So you’ve decided to start watching Star Trek! Congratulations on your choice, as this enduring sci-fi series has had a profound effect on pop culture and the growth/development of much of today’s technology.
With numerous Star Trek series available on streaming services, starting with this venerable franchise may seem confusing at first. Where do you begin? Does each series stand alone, or is the entire universe connected? If you’re unsure about taking your first steps into where no one has gone before, Redshirts Always Die is ready to help you with this guide to watching Star Trek in chronological order!
Some Star Trek series have little connection to others, while others take place within the same timeline. The events of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, for example, occur simultaneously, but in different parts of the galaxy. They also each reference episodes of the original series (particularly DS9), so starting with the 1966-1969 Star Trek series gives you the context you need to appreciate such episodes as “Trials and Tribble-ations” (S05E06) that occur in the DS9 universe later on.
Starting your Star Trek journey
Several streaming services offer the original Star Trek series, including Paramount Plus. Begin with the first pilot, “The Cage” (S01E01). The entirety of the series has 79 episodes across 3 seasons, and each episode is roughly 45 minutes long.
After the original series, you have several choices; you can move on to the 1973 animated Star Trek series or, if you don’t care for animated fare, skip ahead to the original series movies. Whether the animated series is part of the timeline is often debated, but it’s a fun little series. If you grew up during the 70s and early-to-mid 80s, it will definitely make you nostalgic for Filmation animation!
The original Star Trek film universe
There are 6 movies in this series, including:
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Opinions on these movies vary widely, with the main one being that only the even-numbered films are worth watching. In reality, each film has its merits, and with supporting actors like Christopher Lloyd, Laurence Luckinbill, and Mark Lenard, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Once your journey with the original crew ends, it’s time to join the next generation of a whole new Enterprise! The crew of NCC-1701-D ventures into space approximately 100 years after Kirk and the crew ended their 5-year mission. Star Trek: The Next Generation might take you longer to view, as it ran for 7 episodes compared to Star Trek’s 3.
This series also includes 4 movies:
- Star Trek: Generations
- Star Trek: First Contact
- Star Trek: Insurrection
- Star Trek: Nemesis
If you’re sad when you come to the end of the adventures of Captain Picard and his crew, cheer up! There’s much more to come when it comes to the crew of the Enterprise-D!
Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise
You can mix and match Deep Space Nine and Voyager, as they occur in the same timeline. Both have nearly the same number of episodes—Star Trek: Voyager has 172, while Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has 176. Both have excellent casts, and each has a loyal fan base.
If you want to know where Starfleet got its beginnings, then this is the show for you! Star Trek: Enterprise ran for 4 seasons, from 2001-2005, and includes 97 episodes. It’s a prequel show and follows the adventures of Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) and the Enterprise NX-01 while Starfleet is still in its youth. It sets up the rest of the timeline nicely, as the events take place nearly 100 years before Kirk and his crew begin their 5-year mission.
So there you have it! There is other Star Trek TV content available, such as Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, and more. Welcome to the Star Trek universe, and happy viewing!
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