so far is what's really going on with Jack and his visions.

• Some may see this point as being a pro or a con, depending on your personal taste. The show is leaning a lot on nostalgia. It was most noticeable in the first episode - that flyby of the Titan with the TMP music swelling was practically pornographic - but each successive episode has utilized nostalgia pretty significantly, if not so openly. I will say, I know they've gotten a lot of the creators and artists from the 90s series to come back and contribute, guys like Mark Okuda and Doug Drexler, and while I'm a little iffy on the nostalgia, I do like that they clearly have a lot of respect for what came before.

• Raffi to me is still a little bit the weak link. I love Michelle Hurd, and I'm not saying Raffi should be totally clean and not addicted anymore, but I want to see her move a step or five away from teetering on the edge of rock bottom. Centering your life around white-knuckle sobriety and paranoia isn't healthy for anyone, even if they really are out to get you. Similarly with Jack - he's not terrible, but I want to see him make some kind of emotional connection with someone, be it Jean-Luc, Shaw, the crew, even his mother. He's so detached it's hard to care about him. I'm sure there's character reasons for that, but I still want to see him grow.

• The plotting is still pretty 90s Trek, and still kind of nostalgia based. Why does a nebula have a gravity well? Shouldn't all those gases sink into it? The space octopi were cute, but again - nostalgic and didn't make tons of sense.

But honestly, my criticisms of the show are far outweighed by my enjoyment, so I'm very much still onboard for whatever ride they have us on.