I really don't like Lower Decks. Before you downvote, I would never tell anyone it's bad or that they shouldn't like it. I just really can't figure out why most people seem to like it so much.
Similar to what I've heard many fans of LD say, I don't like Discovery or Picard either but I love Strange New Worlds. That seems to be pretty common among the Lower Decks fandom. Yet no matter how many times I try to watch LD I always end up borderline hating it. I don't even like the crossover episode with SNW.
For reference, the things I specifically dislike are: I don't find it funny; I think that the characters are too cynical, hyperactive or doe-eyed; and I'm normally a big proponent of 2D animation but I don't like LD's art style either.
It's cool that they have brought back so many characters, actors and details from the old days, but to me that's not enough to get over the things I don't like. I'm also not one to notice that they faithfully recreated a minor detail from the classic series without it being pointed out to me.
Is it just that my sense of humor and other tastes are too different, despite sharing a lot of other opinions with fans of LD? Or is it the deep Trek references that people love so much but often go over my head? Or is it something else entirely that I'm not getting that makes so many people love this show?
Whatever it is that's lost on me, I'm glad so many people are getting their joy from LD. I just need to convince my coworker to stop recommending it to me. :P
(I also spent over an hour editing this before posting it to make sure it sounds as diplomatic as possible, so hopefully I don't still manage to piss everyone off with my heresy.)
I think it's the different humor and visual style case. And that's ok. I don't think you need to understand the many Trek injokes to like it- I know people who don't know Trek and enjoy LD.
What I find interesting is that you feel the characters are cynical. I was quite suprised how endearingly idealistic the characters were, despite being written as flawed. They always make sure to do the right thing and they try very hard to better themselves. There's a lot of character growth involved, which I much appreciate.
During the first two episodes, I also found the characters hyperactive. By the third one I adapted.