3 of the very best Star Trek crossover episodes of all time

Star Trek is known for its crossovers, and we’re ranking three of the best.

When Star Trek started in the 1960s, it was just Star Trek. Nearly 20 years later, however, the follow-up series would happen. Not a direct sequel or a spinoff, but a continuation of the universe developed; The Next Generation. By the end of the first episode, “Encounter at Farpoint”, fans were greeted with the first true crossover of the franchise, Admiral Leonard McCoy talking to Lt. Data.

Despite being 130 years old in the scene, it was clear to everyone that Deforest Kelley was the man behind the makeup still. The original “Bones” McCoy on the Enterprise-D? A very novel idea indeed.

It wouldn’t end there, as with the launch of numerous new shows over the years, we’d see more and more crossovers happen. Now, with Lower Decks crossing over with Strange New Worlds, we’re seeing yet another example of this. But what are some of the best crossovers of all time in Star Trek lore?

Keep in mind, we’re only focusing on character crossovers, not actor crossovers; so no Brent Spiner on Enterprise or Ethan Phillips in First Contact.

Three of the best crossovers in Star Trek history

Geordi La Forge in Voyager

Voyager had a lot of great episodes, but few sit on the shoulders of them all the way “Timeless” does. The sixth episode of season five, “Timeless” sees Harry Kim and Chakotay, among others, try to save the U.S.S. Voyager after it was destroyed decades earlier; killing everyone on board. To do so, however, they end up running afoul with Starfleet and the man sent to hunt them down; Geordi La Forge. Due to their attempt to alter the past, La Forge is tasked with stopping them at all costs. Luckily, or hero from The Next Generation fails to stop Kim and Chakotay, and the timeline is restored properly. Allowing the Voyager to continue on its path home.

James Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard in Generations

It’s been 29 years since James Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard crossed paths for the first and only time in Star Trek Generations. It marked the first and only time that the two biggest captains in regard to notoriety teamed up. While other captains have popped up sense, no one has ever matched their individual significance, and for that, no other captain-crossover has ever had the same impact as the one from Generations.

Worf joining Deep Space Nine

Technically a crossover, but not entirely. A crossover is a limited-time engagement, but we’re going to bend the rules a little bit due to the significance of Worf joining Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. While the show was good for its first three years, when Worf joined in season four, the show got great. His involvement alone didn’t make things better, but his debut marked a change in direction for the show, focusing more on politics and war, and in turn, raising the stakes of the series and the show’s overall perception among fans.