It doesn't get more iconic than Star Trek. The legendary science fiction franchise has been on our screens since 1966 and, with new shows still on the air and another film on the horizon, it's showing no signs of slowing down. Yes, the franchise has indeed brought Spock's iconic catchphrase to life in living long and prospering. That's the Star Trek way of life.
Nobody could have imagined just how enduring the franchise would become, even with the popularity of The Original Series and the iconic characters it introduced us to. That show gifted us with Captain Kirk, Spock, and so many more beloved faces, but those proved to be just the first of the beloved faces to make their presence felt on the Star Trek lore.
We have had 12 Star Trek shows to date (and a lot more movies to go along with them) and there is no doubt that there will be more on the way. The saga has been present through all of the eras of television, from its launch to the '60s to its revitalization in the '90s (which saw multiple Star Trek shows on multiple networks), but which one of those eras was the most memorable?
With that in mind, let's look back through the archives and see if we can decide which of the shows reigns supreme. From The Original Series to The Next Generation, Voyager to Strange New Worlds, let's "Make it so" and find the best of them all.
12. Star Trek: The Animated Series
The Star Trek franchise has grown exponentially in the years since The Original Series aired on TV screens, adding over 10 more shows to its repertoire. However, what's somewhat less-remembered is that the very first sequel came in the form of an animated show. Yep, the aptly-titled Star Trek: The Animated Series arrived on screens back in 1974 and ran for two seasons on NBC. It also brought back the vast majority of the original cast to voice their respective characters.
It's not unheard of for live-action shows to get animated follow-ups (the same thing happened with Batman after its 1968 cancellation) but what is a pleasant surprise is that Star Trek's attempt is actually considered canon (thanks to some retroactive references in subsequent entries). As a result, this isn't just a fun multiversal spinoff but the first sequel to The Original Series. And for that reason, history should remember its existence a little more often.
Although it doesn't feature the same quality of writing as its live-action predecessor (animation was somewhat limited back then in the story department) and its aimed at a younger audience, there is a charm to The Animated Series that - much like the original live-action series - is hard to replicate.
11. Star Trek: Picard
This is one of those situations where the stars should have aligned and they just didn't come together... at least not in the way that they should have. The long-awaited sequel series to The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard brings back Sir Patrick Stewart as the legendary Jean-Luc Picard two decades after his previous appearance in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis. It had all the makings of a must-see thrill-ride, but it wasn't to be.
The whole purpose of Picard was to reinvent the Star Trek franchise by telling a very different kind of story. However, in order to forsake everything that makes this franchise, well, this franchise, it needed to be edge-of-seat good. It needed to be compelling. Most of the time, unfortunately, it wasn't.
Although the critical reception was positive, the fan feedback was incredibly mixed, with audiences struggling with the show's commitment to staying out of space and the constant focus on the trauma that these beloved characters had endured. It felt gratuitous and not at all like the Star Trek we knew and loved.
The show goes out on a high with a considerably better third season, but it never fully justified its existence... nor its reasoning for turning the lives of these classic Star Trek characters upside down in the way that it did.
10. Star Trek: Enterprise
That brings us to arguably the most divisive Star Trek show of them all. It's true; many consider Star Trek: Enterprise to be the worst of the live-action fare and a lot of reasoning behind that stems from its decision to approach the standard franchise story differently. While there are some that felt it wasn't necessary, others felt that it didn't succeed at all, coming off as derivative of the others without ever fully carving out its own space in the Star Trek field... at least not until it was too late.
The show ran for four seasons on UPN from 2001 until 2005 and it holds the infamous honor of being the last Star Trek series to air before the franchise's hiatus from television - which lasted for more than a decade. That being said, it did eventually start to find its footing towards the end of its run - which is why it's even more infuriating that it ended on one of the most divisive series finales in TV history. Perhaps if it had avoided cancellation, it might have also avoided taking its own legacy backwards after making so much progress throughout its run.
Nevertheless, Star Trek: Enterprise doesn't deserve the honor of being the worst Star Trek series. The most inconsistent? Perhaps, but even its most questionable of material was elevated by the commitment from Scott Bakula, who created one of the franchise's most recognizable faces in Captain Jonathan Archer. And even though it didn't quite nail the more mature tone that it was going for, it had some interesting ideas along the way.
9. Star Trek: Prodigy
If you're hoping to get your kids into this iconic science fiction franchise, Star Trek: Prodigy is the perfect installment to do it with. Created by Kevin and Dan Hageman, this one is a CGI-animated series particularly aimed at kids, existing as another case of the franchise breaking new ground to expand its reach. It did that very well as Prodigy became the perfect example of the-little-show-that-could, surviving an early cancellation after Netflix swooped in to give it one more season.
Why has Prodigy become such a fan-favorite? Despite its short run, its uplifting, youth-oriented approach made it easy to root for its primary characters Dal R'El and Gwyndala - who have to pilot the Starfleet ship the USS Protostar and make a journey from the Delta Quadrant to the Alpha Quadrant. If that plot sounds a little familiar, that's because it vaguely resembles that of Star Trek: Voyager, which is pretty cool as this show is set five years after the end of the classic '90s series. What's even better is that Kate Mulgrew reprises her role as Captain Kathryn Janeway, voicing the character as she guides the young protagonists on their journey.
Star Trek: Prodigy had a lot of life left in it when it was ended the second time, but in its short existence, it helped the Star Trek franchise appeal to a whole new generation.
8. Star Trek: Lower Decks
Ever wondered what the world of Star Trek would look like if there weren't larger-than-life missions and life-or-death stakes? That's where Lower Decks comes in. An animated series - the first, in fact, since the classic Star Trek: The Animated Series - this boundless adventure focuses on the low-ranking support crew of the starship Cerritos and, well, let's just say that outrageousness ensues.
The thing that really sets Lower Decks apart is that it's a comedy series, so we really get to look at the Star Trek franchise through a different lens. On paper, it shouldn't work but it really does, as the mix of animation and comedy really allows the show to just throw any old outlandish plots against the wall to see what sticks (and most of them do!). And it effectively makes the more "normal" aspects of the Starfleet life feel extraordinary as a result.
The heart of this one revolves around its beloved main characters, as well as its devotion to the wider Star Trek franchise. Lower Decks might be hilarious as a show, but it's also a heartfelt tribute to the franchise it belongs to and everything that came before it, with nods and references to the events of previous Star Trek shows. That shouldn't come as a surprise considering that its very existence is spun out of a Next Generation episode, but it's still nice to know that it's aware of its place in the canon and isn't afraid to make the most committed Star Trek fans feel seen.
Although the comedy can be a bit overwhelming at times, Lower Decks is a genuinely surprising, refreshing take on an aged franchise, highlighting that there are still so many realms of this particular galaxy to explore.
7. Star Trek: Short Treks
Much like AMC's Walking Dead franchise found a way to expand its universe with anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead, Star Trek found a way to do the same in Short Treks. Released on the Paramount Plus streaming service, the show was essentially a series of short movies set in different parts of the Star Trek universe, all designed to tell contained 8 - 20 minute stories. It was initially a companion series to Star Trek: Discovery, designed to bridge the gap between seasons, but soon expanded to include other shows within the franchise.
The anthology nature of Short Treks meant that it was easily digestible but it also opened it up to a hit-or-miss approach. Although there were some lacklustre outings in there, those were overshadowed by some truly fantastic offerings that would stand tall when even compared to the long-form Star Trek shows. There is no doubt that the show was at its best whenever it expanded beyond just Discovery, with the episodes "Calypso" and "Q&A" offering up fun and unique adventures that wouldn't have worked as effectively on one of the main series. The animated "Ephraim and Dot" also takes us back to the world of The Original Series for a short, but fun, adventure.
Perhaps the biggest issue with Short Treks is that it never got the chance to make the most of its concept. Like Marvel's What If...?, the early episodes stuck too close to its parent series, preventing it from making the most of its limitless potential. But the greatness that we did get more than made the case for more seasons; it's just a shame we didn't get them beyond the first two.
6. Star Trek: Discovery
After over a decade without any TV shows on the air, Star Trek made a triumphant return to the small screen with its newest offering Star Trek: Discovery. A lot had changed in those 10 years and it was clear that this could work in the franchise's favor, as the arrival of streaming platforms ensured that any new offerings looked a lot sleeker, glossier, and cinematic. The Paramount Plus show was all of those things thanks to its bigger budget, but it did struggle out of the gate.
The truth is that, even with a fantastic leading performance from Sonequa Martin-Green as Captain Michael Burnham, Discovery took a while to find its footing. Response was mixed during its first season, which forced the creative team to send the ship into light speed for the remainder of its run, upping the ante and increasing the stakes. As a result, the second season was among the best - perhaps the best - of the show's whole five-season run.
Its introduction of original Star Trek characters Captain Pike and Spock infused it with life and it did somewhat lose a bit of that spark when those characters moved to their own spinoff show. Nevertheless, Discovery overcame some early missteps to revive the Star Trek franchise's TV legacy while also earning its own well-deserved spot within that legacy.
5. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Discovery's loss was Strange New Worlds' gain as its versions of Captain Pike and Spock got the spotlight in their own spinoff and, boy, are we glad that they did. Set a decade before Captain Kirk takes command of the USS Enterprise (and blasts off into the adventures of The Original Series), this Discovery spinoff allowed us all to get to know the character of Captain Pike better while also presenting him as a lead. Thanks to the magic mix of writing and Anson Mount's commanding performance, it worked like a dream.
There's so much to love about Strange New Worlds. For starters, it feels like a throwback to the days of the first series, offering up weekly adventures full of charm and, well, adventure. That's what Star Trek is all about and it's a lesson that this particular show understands really well, throwing some of the most outlandish concepts at the wall to see what sticks (also making some time for the deep storytelling and symbolism that this franchise is known for). And the trio of Mount's Captain Pike, Ethan Peck's Spock, and Rebecca Romijn's Number One make for an exhilarating watch.
Strange New Worlds is a journey and we mean that in the most complimentary way possible. It never dials down the adventure and it always cranks up the strangeness, ensuring that the show continues to entertain all audiences. Three seasons in and it's as entertaining as ever; we can't wait for what it has in store in its already-confirmed fourth and fifth seasons!
4. Star Trek: Voyager
The Star Trek franchise was no stranger to making history by the time that Voyager premiered on screens in 1995 but this particular spinoff wasted little time in doing it. Starring Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager was the first series in the saga to feature a female captain at the forefront of a show and it marked a welcome step forward for television as a result. Captain Janeway proved to be every bit as formidable as her male counterparts, steering the USS Voyager home on a mission that took a different approach to the Star Trek format.
Instead of taking its characters all around the galaxy, Voyager focuses on a stranded crew who are determined to find their way home. Captain Janeway must guide the ship to the Alpha Quadrant after a significant portion of time stranded in the Delta Quadrant, and this presents audiences with a very different type of series. If you've seen Alien, you'll know that being isolated in Outer Space is pretty terrifying and this allows Voyager to have a pretty unique, edge of seat feel to it.
There are some flaws, particularly character inconsistencies and issues when it comes to certain storylines tackled throughout its seven-season run, but Star Trek: Voyager made history and had fun doing it - ensuring that we did too. Its legacy has only grown in the years since it wrapped its run in 2001, and that's the best kind of compliment any show could hope for.
3. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Many would argue that, from an objective point of view, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is the strongest of the Star Trek shows and I'm certainly not going to argue against that. The show began airing in 1993 in the shadow of the more-famous Next Generation, so it had its work cut out for it, but the series didn't allow that to prevent it from succeeding as it quietly impressed viewers in spite of its limitations (it didn't have as big of a budget as its predecessor).
We've talked at length about how multiple Star Trek shows have attempted to try something different, but it's Deep Space Nine that succeeded at this in the most effective way. Instead of focusing on a starship crew travelling through Space, it is set on an isolated space station. This allows for more introspection from its central characters as actions and storylines have a longer-lasting impact. And perhaps the most important change is that it breaks from the typical Star Trek story-of-the-week format, introducing longer-running, overarching stories instead. And that's one of the reasons why the storytelling in Deep Space Nine is the best you will see across the whole franchise.
Avery Brooks was exceptional in the role of Commander Benjamin Sisko, exploring the character's relationship with his son with such gravity and ensuring that he has gone down in history as one of the best to ever front a story in this franchise. Honestly, if Deep Space Nine is your favorite Star Trek show, you made a great choice.
2. Star Trek: The Next Generation
It's rare for a franchise as well-established as this one to produce another outing that becomes every bit as iconic as its first but that's exactly what it managed to do with Star Trek: The Next Generation, which quite literally reeled in the next generation of Star Trek fans.
Now, we'll be honest, it didn't pull it off right out of the gate, as the show's first season is notoriously haphazard, over-the-top, and well, it hasn't aged all that well. But when it finds its footing in season 2, it quickly forms its own identity, setting itself apart from the parent series and very quickly establishing itself as a '80s / '90s TV series - not a rehash of a '60s one. From that moment on, it never looked back.
The Next Generation is undoubtedly best-remembered for Sir Patrick Stewart's legendary performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and, let me tell you, that's a great reputation and legacy to have. Stewart's stern yet compassionate performance is among the greatest the franchise has ever seen and he imbues so much of this show with such gravitas that it's hard to look anywhere else whenever he is on-screen. That, accompanied by some compelling writing, sets The Next Generation apart as one of the absolute entries in this entire saga.
From the showdowns with the Borg to the absolutely stunning series finale, it features some of the absolute best episodes of any Star Trek series ever, and it's worthy of the esteemed reputation that it has held over the past four decades.
1. Star Trek: The Original Series
We're taking things right back to the beginning at the top spot with the very first entry in the classic franchise. Of course Star Trek: The Original Series is in our No. 1 spot as it single-handedly changed the science fiction genre for the better. That's not a figure of speech; who knows where sci-fi would be without this absolutely revolutionary piece of television.
Introducing us to the crew of the USS Enterprise, Star Trek was a very unique show for its time, offering up insightful storytelling, ambitious special effects, and a motley crew full of intriguing personalities. William Shatner's performance as Captain James T. Kirk made a whole generation fall in love with him, crafting a character that has been etched into the annals of pop-culture forever. And the same can be said for Leonard Nimoy's endearing performance as the beloved Mr. Spock, gifting us all with a titan of television.
Star Trek as a franchise had a rare gift of making people feel seen while also thrilling them - and it all started here. The Original Series certainly isn't perfect and it can feel pretty aged from time-to-time, but just as Batman flew the superhero flag for a genre that didn't have an awful lot of visibility in the '60s, Star Trek was a beacon for sci-fi fans, promising a future full of programming as thoughtful, epic, and outlandish as it. We're so happy it lived up to that promise!