The Star Trek franchise turns 60 years old next year, and it’s hard to believe how it’s grown! From the original series, which ran for three seasons from 1966 to 1969, to today’s fare like Picard, there seems to be a series to suit anyone’s taste. While some fans let their instincts guide them, they may skip a series after seeing negative reviews online or hearing them from friends.
With so much content out there, it's hard for new fans to choose which series they might like. While not every series is a bona fide hit, some have been judged unfairly, so it’s time to take a look at three shows that definitely deserve their due!
1. Star Trek: The Animated Series
This series ran for 2 seasons, from 1973-1974, and includes 22 episodes. It starred the voices of the original cast, minus Walter Koenig, due to budget constraints. James Doohan voiced his own character, Scotty, as well as the alien navigator, Arex, because it was cheaper to animate characters and have the cast voice them.
2. The animated series was produced by the now-defunct Filmation Studios, which gave it a specific look and sound that GenX kids probably remember from other shows like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Hero High, and adventure series like The Lone Ranger and Tarzan. Because it was geared toward younger kids, some of the storylines were silly, but some episodes stand out, such as “Yesteryear” (S01E02), where Spock confronts his past, and “The Practical Joker” (S02E03), which is 24 minutes of the most unhinged Trek you’ll ever see! Give your inner child a treat and check this series out—it’s a lot of fun!
2. Star Trek: Voyager
The general opinion among Star Trek fans is that, although Voyager and Deep Space Nine ran concurrently, the latter is considered the “better” show. While DS9 is an excellent franchise series, Voyager has plenty of its own merits as well.
By 1995, at the time of the show’s release, fans caught glimpses of women in positions of authority in previous series, like Captain Rachel Garrett in TNG’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (S03E15). However, Voyager gave many viewers something they’d been longing for—a woman in the captain’s chair and at the heart of the show.
Captain Kathryn Janeway commanded Voyager and its rather misfit crew with high intelligence, and a bracing command style that included room for a dry, tongue-in-cheek humor that many appreciated. She provided a fine role model for young women at the time, and now those discovering the series on streaming services benefit from her wisdom.
3. Star Trek: Enterprise
I must editorialize here a moment and say that Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005) is one of my favorite series, and I always expect to get pelted with rotten fruit when I mention it at fan meetups or online. Please bear with me while I plead my case for Captain Archer and his crew.
Enterprise’s best feature is how messy it is, and that’s relatable. Archer, played by veteran TV actor Scott Bakula, is a delightful mix of Starfleet swagger, bravery, impatience, energy, daddy issues, and charisma. He commands the crew of NX-01 Enterprise, the first Starfleet vessel to achieve warp 5 speed, thanks to an engine invented by Jonathan’s father, Henry. Captain Archer is the anti-Picard, ready to push around any Vulcan he can and bring a dog on board, despite his Vulcan science officer T’Pol’s resting “ew” face.
Enterprise also has those wild episodes you’d expect more from the original series—men getting pregnant, time travel, sentient tentacle goop—if you like a bit of camp with your Star Trek series, then Enterprise is worth a look!
It’s never easy to rate series in the Star Trek franchise because each has its own tone and style, but you can check these three series out and decide for yourself! These series are now available to stream from Paramount+.