Strange New Worlds has painted itself somewhat into a corner by being a prequel.
It's a great series, but if Spock and Uhura are in trouble, and the only way to save them is for that nice James Kirk fella to sacrifice himself, well, we know that there's a twist coming.
This is always going to be the problem with series set before canon events and it's long been an issue I had with them. I know it's easier to write historical fiction in an established universe and you can dodge some of this by going back far enough (see: ENT); but, it is always going to feel hesitant and a bit uninspired.