Let's start with the fact that this is a fine show, problem is how far it wonders from what all previous shows were about.
Trek is now an action series made after Star Wars and Trek 2009, flying thought an asteroid field? asteroid fields are made of asteroids kilometers apart, they don't constantly smash in to each other to look cool for people flying trough them, those fields exist for billions of years, if asteroids would collide every second there would be nothing but dust left from that field.. in other word there is no science behind any of it, it's there because it's cool to look at and makes sense in action series... booom! asteroids smash!
That Trek symbol in the sands was kind of dumb, nobody would see that from space, Nr. 1 would also see that she was creating it by walking because honestly it wasn't even that big and would require sharp turns. also character of Nr. 1 is a genius action hero that can do everything and knows whatever information is needed at that moment. Her character is set up for her to want to kill Klingons and cause conflicts.. it's just too forced and lazy writing.
Klingons were changed to look more menacing, they need to look as evil as possible, all covered in sharp spikes and in very grey-ish color, it's like in Star Wars, evil people need to be all dark and evil looking so children can understand that those aliens/people are evil. They also look kind of hilarious because it's obvious that actors in those suits can barely movie, they all look incredibly stiff.
Then we have JJ Abrams things that carried over from the movie, like: camera being tilted constantly (really, you can't not see it when you notice it), spinning shots where camera rotates while zooming in to something, lens flares, also at one point there even was that submarine sound effect that JJ used in Trek 2009 (because spaceships are like real ships!!), people not looking directly at each other but looking at others from corner of they're eye, Vulcans and humans being all about emotions and crying while watching Klingon terror video in Trek-2009-round-blob device. Nr. 1 ignoring the doctor and going back to the bridge to warn captain of the danger.. same as young Kirk with his big hands. Nr. 1 also goes to the bridge for no reason at all and risks her life.. she knows there are communicators right? but we need actors to be face to face and remind everyone of Trek 2009 so that's in there. Nobody believe Nr. 1 because there is little evidence (again, same as Kirk), Nr. 1 impales first Klingon after 5 seconds any human has met in 100 years (what that Star Wars hologram dude said). She is the one that just landed on they're ship without permission and has no evidence that they destroyed the relay, she also doesn't know if Klingon soldier can understand her. In other words she has no right to be there and no right to attack that Klingon back, she hasn't met them in 100 years and has no idea about current state of they're society and whether they have become more peaceful, obviously they haven't but the fact remains that she handed situation like an action star not an officer of Star Fleet. Then we have whole thing with Nr. 1 contacting some Vulcan dude for information.. but that makes no sense since she should know everything about Vulcan/Klingon relationship already, she grew up on Vulcan.
Whole show seems to now be emotion driven and everything Trek-y is moved aside for Nr. 1 to be emotional in every other scene from crying to screaming to emotionally whispering and taking out her captain.. to captain showing up with a gun?? aren't we starting to go off the rails or what? maybe for boring old Star Trek but not for new action Trek 2009! asteroids go booom!!
The real message of this episode was "Violence brought respect, respect brought peace" because in action shows it about explosions and guns and gut feelings that pay off.