Strange New Worlds are somewhat standalone. But, because the show technically is a prequel to the classic 1960s show, there are also moments where the series gives us origin stories of various aliens,

An attack by a monstrous spaceship puts Kirk in the captain's chair in an Strange New Worlds that sees the Farragut and the Enterprise fighting for survival.

Directed by Valerie Weiss, with a script by David Reed and Bill Wolkoff, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 6, "The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail," shifts the focus to James T. Kirk for an episode,