Top 10 Star Trek Series You Must Watch Before the Next Launch

Summary

Star Trek’s original series was ahead of its time, resonating with viewers as a cult classic.
The Animated Series is back in the spotlight after being lost for years, featuring solid voice acting.
Enterprise explores Earth’s early spacefaring days, emphasizing rivalry over respect among races.

Since the heyday of television, the popular series “Star Trek” has graced our screens, although it was unfortunately cut short after just three seasons back then. Now, a dozen shows are available on various streaming platforms, with another one, titled “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy“, set to debut around late 2025.

In reality, the shows are listed based on their original air dates, not the sequence of events within the fictional world, which can sometimes be tricky to determine given that certain shows take place across different centuries. Despite this, fans will still debate endlessly about which show is superior while eagerly anticipating new releases from this ever-popular franchise.

Upcoming – Starfleet Academy

Expected Air Dates: Sometime in 2025 or 2026

In the realm of the 23rd century, San Francisco plays host to Starfleet Academy, a renowned institution often brought up within the universe of Star Trek. This academy has served as both a backdrop and a point of reference in numerous films, TV series, video games, and other related media within this expansive franchise.

While specifics are still under wraps, what we do know for sure is that the story unfolds in the 32nd century following a massive disaster, and it centers around a band of aspirants who are striving to build their futures in the cosmos.

12. Star Trek: The Animated Series

A Forgotten Part Of Trek History

Original Air Dates: September 8, 1973 – October 12, 1974
2 Seasons, 22 Episodes

For a considerable period after the conclusion of TOS in the late ’60s, it wasn’t until 1989 that The Next Generation debuted its first episode. This lengthy gap may have led to these 22 animated series fading into relative obscurity for a few years.

Currently airing on both Paramount and Netflix, “Star Trek: The Animated Series” – long hidden away for decades – boasts a strong performance from its original cast in terms of voice acting, and maintains the high-quality writing that was characteristic of creator Gene Roddenberry’s style.

11. Picard

The Future Of The Next Generation

Original Air Dates: January 23, 2020 – April 20, 2023
3 Seasons, 20 episodes

For seven years, “The Next Generation” series held strong in popularity, with the cast appearing in numerous films afterward. It’s been quite some time since another show has followed up on its most iconic character by embarking on a fresh journey.

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As a seasoned movie critic, I found myself captivated by “Picard,” a series that unfolds in the aftermath of the devastating destruction of Romulus, an event that continues to reverberate throughout Starfleet, echoing the tumultuous events of “Star Trek: Nemesis.” This narrative is not merely an adventure or exploration, but rather a profound character study of the indomitable Jean-Luc Picard. Despite the heavy burden of the past, Picard remains steadfast in his quest for truth and justice, a beacon of hope in the vast expanse of space.

10. Prodigy

Part Of Voyager’s History

Original Air Dates: October 28, 2021 – December 29, 2022
2 Seasons, 42 Episodes

The series isn’t exactly a follow-up or continuation of the “Voyager,” but it occurs during the time period after “Voyager” returned to Earth, and it brings back some familiar characters. Captain Janeway reappears in an animated form in an innovative show that is created with a younger audience in mind, yet retains its universal charm.

As I sat down in the theater, eagerly anticipating the latest space adventure, I found myself immersed in the captivating tale of “Star Trek: Prodigy.” The story unfolds when a motley crew of misfits stumble upon the remnants of the USS Protostar. Despite our diverse backgrounds and conflicting personalities, we band together to breathe life back into this ancient vessel. The ensuing journey is one filled with discovery, camaraderie, and the indomitable spirit of exploration that Star Trek has always embodied.

9. Voyager

Lost In The Delta Quadrant

Original Air Dates: January 16, 1995 – May 23, 2001
7 Seasons, 172 Episodes

Rather than venturing as explorers, the crew aboard the USS Voyager found themselves in a role more akin to survivalists. Trapped by the Delta Quadrant, they navigated through treacherous and perilous regions of deep space, constantly dodging threats, overcoming obstacles, and surviving against all odds. Their journey spanned seven years or twenty-seven years, contingent on the specific timeline.

The TV series Star Trek: Voyager boldly ventured into uncharted territories by introducing television’s first significant female character as a captain and offering harrowing, intimate confrontations with the formidable Borg entity.

8. Enterprise

The Human Race In Space

Original Air Dates: September 26, 2001 – May 13, 2005
4 Seasons, 98 Episodes

This series delved heavily into prequel storytelling, as indicated by its original title “Enterprise” alone, without the “USS” prefix. It signified that the series unfolded prior to Starfleet’s creation. At this time, Earth was relatively inexperienced compared to more evolved alien races such as the Vulcans. The early days of space exploration were marked by competition rather than camaraderie.

Star Trek: Enterprise concluded prematurely after just a handful of seasons, however, the thrilling journeys of Captain Jonathan Archer and his team continue to endure through numerous novels and books.

7. Discovery

Modern And High-Tech Trek

Original Air Dates: September 24, 2017 – May 30, 2024
5 Seasons, 65 Episodes

Star Trek: Discovery differs somewhat from Enterprise in its approach, as indicated by its title. The initial season is set roughly ten years before the Original Series’ start, but later seasons leap forward to the 32nd century. This shift in timeline contributes to the advanced technology on display and the emphasis on Section 31 and the Mirror Universe.

The program stirred up controversy due to certain script decisions, yet it outsmarted the skeptics and garnered sufficient popularity to spawn a sequel series.

6. Short Treks

Part Of The Discovery Storyline

Original Air Dates: October 4, 2018 – January 9, 2020
2 Seasons, 10 Episodes

This show aired simultaneously with “Discovery”, featured the same characters, backdrops, and environments, but also introduced additional intriguing locations within the Star Trek universe. Each episode was brief, lasting between 18 to 20 minutes, which explains its name, and they were all self-contained stories that could be slotted into the storyline at any point.

Multiple installments of “Star Trek: Short Treks” were unveiled during promotional activities for the upcoming “Star Trek” series, a show that premiered prior to the conclusion of “Discovery”.

5. Strange New Worlds

The Stars Of The Original Pilot

Original Air Dates: May 5, 2022 – present
2 Seasons, 20 Episodes

As a movie critic, I must say that the enduring appeal of characters such as Christopher Pike and Spock served as a powerful catalyst for this captivating spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery. This series offers an enthralling exploration of the USS Enterprise, delving into its history long before Captain James Kirk took the helm – a narrative thread that was first introduced in the pilot episode nearly half a century ago. However, it’s important to note that when the original series (TOS) officially commenced, the cast and crew underwent significant changes.

In this series, we see younger incarnations of both Kirk and Spock, as well as several characters from the original series (TOS) who didn’t have their moment to stand out previously.

4. Lower Decks

Another Animated Idea

Original Air Dates: August 6 – December 19, 2024
5 Seasons, 50 episodes

In the comedy genre, the animated format of “Lower Decks” mirrors that of other adult-oriented shows such as “Family Guy” and “American Dad”. Unlike these series where the main characters are typically officers or well-known figures, the protagonists in this show are ordinary crew members with routine, less glamorous jobs.

Despite not being in control, there’s plenty more excitement left for the audience as they enjoy deviations from the traditional storyline with the supporting characters taking center stage.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation

The Mission Continues

Original Air Dates: September 28, 1987 – May 23, 1994
7 Seasons, 178 Episodes

Initially, Patrick Stewart, who is deeply committed to acting, agreed to take on the role because he believed the show would not last beyond two seasons at the very most. However, seven years have passed, followed by a few movies and even a spinoff series, making it apparent that TNG has become the most well-liked Star Trek series among them all, with Picard being one of the most cherished characters.

Many other series frequently draw inspiration from Star Trek: The Next Generation, considering its extensive portrayal of the 24th century within its narrative arc. This significant timeline encompasses some of humanity’s initial meetings with entities like the Borg and the Q Continuum.

2025-05-18 04:06