Star Trek is a franchise that stretches nearly 60 years. It's a franchise that has done a wonderful job of updating and evolving its look and style over that time period, doing so in order to appeal to newer and younger fans. Through the three key eras of Star Trek's lifespan, they've found new ways to appeal to viewers.
Every so often a series comes along that allows new fans to join in the fun. You, of course, had Star Trek: The Original Series, the one that started it all. After that, you had Star Trek: The Next Generation, a series that brought the franchise back to television. Star Trek: Voyager also showed its ability to generate new fans, as it was the first broadcast network series in the era of cable television. A moment that gave Star Trek its biggest potential audience yet, airing at the same time and day across the country.
The 2009 film, Star Trek, was also a good introduction for first-time fans. Yet, if you're a new fan now and you're looking for a show or film to jump into the wide world of Star Trek, we think Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the best option for you.
The episode count
The world of Star Trek is vast and daunting. After 60 years, there are more movies and shows than we can count. Some shows have over 160 episodes to their name. Great if you're obsessed with the franchise and want to lose yourself in the universe. Not so great if you're a new fan. That's one reason why Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is our pick for this selection. With only 20 episodes, you can get through this series in a week or two. It's the perfect amount for a new fan, especially if you're unsure you're going to like it.
Uses both old and new characters
Since Star Trek is so massive, one of the things you are going to want to learn about are some of the more famous characters. Strange New Worlds embraces them fully, with the likes of James Kirk, Nyota Uhura and of course, Spock dominating the run time of a given episode. It also introduces viewers to new characters as well. Characters like La'an Noonien Singh and Erica Ortegas serve as proxy characters at times, allowing the newer fandom to feel seen by the series with these new additions. The ability to combine both the old and new has allowed this show to thrive with the old fandom and excel with the new people joining the fun.
The series premiere establishes the tone of the show and the franchise right off the bat
From the first episode of the series, you get an idea of what Star Trek, not just what Strange New Worlds is all about. Facing a future he can't change, Christopher Pike finds a way to save the day and change some hearts all with a massively positive and uplifting speech. It's not a perfect reflection of what's to come, but it does set up the expectations of this show. This show is positive. It's fun. It's everything you want it to be. You don't need to sit through three or four seasons before it gets good like some shows. It's good right off the bat, and it tells you what to expect. You can't ask for more than that.