Starting to watch Star Trek can be daunting, especially with ten different shows available. While you can simply pick one and see if you enjoy it, there’s also a more structured approach you can take to find your favorite series.
Many fans start with the original Star Trek series since it was the first one aired. But some prefer watching the shows in the order the events happen in the Star Trek universe. It’s worth remembering that you don’t need to watch every single episode to enjoy and understand the franchise – not all the series are equally good!
11) Star Trek: Enterprise
Despite being produced much later, Star Trek: Enterprise is actually the earliest story in the Star Trek timeline. It’s set roughly a century before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, taking place in the 22nd century.
The series Enterprise tells the story of the very first Enterprise spaceship and its adventures into space. Unlike other Star Trek shows, it’s set in the relatively near future, making it less focused on advanced technology. As a prequel, it’s fascinating because it shows the origins of many alien races and the early days of space exploration within the Star Trek universe.
10) Star Trek: Discovery
Star Trek: Discovery stands out because it’s difficult to watch the seasons in order – the story jumps forward in time between seasons 2 and 3. The show begins with Michael Burnham, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, being transferred to the Discovery after her actions unintentionally start a war with the Klingons.
This series begins about ten years before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, offering a great introduction to the universe for new fans. The show is particularly engaging thanks to Burnham, a compelling and fascinating captain.
If you want to watch the series in the order it originally happened, you’ll need to pause after season 2 and watch most of the other Star Trek shows first. Discovery jumps forward 900 years, meaning the later seasons take place long after The Original Series and The Next Generation. This jump has both story-based and artistic reasons, and the later seasons are still great, even if it’s frustrating for viewers who prefer a strict chronological order.
9) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds nicely connects the newer series, Discovery, with the classic The Original Series. It began as a spinoff of Discovery, focusing on Captain Christopher Pike, a character who made an appearance in Discovery’s second season.
Christopher Pike is featured in the first episode of The Original Series, but doesn’t appear in any subsequent episodes. Strange New Worlds expands on the history of the Enterprise – using the same ship model as The Original Series – and further develops Pike’s character.
It’s enjoyable to see characters from the original Star Trek show pop up now and then on Strange New Worlds. However, if you’re hoping to understand why the original series remains popular after all these years, this show isn’t essential viewing – you won’t find those answers here.
8) Star Trek: The Original Series
The original Star Trek series, which first aired in 1966, launched the entire franchise. Although it only lasted three seasons, it led to six movies and remains beloved by fans. Without this groundbreaking show, none of the subsequent Star Trek films and series would exist.
If you only have time for one science fiction series, this is the one to pick. While the special effects aren’t as impressive as those in more recent shows – it first aired in the 1960s – The Original Series established everything that came after it. It’s known for its inspiring mission to explore the unknown and tells compelling stories about the crew’s adventures encountering alien life and civilizations throughout space.
7) Star Trek: The Animated Series
After Star Trek: The Original Series ended after three seasons, its creator, Gene Roddenberry, attempted to bring it back as a cartoon. This animated version lasted for two seasons and continued the same kind of exciting stories as the original live-action show.
As a big fan of the original show, I checked out this animated series hoping for something fresh. While the stories are okay, honestly, it doesn’t really add much new to the universe. If you’re not into animation or you’re hoping to meet a completely different set of characters, you’re probably not missing much by skipping it.
6) Star Trek: The Next Generation
Like the original Star Trek, The Next Generation is a truly defining part of the franchise. Set roughly a century after the initial series, it features memorable characters like Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Data, an android crew member portrayed by Brent Spiner, all serving aboard the Enterprise.
Like the original Star Trek, The Next Generation focused on exploring new worlds and accepting all life forms. It successfully introduced the series to a new audience and remained a cultural phenomenon for seven years, breathing new life into the franchise and making future spin-offs possible.
5) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Unlike previous Star Trek series which usually followed a starship like the Enterprise, Deep Space Nine was unique because it was set on a space station. This broadened the Star Trek universe, proving stories didn’t need to center around a ship. The show also frequently featured characters and storylines from The Next Generation, which was still being broadcast at the time Deep Space Nine first aired.
Deep Space Nine was groundbreaking as the first Star Trek series to have a Black captain, Benjamin Sisko. This was important for providing much-needed representation for Black fans and truly reflected Star Trek’s ideals of inclusivity and acceptance.
4) Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager featured the first female captain in the Star Trek universe. The show followed Captain Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, and her crew as they were stranded far from home in the Delta Quadrant and worked to find their way back.
This idea was a big change from the original Star Trek concept, where the Enterprise simply explored new planets. Instead, Voyager focused on the crew’s difficult journey to return home, creating a more dramatic feel and opening up new possibilities for future Star Trek stories.
3) Star Trek: Lower Decks
While not as widely known, Lower Decks builds upon the foundation laid by Voyager. This animated Star Trek series offers a fresh perspective, following the lives of the support crew aboard the Enterprise – the people who keep everything running behind the scenes – rather than the ship’s officers.
This series provides a fresh and imaginative take on storytelling. While it might not appeal to fans of live-action, its unique perspective makes it worth a look.
2) Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Trek: Prodigy is a new animated series made especially for kids and families. It’s the first 3D animated show in the Star Trek universe. The story takes place five years after the Voyager returns home and follows a group of young aliens who discover an abandoned spaceship in the Delta Quadrant. They team up and try to fly the ship to the Alpha Quadrant.
This animated series is a lighthearted follow-up to Voyager, perfect for kids and fans of the original. It’s not as complicated as the original show, but it’s enjoyable. A fun detail for Voyager viewers is the appearance of Janeway, both as a character and as a holographic trainer.
1) Star Trek: Picard
The new show Star Trek: Picard gives Patrick Stewart’s character, Jean-Luc Picard, a fitting farewell. The story begins with Picard enjoying retirement, but he’s drawn back into action when the daughter of Data, a synthetic lifeform, asks for his help. He then works to safeguard the rights of synthetic beings. Over three seasons, the show brings back many beloved characters from the Star Trek universe.
It’s best to watch Picard after seeing some of the Next Generation movies, because it often refers to things that happen in them. Still, it’s a great show and a fitting tribute to Captain Picard and his legacy within Star Trek.
As a huge sci-fi fan, I’m always curious to hear what everyone else thinks! So, what’s your favorite Star Trek series? I’d love to hear your thoughts – head over to the ComicBook Forum and let’s chat about it!
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2025-11-01 02:12