Every Star Trek TV Show, Ranked From Worst to Best

Star Trek is a hugely popular television franchise with a famously dedicated fanbase. It began in 1966 with a series created by Gene Roddenberry, following the adventures of the crew aboard the USS Enterprise as they explored new worlds and fostered cooperation between humans and aliens. While originally envisioned as a space-based Western, the show ultimately became the blueprint for the space opera genre, influencing later hits like Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica.

Currently, there are twelve different Star Trek TV shows (excluding the short-form videos from 2018-2020 and the thirteen movies). But the quality of these shows varies quite a bit.

12) Star Trek: The Animated Series

Following the cancellation of Star Trek: The Original Series, it took about ten years for the first movie to appear and truly launch the franchise. But before the first film, NBC aired a cartoon series featuring the original characters. While animation could have allowed for more ambitious storytelling, the cartoon felt limited by its time and didn’t reach the same level of imaginative science fiction as the original series, nor did it compare favorably to later installments.

11) Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: Prodigy is a unique addition to the franchise, designed as an introductory series for young children. It’s not intended to be a complex Star Trek show, but rather a way to get a new generation interested in the series, with the hope they’ll explore the more mature shows later on. While it serves a valuable purpose for younger viewers and is a good starting point for them, most longtime Star Trek fans likely won’t find it particularly engaging.

10) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

The current Star Trek series is proving to be the most divisive in the franchise’s history. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy aims for a slightly older audience than Star Trek: Prodigy – while Prodigy was geared towards very young children, Starfleet Academy is intended for younger viewers who might find traditional Star Trek a bit too serious. Despite some harsh criticism, it’s not a bad show. It focuses on the experiences of new recruits entering Starfleet, and in that regard, it’s well-made, though it seems to attract more negativity than almost any other Star Trek series.

9) Star Trek: Picard

When Star Trek: Picard first came out, fans were thrilled to see Patrick Stewart reprise his role as Jean-Luc Picard. However, the show faced a challenge: Stewart insisted on exploring a new, more mature side of Picard, moving beyond what he’d done in Star Trek: The Next Generation. This didn’t sit well with all viewers. Thankfully, the final season brought the original crew back together, delivering a satisfying conclusion that improved the overall reception of the series.

8) Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery proved divisive among longtime fans. The show starred Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, beginning as a science officer and eventually becoming captain in season three. Burnham’s backstory – as Spock’s adopted human sister, raised with Vulcan customs – cleverly connected to the original series. While boasting impressive visual effects, the show felt uneven overall, and many felt it ran longer than it should. However, Discovery successfully introduced Anson Mount and Ethan Peck, who went on to star in the popular spinoff series, Strange New Worlds.

7) Star Trek: Enterprise

It’s easy to forget, but Star Trek: Enterprise received a lot of the same criticism Star Trek: Starfleet Empire is getting now. Sadly, Enterprise was really hitting its stride in its fourth season – particularly with its exploration of the Mirror Universe – just before it was cancelled. While the show had a rough start, many fans consider it one of the best Star Trek series, especially for those interested in the origins of elements seen in The Original Series and The Next Generation. And, of course, Scott Bakula was a fantastic captain.

6) Star Trek: Voyager

As a big sci-fi fan, I always felt Voyager had something special. Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine were just fantastic – they really took the show beyond what people expected from Star Trek. Honestly, it was a little overshadowed when it originally aired because Deep Space Nine was so strong at the same time, but that doesn’t change how genuinely good Voyager was. Janeway, in particular, absolutely deserves to be considered one of the most iconic captains in the entire Star Trek universe.

5) Star Trek: Lower Decks

Though previous animated Star Trek series like The Animated Series and Prodigy weren’t huge successes, that doesn’t mean animation can’t deliver a top-tier Star Trek experience. Star Trek: Lower Decks proves that an animated series can be fantastic when done well. The show focuses on the often-overlooked support staff aboard a Starfleet ship. With an animation style reminiscent of Rick & Morty, Lower Decks offers fast-paced, delightfully chaotic stories and action. It’s incredibly funny, full of clever jokes that embrace a sense of absurdity, but surprisingly heartfelt – making it the funniest Star Trek show ever created.

4) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

The original Star Trek featured an episode introducing Christopher Pike, the captain of the USS Enterprise before Captain Kirk. Later, Star Trek: Discovery brought Pike and a young Spock back, with actors Anson Mount and Ethan Peck returning to those roles. This led to Strange New Worlds, a spin-off series that has been even more successful. Starring Rebecca Romijn as Number One, the show follows Pike’s adventures and will conclude with its fifth season by depicting Captain Kirk taking command for the first time. Many fans consider Strange New Worlds the best Star Trek series made in recent years, and it’s widely considered far superior to other modern installments.

3) Star Trek: The Original Series

Many fans still consider the original Star Trek the best of all the series, and with good reason. The original cast – William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and George Takei – left a lasting legacy and remain iconic figures. They’re often considered the strongest ensemble cast in Star Trek history. Beyond the memorable characters, Star Trek: The Original Series was ahead of its time, tackling important social issues through science fiction long before it became common in the genre.

2) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

For many fans, choosing the best Star Trek show between the top three – The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine – often comes down to personal preference and when they first started watching. While some consider The Original Series the best, others champion Deep Space Nine for its compelling narratives. Though Deep Space Nine might not have the same instantly recognizable cast as TOS, many believe it boasts the strongest storylines in the entire franchise. Building on TNG‘s focus on story over cast, Deep Space Nine took this approach even further, and its themes feel remarkably current today. With stories tackling issues like racial conflict, extremism, and ongoing cultural battles, Deep Space Nine is a show that truly makes you think long after the credits roll. It’s a brilliant series.

1) Star Trek: The Next Generation

For me, Star Trek: The Next Generation is the best of the bunch. While Deep Space Nine feels more relevant now and has storylines that really resonate today, The Next Generation just captured my imagination like no other. Its cast felt as iconic as the original series, and for a lot of us, it was our Star Trek – it really took things to the next level. The episodes were consistently better than what came before, and even though DS9 might tackle more current issues, the stories from The Next Generation are the ones that have stuck with me the most. The Original Series showed us Star Trek could be thoughtful and address important topics, but The Next Generation proved it could also be incredibly intelligent and sophisticated. It felt like the moment the franchise truly matured and became something special.

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2026-03-15 19:12