Many of the best TNG episodes feature the darkness creeping back in, with Picard acting as the guardian of the light they have worked so hard to create. The big example I have in mind is Drumhead. Picard recognizes fascism for what it is and immediately moves to counter it, delivering one of the best speeches of the franchise.

This wasn't a show that shied away from dark subject matter; there were multiple murder investigations, an entire two-parter about Picard being tortured at the hands of space nazis, two separate episodes about ordering crew members to their deaths...this show could handle weighty subjects, subjects weightier than "this character is being mean to that character." And it could do it with the fucking lights on.

To be fair, the post-scarcity utopia was most present in TNG. TOS was more focused on the cosmic horror encountered in deeps space, and far less idealistic. DS9 really dove into how much that utopia would comprise when faced with an existential threat, while ENT tried to show how a flawed society would strive reach that utopia.

The difference is that everything after TNG was responding to that utopia, either by affirming it or challenging it, while New Trek just...forgot it was a thing. I remember watching season 1 of Picard, and Raffi is living in trailer in the desert because Admiral Picard ruined her career and thinking, "Wait, why are you poor? You guys don't even use money anymore."

"Marketing Division says this script is what's hot. Reproduce it in as many different skins as possible while appropriating all the major franchises you can get your grubby hands on."

That’s honestly why I like The Orville so much. It really captures the hope part.