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Which Star Trek Captain Has the Best Managerial Technique?

captains in star trek

It’s impossible to be objective when selecting your favorite Star Trek captain. It requires making a call wrapped up in sentiment and timing. Which captain did you first encounter? Which one best reflected back to you the person you wanted to be? It’s easier to try to attempt a clear-eyed consideration of which one would be the best boss. Sure, there are captains sure to take you on wild adventures, but would you enjoy the ride if your life depended on their decision-making? On the flip side, there are captains that could get the job done without really inspiring that much enthusiasm, the Starfleet equivalent of a decent boss who clearly spends the back half of every shift with an eye on the clock.

It’s a worthwhile thought exercise, and one at the heart of Star Trek: Discovery , which focuses not on a captain but Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), a science officer struggling to work her way back from a snap judgment that ended with her in disgrace. Burnham has so far served under several captains, and the series has depicted the effect this has had on both her and the officers around her. (And, thus, has more entries below than any other version of Trek .) We considered the captains featured in various film and TV branches of the Star Trek universe, including Star Trek: Lower Decks ’ animated captain, and tried to rank them based on who would provide the best work experience — and who would be most likely to bring you back home in one piece.

12. Captain Philippa Georgiou, Mirror Universe (Michelle Yeoh)

Seen in: star trek: discovery.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Imperious and unforgiving, though that description is complicated by the fact that being imperious and unforgiving is baked into her main mirror universe job as emperor of the Terran Empire. (Or, more accurately, her job as Imperial Majesty, Mother of the Fatherland, Overlord of Vulcan, Dominos of Qo’noS, Regina Andor, Philippa Goergiou Augustus Iaponius Centarius.) There, she fought for and won the top spot in a kill-or-be-killed system in which might makes right, and deception and backstabbing are the norm; to that end, she expects those working under her to understand the rules of the game. In other words, she’s awful. But, on the other hand, she really seems to enjoy being awful, not to mention the fringe benefits of having clawed her way to the top (fine food, sex slaves, etc.). Those who can get on her murderous wavelength might also have a good time — for as long as it lasts.

Key career moment: When the always adaptive Emperor Georgiou made her way from the mirror universe to the prime Star Trek universe she used the opportunity to save the day after getting thrown into a battle between the Federation and the Klingons. But this wasn’t a simple heel-face turn; as always, it was more a matter of calculation than altruism. The move won her freedom from those who knew her true origins and earned her a spot in the Federation’s super-secretive deep-state operation Section 31. What could possibly go wrong?

Would she be a good boss? Put simply, working for this Philippa Georgiou, at least in the mirror universe that made her, would mean constantly fearing for your life as part of a pitiless, fascist organization hell-bent on conquering the universe with little regard for its employees’ quality of life. (Actually, when it’s all spelled out like that, it sounds like a pretty easy transition from corporate America.)

11. Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs)

captains in star trek

Managerial style: In a word, cryptic. After she’s accepted aboard the Discovery following her mutinous turn against her mentor Captain Georgiou (the prime universe one, not the evil dictator; more below), Michael Burnham spends much of Discovery ’s first season trying to figure out what’s up with her new captain, a man fond of fortune cookies and averse to bright lights and chairs. Pro: Lorca took a chance on her when no one else would. Con: He also seems kind of evil. That likelihood aside — and it’s eventually revealed that, spoiler ahead, he made his way to the prime universe from the mirror universe after somehow taking the original Lorca’s place — he commanded the Discovery with curiosity, a sure hand, and an apparent sense of fairness. Shame about all the murder and scheming.

Key career moment: The season one episode “Into the Forest I Go” captures every side of Captain Lorca as he bravely goes into battle against Klingons, questionably decides to risk the health of a crew member (and with him, the whole crew) to win the battle, then takes everyone into the mirror universe to further his scheme of galactic conquest. It’s quite a journey, and one that reveals his true self at the end.

Would he be a good boss? No, but serving under Lorca would never be boring.

10. Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter)

Seen in: star trek: the original series.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Glum as hell. Some behind-the-scenes info: Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike was supposed to be the protagonist of the original Star Trek series. NBC passed, but gave Gene Roddenberry the unusual opportunity to make a second pilot, this one featuring the now-familiar classic series cast (with only Leonard Nimoy’s Mr. Spock sticking around). But Roddenberry wasn’t done with Pike or the original pilot. It became central to the two-part episode “The Menagerie,” which recounts Pike and the Enterprise ’s adventures on Talos IV, home to the Talosians and their reality-bending psychic powers. Hunter’s a fine actor, but it’s not hard to see why NBC was reluctant to green-light a series focusing on Pike, who’s introduced complaining about the burden of command. “You bet I’m tired,” he tells the ship’s doctor. “Tired of being responsible for 203 lives. Tired of deciding which mission is too risky and which isn’t and who’s going on the landing party and who doesn’t. And who lives … and who dies.” He sounds ready to boldly curl up in a fetal position.

Key career moment: The signature moment for this incarnation of Pike comes at the end of the episode when, having been burned and disfigured beyond recognition, he’s allowed to return to Talos IV and live out his days in the unreal paradise he rejected years before, even though he already seemed pretty much over reality as we know it from the start.

Would he be a good boss? Spock and the others seem to respect him, so perhaps his doubts don’t interfere with his ability to command, even if working under him seems like it would make for a pretty weary trudge through the cosmos.

9. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula)

Seen in: star trek: enterprise.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Archer’s chill, which is both his greatest strength as a leader and occasionally his greatest weakness. A former Boy Scout, lifelong water-polo enthusiast, and caring dog owner, Archer sometimes seems like he’s happy enough to be exploring the stars but might be even happier if he was just hanging out and shooting the breeze with some pals. This might be more impression than reality; Star Trek lore has him going on to become a decorated admiral and to be regarded as one of the greatest explorers in the early days of Starfleet and he certainly does a lot of exploring during the show’s four-season run. But Scott Bakula rarely plays him as a man who has greatness in his future. Archer usually seems a little annoyed that the Enterprise ’s adventures have cut into his downtime. He’s not as melancholy as Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike, but he occasionally seems just as checked out. Nonetheless, he was always good in a crisis, and could be a surprisingly shrewd diplomatic. It just always seemed to take a major event to stir his interest.

Key career moment: In the second-season episode “A Night in Sickbay,” Archer hangs out with his ailing dog Porthos when he should be tending to his diplomatic duties. It borders on dereliction of duty, even if it is pretty endearing. It’s also a pretty good encapsulation of how Archer’s mind works.

Would he be a good boss? Sure. Probably. Why not? He’d be okay enough.

8. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine)

Seen in: star trek , star trek into darkness , star trek beyond.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: If you like predictability, order, rules, regulations, and military precision, the last place you’d want to be is the Kelvin Universe Enterprise under the command of James T. Kirk. Chris Pine’s just-getting-started Kirk is young, impetuous, and brilliant — but mostly young and impetuous. It’s smart work, playing like the Kirk we know from the original Star Trek run before any of the rough edges had gotten sanded off. Pine’s Kirk is a lot of fun to watch, but it also seems like serving under him would be terrifying most of the time.

Key career moment: Forced to choose between rescuing an alien race and violating the Prime Directive in the opening scenes of Star Trek Into Darkness , Kirk barely seems to consider it a choice at all. It’s just the first of many times he breaks the rules over the course of the film (plus its predecessor and successor). Sure, it all works out (even if Kirk does briefly wind up dead later in the movie), but it could have gone horribly wrong. This Kirk commands from the gut, occasionally while listening to Beastie Boys. He’s cool and fun, but…

Would he be a good boss? … Do you really want to work for a Starfleet captain best described as “cool” and “fun” while exploring the furthest reaches of a dangerous universe?

7. Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis)

Seen in: star trek: lower decks.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Directness defines Captain Freeman’s command style. She knows exactly what she wants and she’s not afraid to ask for it, sometimes forcefully. She’s no-nonsense but not in a power trip–y way. She just wants things to run smoothly even if experience has taught her that it never does. (Or, at least it never does onboard the second-tier U.S.S. Cerritos , the California class starship she commands.)

Key career moment: Commanding a ship on which her gifted-but-rebellious daughter, Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), is serving as an ensign has been a continual challenge for Captain Freeman, forcing her to balance her duties as captain against her concerns as a mother. She’s mostly opted to model good behavior for her daughter by following the rules of Starfleet. In Lower Decks ’ third-season premiere, Mariner and her pals take desperate, and illegal, measures to clear Captain Freeman of a crime she’s been wrongly accused of. Ultimately, the system works, making Mariner’s misadventures unnecessary. Mother/Starfleet knows best.

Would she be a good boss? Probably. She’s terse but fair and clearly knows what she’s doing. But as the head of a ship prone to animated high jinks, it’s tough to judge Captain Freeman against other Star Trek captains. Her informed, steady-handed command doesn’t always work in her favor when dealing with some of the cartoonish absurdity the Cerritos keeps encountering. On the other hand, nothing truly terrible ever happens to those under her command, so serving on the Cerritos would likely be one of Starfleet’s safer assignments.

6. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)

Seen in: star trek: the original series , star trek: the motion picture, star trek: generations.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: You’re probably better off working for the slightly older Kirk played by William Shatner in Original Series and its accompanying film series. (Okay, he’s significantly older in the film series.) This Kirk hasn’t lost the spirit evident in the younger Kirk, only it’s now tempered — at least a bit — by experience. Working for this Kirk isn’t without dangers of its own, particularly if you’re wearing a red uniform. He’s perfectly willing to send an away team into danger. Just as often, however, he’s the one leading the team, and it’s hard to underestimate the esprit de corps created by a leader willing to put himself in harm’s way mission after mission. Prepare to work hard, and maybe die, but feel like you’re part of a mission that could change the universe for the better.

Key career moment: Prepare also to listen to speeches. Kirk is a man of action and a man of romance, but above all, he’s a man of ideals who’s willing to go to great lengths to protect those ideals. But first, he’ll try to persuade his opponents with words. In “The Omega Glory,” for instance, Shatner’s Kirk lectures the primitive residents of a planet whose development paralleled Earth until it took a wrong turn on the glories of the U.S. Constitution, and he does it one emphatic syllable at a time: “We. The People …” Etc.

Would he be a good boss? Chances are you’d love working for Kirk up to the moment he got you killed.

5. Captain Philippa Georgiou, Prime Universe (Michelle Yeoh)

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Collegial but firm, the prime universe Georgiou might rank even higher on this list if we had a large sample of what she was like as a captain. In the early episodes of Discovery she appears to be competent, respected, quick on her feet and close to her crew, especially Michael Burnham.

Key career moment: But not apparently close enough to stop Burnham from committing a mutinous act that she deems necessary to prevent a war with the Klingons. Whether this is a failure on Georgiou’s part — a missed chance to take a key suggestion from a subordinate — or overzealousness on Burnham’s remains a question left open by Georgiou’s subsequent death.

Would she be a good boss? It seems like she would, especially since her death continues to haunt Burnham throughout the series. On the other hand, maybe listen to your trusted shipmate when she says she knows what she’s talking about?

4. Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks)

Seen in: star trek: deep space nine.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Firm, fair, and perpetually distracted. Burned out on Starfleet life after losing his wife in the Battle of Wolf 359, Sisko only reluctantly takes command of Deep Space Nine, a space station located close to a galactic hot spot near a wormhole and, until shortly before he assumed command, ruled by the Cardassians. But Sisko soon finds himself drawn into the leadership of the station and the politics of the region when the spiritual leader of nearby Bajor names him the Emissary of the Prophets. It’s all a lot to balance, even before new adversaries start to show up from the Gamma Quadrant — and on top of it all, Sisko has to serve as a single father to a teenage son. Maybe that’s why he sometimes seems so overworked. He’s a fine, inspiring leader, but he also has a lot on his plate, running a space station while also acting as the first line of defense against enemies known and unknown — and maybe serving as messiah to a whole race of people. Many Deep Space Nine stories require Sisko to be reactive rather than proactive, whether dealing with a tavern keeper running a black market under his nose or the outbreak of a full-scale war. Strong and competent, Sisko could handle anything, but the series made him handle an awful lot.

Key career moment: Deep Space Nine introduced shades of moral grayness to Star Trek only suggested by its predecessors, never more than in the course of the protracted Dominion War arc, a dangerous conflict in which Sisko sometimes had to cheat and bend the truth for the greater good. Brooks’s performance always suggested that Sisko did a lot of soul-searching before making any decision, but once made he never looked back, the mark of a strong leader if ever there was one.

Would he be a good boss? Chances are that, apart from the occasional curt acknowledgment, you might only talk to him once or twice as he moved from one crisis to another. Still, you’d end up respecting the hell out of Sisko.

3. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart)

Seen in: star trek: the next generation, star trek: generations, star trek: nemesis, star trek: picard.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Picard manages like a benevolent but firm god. Speaking in an authoritative voice (the accent helps), his every directive sounds as if handed down from above. But there’s a difference between having the trappings of authority and having the record to back it up, and from his first outing on the Enterprise — in which the decision to separate the starship’s saucer section showed just how many lives were depending on him making the right choices — he makes it clear how seriously he took his job and how seriously he expects others to take theirs.

Key career moment: In some respects, the definitive Picard moment can be found in Star Trek: The Next Generation ’s final episode, “All Good Things …” in which Picard, for the first time, joined his senior staff for their regular poker game, with an expression of regret that he’d never gotten around to it before. Except in rare moments, Picard always holds himself at a distance as captain, even if Stewart’s performance always emphasizes the complex, passionate human beneath the commanding exterior. He stays remote by design and it worked, but that choice isn’t without consequences.

Would he be a good boss? Picard would be an awe-inspiring boss in every sense. You’d learn a lot working with him, even if you never felt like you truly knew him.

2. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount)

Seen in: star trek: discovery, star trek: strange new worlds.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: In sharp contrast to Hunter’s Pike, Anson Mount plays Christopher Pike as a man who’s just happy to be out among the stars with shipmates he considers to be more like friends than co-workers. Where on Discovery, Pike was reminiscent of a cool camp counselor who just wants everyone to have a good time — as long as they follow the rules and listen to his orders — Strange New Worlds has layers of soulfulness and empathy only glimpsed before. (Maybe learning you’re headed to a horrific fate does that?) In moments of crisis, Pike comes off as unshaken but commanding, and willing to use force against his enemies when necessary. He’s easygoing until circumstances force him to be otherwise. Then he’s not. He carries himself around his crew with authority while still radiating concern. This is a self-assured, modern captain who cooks an amazing gumbo and doesn’t worry that his subordinates will lose respect if they see him wearing an apron.

Key career moment: In Strange New Worlds ’ first-season finale, Pike believes he’s found a workaround to avoid the accident in which he’ll sacrifice his well-being to save others. Then Pike is visited by an older version of himself who confirms that, yes, he can escape maiming before taking the captain on an It’s a Wonderful Life –like tour of the future created by his attempt to escape his fate. It’s not pretty and it means others will suffer in his place. So, of course, he resigns himself to his destiny without telling anyone. Always the greater good with this guy.

Would he be a good boss? Working for Pike seems like a dream, honestly. He seems like the kind of boss who’d teach you new skills and then suggest unwinding with a game of ping-pong that he wouldn’t try all that hard to win (though he totally could if he wanted to). Two seasons into Strange New Worlds, and the series keeps revealing new layers of competence and compassion. Call him No. 2 with a bullet (or a phaser blast, if that makes more sense).

1. Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew)

Seen in: star trek: voyager.

captains in star trek

Managerial style: Democratic, at least up to a point. Forced to navigate an unexplored quadrant of the galaxy while commanding a crew made up of enemies forced to work together in an attempt to find their way home, Janeway has the highest level of difficulty of any of the captains on this list. She rises to the occasion by hearing out all points of view, reconciling opposing stances when possible, working toward compromise, then ultimately making an informed decision after listening to her crew. Stuck in an impossible situation, she stays coolheaded and thoughtful no matter how trying the circumstances become.

Key career moment: The biggest challenge faced by Janeway and the Voyager crew comes not in the form of hostile races or dwindling supplies — though those don’t help — but from the many moments that invite them to abandon their principles. In the second season’s “Alliances,” Janeway seeks a way to sidestep conflict with the Kazon (sort of the Gamma Quadrant’s dollar-store version of the Klingons). She considers first an alliance with a Kazon faction, then teaming up with the Trabe, a seemingly much more civilized race. Then, despite the wishes of a faction of her officers, she ultimately rejects both choices when she learns the Kazon can’t be trusted and that the Trabe are just as bad in their own way. It might mean taking longer to get back home, or maybe never getting home at all, but she remains determined that her crew hang on to their best selves no matter what.

Would she be a good boss? Yes. Janeway would be the sort of boss you might have to complain about behind her back, but she’s also the sort of boss you’d end up naming your first child after.

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Star Trek Captains (In star trek timeline)

1. scott bakula.

Actor | Quantum Leap

Scott Stewart Bakula was born on October 9, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Sally (Zumwinkel) and J. Stewart Bakula, a lawyer. He is of German, as well as Czech, Austrian, Scottish and English ancestry. He comes from a musical family. In the fourth grade, he started a rock band and wrote songs for ...

Captain Jonathan Archer - Star Trek Enterprise

2. Sean Kenney

Actor | Star Trek

Sean Kenney was born on March 13, 1944. He is an actor, known for Star Trek (1966), Terminal Island (1973) and The Assassin's Apprentice: Silbadores of the Canary Islands (2023).

Captain Pike - Star Trek TOS

3. Jason Isaacs

Actor | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Jason Isaacs was born in Liverpool. He studied law at Bristol University but fell in love with the theatre and directed, produced and appeared in dozens of productions there, at the National Student Theatre Festival and at the Edinburgh Festival. He graduated in 1985 but then attended the Royal ...

Captain Lorca - Star Trek Discovery

4. Anson Mount

Actor | Crossroads

Anson is an American actor, born in Mount Prospect, IL and grew up in White Bluff, Tennessee. His mother is Nancy Smith, a former professional golfer. His father Anson Adams Mount II was one of the original contributing editors to Playboy magazine. Anson has an older brother Anson Adams III and a ...

Captain Pike - Star Trek Discovery

5. Bruce Greenwood

Bruce Greenwood was born on August 12, 1956 in Noranda, Québec, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for Star Trek (2009), Thirteen Days (2000) and I, Robot (2004). He has been married to Susan Devlin since 1985. They have one child.

Captain Pike - Star Trek reboot movies

6. William Shatner

Actor | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

William Shatner has notched up an impressive 70-plus years in front of the camera, displaying heady comedic talent and being instantly recognizable to several generations of cult television fans as the square-jawed Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise. Shatner was born ...

Captain Kirk - Star Trek TOS and Original Cast movies

7. Chris Pine

Chris Pine was born in Los Angeles. His parents are actors Robert Pine and Gwynne Gilford , and his maternal grandparents were Max M. Gilford , a president of the Hollywood Bar Association, and actress Anne Gwynne . His sister, Katherine Pine , has also acted. Chris's ancestry is Russian Jewish (from ...

Captain Kirk - Star Trek reboot movies

8. Patrick Stewart

Actor | Logan

Sir Patrick Stewart was born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, to Gladys (Barrowclough), a textile worker and weaver, and Alfred Stewart, who was in the army. He was a member of various local drama groups from about age 12. He left school at age 15 to work as a junior reporter on a local paper; he ...

Captain Picard - Star Trek TNG

9. Avery Brooks

Actor | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Avery Franklin Brooks was born on October 2, 1948 in Evansville, Indiana to a musically talented family. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Travis Crawford, was a tenor who graduated from Tougaloo College in Mississippi in 1901. Crawford toured the country singing with the Delta Rhythm Boys in the ...

Captain Sisko - Star Trek DS9

10. Kate Mulgrew

Actress | Star Trek: Voyager

Katherine Kiernan Mulgrew, or Kate Mulgrew, was born on April 29, 1955. She grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, the second oldest child (and oldest girl) in a large Irish Catholic family. When Kate expressed an interest in acting as a child, her mother, Joan, encouraged her to audition for local theater ...

Captain Janaway - Star Trek Voyager

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'Star Trek': The 10 Main Captains, Ranked

The "Kirk vs. Picard" debate just got a whole lot more complicated.

As a film and television franchise that has been thriving for decades, Star Trek is one of the most iconic franchises of any genre ever made. The sci-fi sensation has tracked many different stories over its incredible run spanning more than 50 years, from Captain Kirk’s daring exploits to Captain Archer’s pioneering adventures.

As a result of the immense popularity and clashing leadership styles of the many captains featured across the franchise, the debate has raged for decades as to who the best of them is. From the original Captain Kirk to refreshing, modern iterations of famous Starfleet commanders, these 10 captains present the best that Star Trek has to offer.

10 Captain Christopher Pike ('Star Trek: The Original Series')

As an interesting trivia tidbit, Jeffrey Hunter ’s Captain Pike was originally intended to be the protagonist of Star Trek: The Original Series series with a starring role in the original pilot, which NBC turned down . While Pike did become something of a fan favorite because of his jaded perspective, it’s not difficult to see why the network didn’t want him to be the main attraction.

Glum, dour, and rather depressed from his experiences with Starfleet, Pike represents the horrors of exploring the universe. The weight of a career of immense responsibility hangs heavy on his shoulders, but it never clouded his judgment as many of the crew hold him in high regard.

9 Captain Carol Freeman

Taking a break from the cosmic adventure thrills, Star Trek: Lower Decks brings more of a comedic taste to the saga by focusing on the lower-level workers of an unimportant starship. Still, the animated series provides fans with a terrific captain in Carol Freeman ( Dawnn Lewis ), who, while only being an occasional presence, still manages to have an impact.

RELATED: 10 Sci-Fi Shows to Watch if You Don't Like Sci-Fi

In addition to commanding the USS Cerritos, Freeman also needs to look out for her daughter, who serves on the ship, without the rest of the crew knowing of their relationship. It gives the series an interesting dynamic and allows Freeman to be more fleshed out amid the show’s focus on a more adult brand of animated comedy.

8 Captain Michael Burnham

Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) is fairly unique as far as Star Trek captains go because she isn’t introduced to audiences as a captain. Instead, the protagonist of Star Trek: Discovery starts the series as the first officer aboard the USS Shenzhou, where she is charged with mutiny and sentenced to life imprisonment.

She is given a second chance, though, even if it did come from the hidden machinations of Captain Lorca ( Jason Isaacs ), and from there, she makes her fate her own. As a human raised by Vulcan parents, Burnham boasts a rational and composed mindset which served her well when she was finally made a captain in the show’s third season.

7 Captain James Kirk (Kelvin Timeline)

Captain James Tiberius Kirk is one of the most famous figures in entertainment history. Honoring such an iconic character while building upon what the original actor bought to the role was no easy feat, but Chris Pine did it superbly. Despite the new films existing in an alternate reality to the stories that preceded them, Pine was extraordinary at maintaining many of the mannerisms of William Shatner ’s portrayal of the character.

As a younger version of the character, Pine’s Kirk boasts an abundance of the brash, can-do confidence which defined him for decades but is raw with immaturity and inexperience. As a Starfleet captain, he is good but has a lot to learn. As a performance from Pine, though, it is close to perfect.

6 Captain Jonathan Archer

Star Trek: Enterprise ’s Captain Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ) seemed so strikingly normal in a sci-fi saga of great explorers, legendary characters, and immensely courageous heroes. In many ways, it was his greatest asset, and it certainly helped keep him grounded as he explored the vastness of space.

RELATED: From 'Picard' to 'Discovery': Every 'Star Trek' TV Show (So Far), Ranked

As a prequel series, Enterprise followed Archer and his crew as they pioneered space exploration in the first starship. While the character was understated throughout the show – he often preferred playing with his dog over performing his duty – his greatness played out throughout his career, as he would go on to become one of Starfleet’s most celebrated explorers and even served as the President of the United Federation of Planets.

5 Captain Benjamin Sisko

While it largely deals with notions of good and evil, Star Trek has been willing to plunge into a more morally ambiguous climate, seldom doing it better than in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . As the commander of the space station in the Bojoran system, Captain Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) often had to use irregular and unpleasant methods for the greater good.

On top of his complex job, which involved facing existential threats — both known and unknown — he also served as the Emissary of the Prophets while grieving the death of his wife and raising his teenage son. Still, he navigated the arduous situations before him with decisive conviction, even if it took a toll on him mentally.

4 Captain Christopher Pike ('Star Trek: Discovery' and 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds')

As one of the newest Star Trek captains, Anson Mount ’s high ranking could be attributed to recency bias, but that’s not the case. Introduced in Discovery before becoming the lead of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Mount's portrayal of Pike brings to life much of what is great about Star Trek , from his love for fun and adventure to his composure and sharp instincts.

He thrives when needed most, being calm and calculated when the stakes are at their highest. In many regards, Mount's Pike is the Starship captain modern audiences demand, but how he can be that while hearkening back to the captains that defined the series’ earliest successes is truly incredible.

3 Captain James Kirk ('Star Trek: The Original Series')

It’s hard to beat the original. While William Shatner ’s Captain Kirk wasn’t in the series pilot, the iconic captain and his crew went on to make Star Trek one of the biggest series television has ever seen. Unlike the more cautious captains that have graced the screen since TOS , Kirk led by impulse and instinct more than he did through protocol.

RELATED: From 'The Sound of Music' to 'Star Trek': The 10 Best Robert Wise Movies, Ranked

His dedication to his crew could not be denied, nor could his idealism and core values which helped him overcome many obstacles in his ventures. On top of that, Shatner’s charismatic, can-do flair gave the series an incredible central presence which was a huge reason for its success.

2 Captain Kathryn Janeway

There hasn’t been a single Starfleet captain whose job has been straightforward, but few have faced dilemmas as great as what was put before Captain Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ) in Star Trek: Voyager . On her first mission at the helm of the USS Voyager, she and her crew became stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years away from home.

Facing impossible odds and needing to assemble her ragtag crew into a functioning unit, Janeway commanded the Voyager with principle and conviction even when abandoning her values would have gotten her closer to home. While there had been female Starfleet captains in the series before, Janeway was the first to appear as a major protagonist, and she remains one of the series’ best captains nearly 30 years after Voyager first aired.

1 Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Given the immense cultural impact that had defined Shatner’s Captain Kirk through the original series and the Star Trek films, creating a character to serve as his equal in a separate show was never going to be easy. Astonishingly, they matched Kirk and surpassed him with Sir Patrick Stewart ’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the series' spin-off films.

With Stewart’s awe-inspiring presence and authoritative command, Picard was always stern, serious, and professional and expected nothing less from his crew. Choosing to remain emotionally distant from his crew, Stewart was also exceptional at showcasing Picard's human layers, which the captain was determined to hide beneath the surface.

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6 'Star Trek' Captains, Ranked from Worst to Best

Star trek captains.

The "Star Trek" captains of the USS Enterprise (and in one case, the space station Deep Space Nine) have so many different personalities to them. The ever-scrappy Capt. James T. Kirk. The Shakespeare-quoting Capt. Jean-Luc Picard. Capt. John Archer, the reluctant diplomat. And so on. How are we to take the measure of these captains to figure out who is best? Space.com's Elizabeth Howell, who has watched all of the live-action TV series as well as the Hollywood movies, weighs in on the main captains featured in the live-action TV series and Hollywood movies. (We've ignored some of the characters who become captain temporarily, or who are only shown briefly, such as Capt. Pike.) We're releasing this slideshow just days before "Star Trek: Discovery." In an intriguing twist on the shows' usual format, the star of "Discovery" is not actually a captain, but the first officer of the USS Shenzhou. We're looking forward to learning more about Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green). [ 'Star Trek: Discovery' Premiere Unites Starship Casts Both New and Old ]

6. Capt. John Archer ("Star Trek: Enterprise," 2001-05)

While Capt. Archer comes last on our list, we want to emphasize he is an extremely able captain that was a true pioneer — his ship, the Enterprise NX-01, was the first starship capable of exploring distant star systems. That made Archer host to a number of "first contact" incidents that would have challenged even the best of us. Memorably, when he encounters the Ferengi for the first time, he immediately senses their selfish nature and plays them off against each other to get his captive ship back in "Acquisition." But Archer still struggles with the responsibilities of being a captain in general. Especially in the early seasons, he doesn't know much about diplomacy or the military; it takes repeated encounters with hostile species such as the Klingons or the Suliban to realize the value of tactics. Archer began to hit his stride in Season 3, but, unfortunately, we didn't get to see much of his evolution because the series was canceled after Season 4.

5. Capt. Benjamin Sisko ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

Benjamin Sisko started his command at Deep Space Nine under very difficult circumstances. His wife was dead — it's a long story involving the evil Borg species, but he held Capt. Jean-Luc Picard responsible for it as Picard was temporarily assimilated into the Borg's collective. Sisko was on the verge of resignation. After his crew members began arriving, Sisko quickly discovered that the situation on Bajor, the nearby planet, would be incredibly difficult to resolve because so many factions were trying to gain control of the government. As Sisko gained confidence in himself, his crew and his mission, he realized there was a unique opportunity due to a wormhole just nearby the station. Sisko quickly realized this would be a welcome opportunity for merchants to come to the station and make it a thriving community. However, Sisko had his hands full dealing with disputes between all the different species, not to mention the Bajor situation. But he prevailed, and mostly kept his temper while doing so. [ The Evolution of 'Star Trek' (Infographic) ]

4. Capt. James T. Kirk ("Star Trek" reboot movies, 2009-present)

The rebooted Capt. Kirk (played by Chris Pine) starts as a much younger captain than the one portrayed in the TV series. This gives Pine the room to make some juvenile-yet-hilarious mistakes, such as getting in bar fights, or being angry with colleague Spock because the logical Vulcan alien — a very by-the-books sort of person — accused Kirk of cheating on a key test when he found a loophole. Kirk's boisterous mistakes as a neophyte captain made him funny to watch on screen in the first movie ("Star Trek," 2009), but by the second movie ("Star Trek Into Darkness," 2012) his mistakes quickly caught him up to him. Among other errors, he broke the First Directive about contact with alien species early in their development, and put too much trust in the terrorist John Harrison (played by Benedict Cumberbatch). Fortunately, Kirk matured by the time "Star Trek Beyond" (2016) was released , and he began to show the crafty gifts of his TV namesake. One of the best sequences was near the end of the film, when he rode a motorcycle around an enemy camp to confuse the aliens there and give his captured crew enough time to escape. We're looking forward to seeing how Kirk progresses in the next "Star Trek" film, which is greenlit but doesn't yet have a release date or a name.

3. Capt. Kathryn Janeway ("Star Trek: Voyager," 1995-2001)

In raw courage, Capt. Janeway may win for her ability to keep the crew focused while her ship was stranded on the far side of the Milky Way galaxy, a 75-year trip away from home. In consultation with a nearby ship, the Marquis, she made the difficult decision to merge the two crews to best preserve their chances of survival. Much later in the show, Janeway entered a controversial temporary alliance with the Borg (a notorious, assimilating alien species) to stay alive in the face of an even stronger enemy. These decisions are all the more courageous given that she was so far from Starfleet's authority at the time. One of Janeway's trademarks was her pure cheek, especially when somebody tried to undercut her authority. "Ma'am is acceptable in a crunch, but I prefer Captain," she says in the very first episode, "Caretaker." Or that time that Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan) disagreed with her in "Random Thoughts." Janeway responded: "I dread the day when everyone on this ship agrees with me. I thank you for your opinion, but our mission is not going to change."

2. Capt. James T. Kirk ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969; "Star Trek" movies, 1979-1994)

The TV version of Capt. Kirk (played by William Shatner) is almost like a modern Odysseus. He's forever wandering across the universe, getting snared by beautiful women, but somehow able to use his wiles to escape trap after trap. Shatner's performance is a joy to watch on screen, although his antics rob him of the gravitas one might think was required in military organizations such as Starfleet. Kirk remains steadfastly optimistic and resolute about exploration, as shown by the famous speech that fans call "Risk Is Our Business" (in "Return To Tomorrow"). Kirk compares the exploits of Starfleet to the previous explorers of the Apollo program , or even the first people to take flight. He also remains friends with and listens to the advice of the core group of his crew, even when Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) continually argue with each other — which is no small feat. Kirk also shows flashes of creative brilliance. In one episode, "A Piece of the Action," he creates confusion among the bad guys by creating card game rules out of thin air. In another episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver," Kirk tells the bad guys that they can't blow up the Enterprise because he will do a reverse-reaction of a secret, imaginary substance called "corbomite." It was just a bluff, but he stopped the Enterprise from imminent destruction.

1. Capt. Jean-Luc Picard ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994; "Star Trek: The Next Generation" movies, 1994-2002)

There's no question that Jean-Luc Picard was in charge of the Enterprise; all it took was a withering look or one well-placed comment to remind a crew member when they stepped out of line. While Picard was very respectful of authority and Starfleet's command, he also wasn't afraid to speak up for his crew when the situation warranted it. Perhaps the best example is in "Measure of A Man," where he speaks up on behalf of Data — an android who wants to be human, and whom Picard argues is just as much of a crew member as anyone else on his ship. Picard's performances likely would have qualified him for an Emmy if he wasn't dressed in an all-body suit as the star of a science-fiction series. Some of his most tear-jerking moments: His defiance under torture in "Chain of Command," when he yells "There are four lights!" after his captor tries to persuade him the number is wrong; his performance in "The Inner Light," where Picard grows old on a quiet rural planet and then is wrenched back to his battleship reality; and his battle cry "No!" in "Star Trek: First Contact" in 1996 (while smashing glass) just before he realizes he will need to let the Borg take over his ship.

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Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller ?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

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Name and Rank: The 10 Best Captains In Star Trek

Star Trek has featured tons of captivating captains in its near sixty years of existence, but these 10 really went above and beyond.

With 55 years of Star Trek TV shows and movies to look at, figuring out what it takes to be a Starfleet captain isn't hard to do. A person needs to be confident, smart, courageous, empathetic, strong-willed, and of strong moral standing. The captains of starships and space stations carry a heavy load, with hundreds of lives depending on their decisions, but years of preparation have trained them to do their best.

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But, which captains are the best captains Starfleet has ever seen? Who are the ones that make it into the history books? Which captains are held as the benchmarks in leadership, strength, and skill? Here are ten of the best captains to ever appear in Star Trek , be they on a ship, on a station, or in a cartoon.

10 Jonathan Archer

The first Starfleet officer to captain a starship launched by the United Earth, Captain Jonathan Archer is considered to be the greatest explorer of the 22nd century. The son of renowned warp scientist Henry Archer, Captain Archer explored the far reaches of the galaxy using Vulcan star charts, and then he went further than anyone had gone before.

Captain Archer and his crew of the Enterprise NX-01 discovered new worlds and new civilizations. As if that isn't enough, Captain Archer also played a major role in the Temporal Cold War and helped avert a war between the Vulcans and the Andorians, leading to the creation of the United Federation of Planets.

9 Robert April

While stationed in San Francisco, Captain Robert April worked alongside engineer Lawrence Marvick and Doctor Richard Daystrom to create the Constitution-class starship. When the first twelve ships were built, Captain April was given command of the USS Enterprise and given a five-year mission to explore the unknown sectors of the universe.

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During his five year mission as the first captain of the USS Enterprise , Robert April became one of the most decorated captains in Starfleet history, standing alongside Captain Archer. After his five-year mission came to an end, Captain April was promoted to commodore and became a Federation ambassador.

8 Christopher Pike

Aside from receiving an 'F' in Astrophysics, Christopher Pike was an exceptional student at the Starfleet Academy. He was also known for being able to drink any other cadet under the table. After graduating, Pike became a test pilot before serving on the USS Antares, the USS Chatelet, and the USS Aryabhatta.

Pike was reassigned to the USS Enterprise, where he served as Captain April's first officer. When Captain April was promoted, Christopher Pike was made the captain of the Enterprise, a position he would serve in for fifteen years. During an inspection tour of a cadet vessel, an accident caused a radiation leak. Captain Pike rushed into the affected area to save as many cadets as he could. He became trapped in the irradiated area and was left horribly disfigured and in need of life support in order to live. Years later, the crew of the Enterprise, including Pike's science officer Mister Spock, would take the retired captain to Talos IV where he would be cared for by the Talosians.

7 Matt Decker

The captain of the USS Constellation, Matt Decker was one of the most decorated officers in Starfleet, alongside Captains Archer and Pike. During a routine survey mission, the Constellation encountered an alien planet killer that was living up to its name. Attempting to protect the planets on the alien machine's path, Captain Decker ordered his ship to attack. In the battle, the Constellation was damaged beyond repair and left to float lifelessly in space.

Captain Decker beamed his crew to a nearby planet, believing that it would keep them safe until help could arrive. Instead, the alien machine turned its attention to that planet and killed everyone on it. Decker was left alone on the Constellation. After the arrival of the Enterprise, the now insane Decker would pilot the Constellation into the alien machine, destroying it and killing himself.

6 James Kirk

Arguably the best known Starfleet captain in history, James Kirk 's time in command of the Enterprise is well documented. From the early adventures where he and his crew were the first to see a Romulan in hundreds of years to their battle against former Eugenics War leader Khan Noonien Singh and the creation of the Genesis Planet, Captain Kirk consistently proved that the high standards of Starfleet are true and good. A bookworm during his Starfleet Academy days, Captain Kirk reveled in the opportunity to explore new planets alongside the crew of the Enterprise.

5 Hikaru Sulu

Best known as the senior helmsman on Captain Kirk's Enterprise crew, Hikaru Sulu was a valued member of the team and played an integral role in many historic missions. Following the completion of their five-year mission, the Enterprise returned to Earth to be refitted and given a new captain. Sulu was promoted to lieutenant commander.

Sulu continued to serve under Captain Kirk until he was promoted again, this time to captain, and given command of the USS Excelsior. Sulu and the Excelsior would play a major role in the Battle at Khitomer. His portrait would later be placed in Starfleet Headquarters.

4 Jean-Luc Picard

Something of a rebel during his Starfleet Academy days, Captain Jean-Luc Picard became infamous when he carved the initials A.F. into groundskeeper Boothby's prized elm tree. Boothby would help Picard mature and excel at the academy, helping the young man become one of the most important captains in Starfleet history.

Along with being the first member of the Federation to interact with the Ferengi and the Borg as the captain of the USS Enterprise-D, Captain Picard became the obsession of the omnipotent being known only as Q. After retiring from Starfleet, Picard went on a quest to protect the synth homeworld of Coppelius from the Romulans .

3 Benjamin Sisko

Unlike the other captains here, Benjamin Sisko did not command a starship . As the captain of the space station Deep Space Nine , Sisko was in charge of protecting a stable wormhole that allowed the Federation to explore the Gamma Quadrant with ease. Captain Sisko quickly found himself embedded in the post-war politics of the Bajorans and the Cardassians. The Bajorans believed that Sisko was the Emissary of the Prophets; the beings that lived inside the wormhole, while the Cardassians saw him as the only thing standing in their way of retaking the planet Bajor.

With DS9 at the frontlines of the Dominion War, Sisko found himself being a wartime captain, something he never wanted to be. When the Dominion threatened to kill Sisko, the wormhole Profits stepped in and destroyed the Dominion army, ending the war. At the same time, Sisko was believed to be dead by Starfleet, but, in truth, he had joined the wormhole beings.

2 Kathryn Janeway

Born into a Starfleet family, Captain Kathryn Janeway entered Starfleet Academy, where she excelled at her studies. After graduation, Janeway was stationed on the USS Al-Batani, where she served as the chief science officer. When she was promoted to captain, Janeway was given command of the USS Voyager and given the mission to locate a missing Maquis vessel.

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During the mission, the Voyager was struck by a displacement wave and flung seventy thousand light-years into the Delta Quadrant. With no quick way home, Captain Janeway found herself cut off from the Federation and forced to keep the peace between her crew and the Marquis who joined them.

1 William Riker

One of the most impressive people to ever graduate from Starfleet Academy, William Riker served on the USS Pegasus, the USS Potemkin, and the USS Hood before being offered his own command of the USS Drake. In a surprise move, Riker turned down the chance to be captain in order to serve on the USS Enterprise under Captain Picard.

After serving as Captain Picard's first officer and turning down a number of opportunities to captain his own ship, Riker accepted the position of captain of the USS Titan. Stationed at the border of the Romulan Neutral Zone, Captain Riker and the crew of the Titan, which included his wife Deanna Troi and their son Thad, were tasked with keeping the peace.

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The Main Star Trek Captains Ranked Worst To Best

Christopher Pike in Starfleet Uniform

The "Star Trek" universe is as vast and diverse as the galactic adventures the series has chronicled across film and television. The franchise has left an indelible mark on our humble planet since the original series first debuted in 1966. In the intervening years, a unique and talented crop of trailblazers have assumed the helms of various Federation ships, taking us on voyages to new adventures, battles, and shows of diplomacy.

What has always differentiated "Star Trek" from that other space franchise is its focus on embracing new species and cultures, fostering peace, and learning how to live collectively. Sure, phasers are cool, but weapons never steal the show like lightsabers do. Instead, "Star Trek" paints a picture of a utopian world that's starting to look pretty good to present-day viewers. Accordingly, the captains on this list represent the best of the best that "Star Trek" has to offer, and it is with a gentle pride that I will try to rank them. Each one of these leaders have taught us that space is not something to be conquered, but a realm of possibility that we should do our best to understand.

12. Carol Freeman

Launched in 2020 as part of producer Alex Kurtzman's massive deal with Paramount, "Star Trek: Lower Decks" is the ninth series in the franchise, but the first to focus on the lower-level positions on a starship. That means that we don't spend as much time with the captain as we might on a regular Star Trek series. Still, Captain Carol Freeman keeps us entertained. Voiced by Dawn Lewis, Captain Freeman commands the USS Cerritos in 2380. Her daughter, Ensign Mariner, also works aboard the ship, but the pair have decided to keep this bit of family news a secret to the rest of the crew.

The "Lower Decks" pilot introduces the initial friction between Freeman and her daughter. Freeman doesn't want Mariner on the ship, and enlists Ensign Boimler to help catch her daughter breaking any rules. This family conflict adds a layer of depth to this unique outing in the long-running franchise. How different would "The Next Generation" have been if Picard's mother also worked on board the Enterprise?

11. Gabriel Lorca

Captain Gabriel Lorca became the commander of the USS Discovery after a stint captaining the USS Buran, which was destroyed by Klingon forces. When asked to compare Captain Lorca to other captains on the final frontier at San Diego Comic-Con, actor Jason Isaacs said, "I'm not allowed to say that he's probably more f***ed up than any of them" (via TV Line ). Some fans might recognize Isaacs from his role as the dastardly Death Eater Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, but his performance as Lorca is very different. Here, he plays a secretive and charismatic leader with short black hair that's very different from the long, blonde locks he sported in the wizarding world.

Loca's relationship to the so-called "Mirror Universe" adds some fun twists and turns to the story and definitely livens up this prequel series, which focuses on the Klingon War. Isaacs only appeared on "Star Trek: Discovery" during the first season, which is part of the reason why he comes in at number 11 on this list.

10. William Riker

Although he has appeared on many different Star Trek series, including "Voyager," "Enterprise," "Picard," and "Lower Decks," Riker is best remembered for his time as the USS Enterprise's first officer on "The Next Generation." During his original outing, Riker famously had to take over as captain of the Enterprise when Jean-Luc Picard was captured and assimilated by the ultimate big bad, the Borg.

Riker eventually took over a ship of his own, the USS Titan, and was most recently seen as the acting captain of the USS Zheng He on "Picard." Riker is also married to fan-favorite Deanna Troi, the half-human, half-Betazoid who served as the Enterprise's counselor.

Despite his many appearances across the franchise, Riker has never starred in his own spinoff. However, if the success of the Paramount+ series "Picard" tells us anything, it's that fans are always clamoring for more appearances from "The Next Generation" alumni. Bonus points go to actor Jonathan Frakes, who, in addition to playing Riker, also directed many episodes of various Star Trek series and went on to helm "First Contact," one of the best films featuring the cast of "The Next Generation" (he also directed its follow-up, "Star Trek: Insurrection," but that wasn't quite as successful).

9. Johnathan Archer

Is there anywhere that Scott Bakula hasn't boldly gone before? The veteran actor has starred in such hit shows as "NCIS: New Orleans," "Men of a Certain Age," and "Quantum Leap," the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe and four Emmy nominations . As such, it was no surprise when he joined the Star Trek universe, playing Captain Johnathan Archer, the Earth-born commander of the USS Enterprise NX-01 .

Following the success of juggernauts like "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager," and "The Next Generation," "Enterprise" had big shoes to fill. Scott Bakula's Captain Jonathan Archer does an able job, but this prequel series set one hundred years before the original show couldn't compete with its predecessors, and was canceled after four seasons. "Bakula gives the Capt. Kirk thing his best shot, but the script is riddled with clunkers and jargon," the Washington Post observed when it reviewed the show back in 2001.

We don't usually associate fear with being a good captain, but Saru proves us wrong. Played by the talented Doug Jones, Saru is one of the only non-human captains on our list, even if his reign wasn't long. Before his stint as captain, Saru served as a science officer and lieutenant commander, first on the USS Shenzhou and then on the USS Discovery. He is a Kelpien, which is a prey species that lives in a constant state of fear. He is also adept at sensing threats, particularly impending death, which is a pretty important skill to have when you're leading a ship.

Saru was promoted to first officer by Captain Lorca, but it was during a particularly harrowing debacle in the Mirror Universe that Saru had to step up as acting captain. For his contributions to the war against the Klingons, Saru was awarded the Starfleet Medal of Honor, making him the first Kelpien to receive that award. His brave mission on Qo'nos, which brought about the end of the war, showcased this Kelpien's bravery. His ascendancy was one of the first times that Star Trek gave a non-human the captain's chair (fan-favorite Klingon Worf never made it higher than lieutenant commander), which is why Saru beats out some other captains on this list.

7. Benjamin Sisko

The '90s were a great time to be a Star Trek fan. Between "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine," and "Voyager," fans had a Star Trek series to watch for nearly 14 consecutive years. As played by Avery Brooks, Captain Benjamin Sisko was an important trailblazer in the Trek world, too, as it was the first time in series history that a Black actor played the lead.

Prior to his role commanding Deep Space Nine, Sisko had a varied and successful Starfleet career. One of his first assignments was aboard the USS Livingston. A few years later, he was promoted to first officer of the USS Okinawa.

The series was unique in that it was the first Star Trek production to debut after Gene Roddenberry's death, and Captain Sisko is one of the great leaders of the Star Trek universe. Some fans speculate that Brooks has largely retired from acting — his last major role was in 2001 — but this optimist is hopeful for a day when Captain Sisko returns in a new Star Trek series. Would it be so wrong to get all these captains to join forces to help take down the Borg? I would love to see that!

6. Christopher Pike

Christopher Pike is no stranger to the Star Trek universe. He first appeared in the rejected pilot for the original series. In fact, if that pilot had been picked up, the world might never have gotten to fall in love with Captain Kirk. Since then, Pike has been reimagined a few different times, including in recent film adaptations. He had a role on "Star Trek: Discovery" that was so well-received that, in 2022, he received a spinoff of his own, "Strange New Worlds." Jeffrey Hunter, Sean Kenney, and Anson Mount are among the actors who have played this character, who is the super-meta embodiment of alternative timelines.

In Polygon's review of "Strange New Worlds," it called the series " a deliberately old-school Star Trek show, returning the franchise to its roots as an episodic series that takes on a 'problem of the week' and then boldly goes on to the next one." The popularity of Pike, and Mount's interpretation in particular, allows Trek fans to indulge in nostalgia and simplicity, as the show focuses on the same basic tenets of great storytelling that made "Star Trek" so popular in the first place.

While some might dwell on what could have been if we'd lived in a pop culture world dominated by Pike instead of Kirk, his resurgence confirms our fascination with the strong, silent type and our desire to go boldly into space with Captain Pike.

5. Michael Burnham

Born in 2226 to human parents, Michael Burnham was raised by the Vulcan ambassador Sarek and his human wife. They instilled in her a thirst to be a powerful Vulcan, which is part of what inspired to join Starfleet.

Burnham is a unique entry on this list because of her criminal background. After a debacle onboard the USS Shenzhou during which she incapacitated her captain, Philippa Georgiou, Burnham was charged with mutiny, subjected to a court martial, and sentenced to life in prison. Not exactly the ideal start to a hero's journey, but after Captain Lorca invites her aboard the USS Discovery to assist in the Klingon War, her destiny irrevocably changes.

As Burnham, actress Sonequa Martin-Green makes history as the first Black woman to lead a Star Trek series; what makes her rise to the top so exciting is that she doesn't become captain until season 3. Referring to the reactions of Star Trek fans, Martin-Green had this to say to the Associated Press : "The response that I've gotten has been overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly uplifting. There were bits here and there that I was not surprised by. But the stories that I have heard, the heart-to-heart exchanges that I've had with people already, it's mind blowing." Burnham is a Starfleet captain we won't forget for centuries to come.

4. Dal R'El

When Paramount wanted to create an expanded universe of Star Trek series, it put its trust in veteran writer and producer Alex Kurtzman to make these dreams a reality. His $160 million deal has resulted in five new shows for the streaming platform.  "I do believe that the line between movies and television is gone now, and that to me is a tremendous opportunity," Kurtzman told the New York Times .

One of those shows, "Star Trek: Prodigy," is an outlier in the Trek world, as it is a series aimed specifically at younger audiences . Its featured captain, Dal R'El, is voiced by Brett Gray, and worked as an indentured prisoner in the Tars Lemora Mining Labor Camp before assuming the captain's seat in the USS Protostar.

Dal R'El captures the experience of many young viewers when they watch a Star Trek series for the first time. Often, these kids are outcasts who are learning how to make their uniqueness work for them. More than the others who came before him, this spunky captain represents all the weirdness us Trekkies sometimes feel, and we live vicariously through his experiences, letting us see what it would be like to be a young and scrappy captain in space. It's a perspective that we've never seen before in the franchise, which is part of what makes Dal so magical, and the reason why he ranks higher here than some other fan favorites.

We're excited to see what Dal R'El gets up to next, but in the meantime, the standout episodes "Time Amok" and "A Moral Star" should tide you over and give you a good sense of what he's all about.

3. James T. Kirk

You can't have Star Trek without Captain James T. Kirk, which makes it kind of scary that we almost did. If NBC had picked up the original pilot back in 1965, we never would have gotten to know him. Luckily, this franchise has had so many spinoffs, reboots, and new perspectives that there's something for everyone, and I'm happy to live in a world with Kirk as our OG Captain.

Kirk's mustard yellow space suit made him an icon, and he's been a pop culture staple since he first captained the Enterprise back in 2266 — or 1966, depending on your perspective. In addition to his time on "The Original Series," Kirk made appearances in a string of feature films, including the juggernauts "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn" and "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," before passing the torch to Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: Generations." He later returned in J.J. Abrams' rebooted film series, where he was played by Chris Pine, and on "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," where he's portrayed by Paul Wesley .

The actor who first played Kirk, William Shatner, recently went to space in real life. The 90-year-old actor flew to the edge of Earth's atmosphere in one of Jeff Bezos's ships. "That was unlike anything they described," said Shatner in an interview with the Associated Press . Kirk walked so that every other captain could fly.

2. Jean-Luc Picard

There is perhaps no living actor who conveys peace and hope better than Patrick Stewart. The veteran English actor has played Captain Jean-Luc Picard since the late '80s, when he starred in the ultra-popular "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He has since reprised his role as Picard in four films and a continuation series on Paramount+, which is aptly titled "Picard."

No moment in television was scarier than the two-part "The Next Generation" episode "The Best of Both Worlds," in which the Borg capture and assimilate Picard. While many of the episodes of "The Next Generation" are standalone outings, season 4 devoted ample time to exploring Picard's PTSD as he re-acclimatizes to human life. It is a serious and realistic portrayal of trauma, and only further solidifies Picard's leadership abilities; he handles all of life's challenges with a grace and calm that we can only envy and hope to emulate.

"I felt that after 176 hours of television, which is what 'The Next Generation' was, and four feature films, that I had nothing more say," said Stewart in an interview with Rolling Stone before he was approached to star in "Picard." " Picard" is an exciting breath of fresh air for nostalgia lovers, reuniting Stewart with Trek favorites Q, played by character actor John de Lancie, and "Voyager" crew member Seven of Nine, played by Jeri Ryan. Time and time again, Jean-Luc Picard reminds us that resistance is not futile, and that we must keep fighting together.

1. Kathryn Janeway

Before she was doing time on "Orange Is the New Black," Kate Mulgrew was making history in space as the series' first headlining female captain on "Star Trek: Voyager." "Voyager" came at a unique time for Star Trek fans. Airing one year after the conclusion of "The Next Generation," it continued the familiar adventures of Starfleet while also introducing viewers to new alien species. Alongside "Deep Space Nine" lead Benjamin Sisko, Captain Kathryn Janeway added a diversity to the franchise that we still need to see more. Star Trek has the benefit of existing in the future, so it can be ahead of its time — what we needed then, and still need now, are leaders as fierce, strong, and resilient as Janeway.

"I've had probably the single greatest response from my fan base than any other actress because I was the first female captain," Mulgrew said in a joint interview with Sonequa Martin-Green for the Associated Press . "And because I saw it directly, I was deeply and directly affected by it. And over the years it's done nothing but evolve. Very, very few actresses have that. I've had it for over 25 years. It's extraordinary to me."

In the pilot episode of "Voyager," a new recruit mistakenly calls Janeway "Sir," then "Ma'am." Janeway replies, "M'am is acceptable in a crunch, but I prefer Captain." And so, her fate as the greatest captain in the Star Trek universe was sealed. Live long and prosper, Janeway!

captains in star trek

Star Trek: All 8 captains ranked from worst to best

Among all the incredible Star Trek captains we've met, these are the ones that have stuck with us the most for the last 57 years.

Ever wondered who's in charge when it comes to zipping around space in the world of Star Trek ? Well, it's the captains, of course, who else ?

These fierce and fearless leaders are where the real adventures start. Whether it's Captain Jean-Luc Picard, bringing some serious wisdom (and a serious and rightful love for Earl Grey tea) to the table, or Captain James T. Kirk , with his knack for making friends (and sometimes foes) with just about any alien he meets – these captains have inspired and, sometimes, infuriated us all.

And it's not just about epic space battles they find themselves and their crews in or dealing with spicy aliens, the little things also count – sometimes even more than all the action we see them involved in. Think about Captain Benjamin Sisko's cooking skills or Captain Kathryn Janeway's coffee obsessions – because hey, even captains need their nourishment and caffeine fix.

Each one of the captains we've seen grace the screens in the Star Trek universe has their own special flair, their own way of dealing with space oopsies, and their own style of running their ships. Rapport, relationships, and tempers are different and conflicts are approached uniquely, making each captain a major piece of the big puzzle that is Star Trek.

Let's get to know the captains who make Star Trek the wild, wacky, and wonderful universe we all love and see how they compare with each other.

Note: While there have been many captains in the Star Trek lore, this list will specifically focus on the classic captains from the original batch of shows. Other versions of those characters that do appear in the modern adaptations will be grouped together with the original versions, and thus won't be ranked twice. 

8. Captain Edward Jellico (Starship Enterprise-D)

Appeared in:   Star Trek: The Next Generation

Captain Jellico is an intriguing and temporary captain of the Enterprise-D. Every Star Trek fan appreciates a captain with a unique flair, and Jellico certainly brought that during his appearance in the Next Generation episode "Chain of Command." Now he's a divisive character among fans, but he's a more-than-competent captain. Right from the get-go, he shook things up aboard the Enterprise with his no-nonsense approach and sharp efficiency. There's no doubt that when it came to getting things done, Captain Jellico was your go-to guy.

However, here's the twist: While our Captain was very efficient, he might've missed a couple of classes at Starfleet Academy on team bonding. His, let's say, "straight-to-the-point" style lacked the finesse and interpersonal touch that makes a Starfleet captain truly exceptional. It's those heart-to-heart moments, the camaraderie, and the mutual respect between captain and crew that have made other captains stand out a bit more, not to mention we've seen much more of them.

So, while we salute Jellico for running a tight ship, it's these softer qualities that nudged him to the eighth spot on our list. But hey, every character brings their unique charm, and Jellico was no exception.

7. Captain Rachel Garrett (USS Enterprise-C)

Captain Rachel Garrett may have graced our screens for just a blink in yet another episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , this one titled "Yesterday's Enterprise," but she did leave an impression.

In a universe filled with larger-than-life captains, it's not always the quantity of episodes that counts, but the quality of character. And Garrett had character for days. In the brief time we spent with her, she showcased not just great leadership, but also an immense willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. Not every captain would make such a call, and that speaks volumes about her and her dedication to duty.

But, while her valor is commendable, she's up against some of the biggest Starfleet giants. When you're ranking captains who've had seasons to grow, evolve, and woo us with their adventures, it's a tough crowd. Captain Rachel Garrett's short appearance doesn't give us the luxury of getting to know her quirks, her backstory, or seeing her tackle a plethora of challenges.

So, while she undeniably shines bright on this list of captains, she's a brief yet brilliant spark in the longstanding flames of other captains.

6. Captain Jonathan Archer (Enterprise NX-01)

Appeared in: Star Trek: Enterprise

Now here's a captain who had to navigate the uncertain and uncharted waters (or rather, starry voids) of deep space. Imagine being the first to do anything – it's both thrilling and a tad bit scary.

Jonathan Archer was the first captain to venture into space – he had no rule book, no precedents, just his ship, his crew, and a vast unknown ahead. Sure, he might have come across as a tad naïve and jumped the gun once or twice, but who wouldn't when you're meeting brand new alien species and exploring strange new worlds?

And while he might rank sixth on this list, it's essential to give Captain Archer the credit he truly deserves. Without his early adventures and those baby steps into the universe, the Federation might not have had the foundational stones it needed.

He was the trailblazer, the one who started it all. Just like how we thank our grandparents for some of our coolest family traditions, the Starfleet captains that came after Archer owe him a nod for laying down the first tracks of what would become the interstellar adventures we've had the pleasure of watching.

5. Captain Benjamin Sisko (Deep Space Nine)

Appeared in:   Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Let's chat about the ever-fascinating Captain Benjamin Sisko from Deep Space Nine . This captain doesn't just sit on the bridge of a spaceship – he's also the Bajoran Emissary. Imagine juggling the responsibilities of not just commanding a space station at the edge of the galaxy, but also being the spiritual figure for an entire planet. No pressure, right?

From dealing with cosmic wars to decoding Bajoran prophecies, Sisko's to-do list is never dull or fully completed. Now, placing him at number 5 might raise some eyebrows, especially when we dive into the depth of his character.

He's not just a military leader – he's also a dad, a baseball enthusiast, and a chef at heart (I would love to try his Jambalaya). The moral dilemmas he has to deal with are also no joke, they're enough to make anyone's head spin. But in comparison to other Star Trek captains, the competition is fierce.

While some may argue he deserves a higher spot because of his profound character growth, others might have their own favorites. But hey, no matter the rank, Sisko will always be remembered for his complexity and zest.

4. Captain Christopher Pike (USS Enterprise)

Appeared in:   Star Trek: The Original Series ,  Star Trek: Discovery ,  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

And in the fourth spot, we have our lovely and very charming Captain Christopher Pike . Now, some of you might remember him as that dashing captain who appeared even before Captain Kirk in The Original Series pilot. But let's be real for a moment – back then, he was more of a teaser than a fully realized character. He left many of us wanting to know what much more about his backstory and motivations.

Fast forward to Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , and our wishes have been granted. Pike's back, and he's so much better-looking got layers upon layers of character development for us to peel one by one.

Thanks to these two incredible shows, we've had a delightful dive into the depths and nuances of his character, showcasing him as more than just a passing face from the pilot episode. From his leadership style to his moral dilemmas, Pike has transformed from an unknown we were curious about to a captain we can all rally behind.

With time, Pike could climb even higher on this list but for now a place just shy of the Top 3 seems most fitting.

3. Captain Kathryn Janeway (USS Voyager)

Appeared in:   Star Trek: Voyager

Landing in third place out of our eight, we have Captain Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager .

Captain Janeway is a truly unforgettable force in the Star Trek universe. Imagine being stranded 70,000 light-years from home, surrounded by the uncharted vastness of the Delta Quadrant. Who would you want at the helm? For many, the answer is Captain Kathryn Janeway.

Her fearless journey through space's unexplored territories and her knack for keeping the crew together showed off her unmatched tenacity and dedication. It's no wonder she's a beacon of inspiration for many, earning her a well-deserved third spot.

But hey, even the best aren't free from critique (or else I wouldn't have a job). Every decision made in the vast, mysterious void of space carries its weight, and Janeway's choices were no exception. Some "armchair admirals" might've raised their eyebrows at a few of her calls, but that's what makes her journey so captivating. Navigating the complexities of leadership so far from Starfleet's guiding hand wasn't a walk in the park but, through every challenge, Captain Janeway stood firm, solidifying her reputation as one of Star Trek's top captains.

2. Captain James T. Kirk (USS Enterprise & Enterprise-A)

Appeared in:   Star Trek: The Original Series ,  Star Trek : The original movies (1979 – 1994), Star Trek reboot movies, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Coming in at number two on our Star Trek captain rankings, we have Captain James Tiberius Kirk. This Captain with the soul of a swashbuckling adventurer has enough charisma to carry any movie or show episode he's in.

When you think Star Trek, you can't help but picture any of the many portrayals of Captain Kirk taking bold risks, diplomatically finessing his way out of tight spots, or simply being the maverick he is – reshaping the final frontier in style. His mix of bravery and charm set a gold standard for all Starfleet captains that followed. He's not just any captain; he's THE Captain Kirk, a true icon in the realm of science fiction.

And speaking of icons, can we take a moment to gush about Chris Pine? My stars, is he gorgeous or what? While many talented actors have taken on the role of Captain Kirk, Chris Pine brings a fresh energy and undeniable good looks that make him, at least in my book, the best Kirk actor. Every time he graces the screen, you're captivated by his portrayal and those dreamy blue eyes. Whether you're a die-hard Trekkie or just starting your journey in, Pine's Kirk is a treat for both the heart and the eyes.

Beam me up, Chris!

1. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Starship Enterprise-D & E)

Appeared in:   Star Trek: The Next Generation ,  Star Trek : The original movies (1994 – 2002), Star Trek: Picard

Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Just saying his name out loud brings the weight of this iconic and revolutionary character and Starfleet Captain.

Out of all the captains in the Star Trek universe, this man, commanding both the Enterprise-D & E, has undoubtedly earned the top spot. Captain Picard is not just any starship captain – he's the captain who seamlessly weaves together the worlds of diplomacy, archeology, and leadership and makes it look easy.

Have you ever met someone who can negotiate with Klingons in one moment, and then get giddy over an ancient artifact the next? That's our Captain. Jean-Luc's unmatched wisdom and unwavering principles guide the Enterprise through the vast, unpredictable void of space. And let's not forget that iconic phrase: "Engage!" With just that one word, he commands the respect of his crew and audiences alike, propelling us all into another fun adventure.

Beyond the bravado and brilliance, lies the heart of a deeply introspective man. Picard is a captain who'll take a quiet moment to reflect, thinking over the moral implications of a decision or, you know, casually sipping Earl Grey tea while gazing at the stars. He doesn't shy away from tough decisions, and it's this combination of strength and sensitivity, this magnetic moral compass, that makes fans around the world exclaim, "If I'm exploring the final frontier, I want Captain Picard in the captain's chair!" And honestly, who could argue with that?

In the great expanse of Star Trek captains, Jean-Luc Picard rightfully takes the number one spot as the best captain in the franchise.

And that's a wrap on Star Trek's best captains! From sipping tea at warp speed to those unexpected dance-offs in alien discotheques, these captains sure know how to make space the final FUNtier (I am so sorry).

Whether you're Team Picard, rooting for Kirk, or jamming with Janeway, one thing's for sure: Star Trek wouldn't be the same without these fine leaders.

Which of the Star Trek captains are your favorites? Have you been watching the new series in the franchise?

Star Trek: All 8 captains ranked from worst to best

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The best captains in ‘star trek’ history, ranked.

Best 'Star Trek' captains: Benjamin Sisko, Michael Burnham, and James T. Kirk

When it comes to Star Trek , the captain sets much of the tone for the series. Whether they take to the helm with a suave, debonair calm, or a hard, gritty determination to do right by their crew, it makes a huge difference to the overall vibe of the show. However, there are a lot more captains in the Star Trek universe than those who have commanded the headliner vessels, and some of them could definitely outshine those headliners if they were given the chance.

Here’s our completely subjective list of the top 14 Star Trek captains—whether they got a whole series dedicated to their ship or only made a brief appearance in someone else’s story.

14. Jonathan Archer

Scott Bakula as Captain Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise.

Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) from Enterprise is the worst Captain from the worst Star Trek series, and I will not be taking any notes on that. It’s not just that he’s brash, arrogant, and over confident—I’d have to condemn most of the people on this list if that were the case—he’s also an unapologetic bigot for most of the show, and apparently incapable of respecting alien cultures unless they they involve sexual slavery. Archer managed some impressive military feats, but outside of that he’s a bad captain and, frankly, a bad person.

Partly a result of the ugly, jingoistic philosophy underlying Enterprise , every decision Archer makes seems to violate the spirit of Star Trek. From his adamant defense of the harmful side of the ban on genetic engineering in “Cold Station 12” (something every other series criticizes) to his entirely inappropriate behavior in diplomatic contexts (see: everything about “A Night in Sickbay”), Archer has an unthinking adherence to the human-centric status quo with no respect for difference.

Where Archer really lost me, however, was in “Cogenitor,” when he denies asylum to an alien reproductive slave and then blames their suicide on Tripp for giving them false hope. It’s not just his decision to deny asylum—there have been other episodes in other Trek series when captains faced similar dilemmas without coming out of it looking like an absolute monster—or his absolute fury with Tripp for thinking it was the right thing to do based on his own, erratic relationship with the rules. And it’s not just that he was more willing to ruin diplomatic relations with another species over his dog—at greater cost to the ship than a living, thinking person looking to escape a life of abject torture. It’s that he equated the loss of the congenitor’s life with the time their enslavers would have to wait before being assigned a new victim to impregnate, and justified it with cultural relativism. There’s no coming back from that.

13. Every other Starfleet Captain not listed by name

I will also not be taking any notes on this one. Archer is literally the worst and the only reason I haven’t listed every single other captain in existence ahead of him is because we don’t know enough about them to fill out an entry. Am I saying I’m confident even the unnamed captains we know literally nothing about are better captains than Archer? Yes. Yes I am.

12. Kelvin-verse Captain Kirk

Chris Pine as Captain Kirk in the 2009 'Star Trek' film: A young white man with cuts and bruises on his face stares intently into a dark haired man's face.

Honestly, Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk is very appealing, and when he gets going he can achieve quite a lot. The problem is that, unlike original Kirk, there’s not an actual thought in his head. It’s a full-on head empty, no thoughts here kind of situation, which is a problem in a captain. Kelvin-verse Kirk is sweet—a himbo, if you will—and he’s loyal, brave, and self-sacrificing. But he doesn’t make good decisions or think things through at all before he acts. When you’re a captain, you have to act in the best interest of your crew, and Kirk is really bad at remembering he’s responsible for other people. Still, he’s a better captain than Captain Archer. (I think protozoa would be a better captain than Archer, but that’s neither here nor there.) Kelvin Kirk tries hard, and he manages to pull through with a shouldn’t-work hail Mary every time, so he does make it onto the list.

11. Carol Freeman

Captain Freeman in handcuffs on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Captain of the Cerritos, and Ensign Beckett Mariner’s mother, Captain Freeman of Star Trek: Lower Decks ( LDS ) clocks in at number 11 on this list partly because we don’t know much about her outside of the contentious relationship with her daughter—a relationship that sometimes leads to Freeman making bad decisions for the ship and Mariner both. But hey, parent-child relationships are complex and there’s a reason you’re not supposed to serve under or command members of your own family (and, you know, maybe Mariner’s Dadmiral could take a turn instead of backseat driving for a change).

Given that she was unaware of buffer time and its importance in keeping any organization functioning (“Temporal Edict”), despite the fact that she was presumably an Ensign herself at one time and so would have relied on it, I do have some questions about her command style. It’s an issue apparently shared by Starfleet in “Kayshon, His Eyes Open,” where she was called out in a performance evaluation for micromanagement. However, Freeman’s combination of patience and pragmatism give her an edge in a lot of diplomatic situations, and she’s damn loyal to her ship and crew, getting her a pretty solid rating overall. You’ve got to love a captain who appreciates an under-appreciated ship and recognizes the value in her crew even when other people don’t.

10. Philippa Georgiou

Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Discovery

Ah Georgiou, my love, you were taken from us too soon. A phenomenal captain, Phillippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) was brave, compassionate and incredibly inventive, with an adaptable, tactical mind. Knowing when to bend the rules to get the best outcome for both her people and the Federation, she struck a balance between careful strategy and on-the-fly decision-making that took her pretty far before her death. Despite the experiences that left her battle-hardened, Georgiou never lost her faith in humanity or individuals of other species, giving her the ability to help and guide Michael Burnham and other crew members who were struggling, and leaving a lasting impression after she was gone.

9. The Original James T. Kirk

William Shatner as James T. Kirk in 'Star Trek,' the original series: A white man with blonde hair in a yellow Star Trek uniform glances to the side with alarm

The original Captain Kirk is a high-achiever. Sure, the man gets spectacular results, and that counts for a lot here, but he’s not the most responsible of leaders in the Star Trek universe. While his willingness to take huge risks and act out of instinct allowed him to pull off seemingly impossible things—going back in time to save the whales ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ), defeating the Greek god Apollo ( TOS , “Who Mourns for Adonais?”), and bringing Spock back from the dead ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )—he also got so many low-ranking crewmen killed that the entire Red Shirt trope is named after him.

Kirk tries to balance his duty as a Starfleet officer with his own sense of compassion and strong moral compass, but his tendency to lean on instinct and emotion when making decisions sometimes backfires spectacularly (see: everything involving Kahn). At the same time, his intense emotional investment in his ship and crew and tendency to prioritize justice and ethics over Federation rules produced an incredibly loyal crew who were willing to go to the ends of the earth for him—without which the Klingon-Federation peace process would have fallen apart.

8. William Riker

Captain Riker in Picard: An older white man with grey hair and beard sits in the captain's chair, wearing a red and black Starfleet uniform

Like Sulu, Riker was an excellent officer and an extremely competent captain. His irreverent, cheerful disposition and (before settling down with Troi) womanizing tendencies in The Next Generation often see him written off as frivolous and irresponsible, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Riker is a deeply empathic, compassionate man with a strong sense of justice and responsibility who takes his captaincy duties very seriously. Though we only get to see his more chaotic and wild moments in Lower Decks (a result of the series’ overall tone), the tie-in novels show a different, more serious side.

Riker’s achievements as captain include aiding the Romulans in restructuring their society ( Taking Wing , The Red King ), multiple first contact missions, and turning back more than one threat to the entire Alpha Quadrant ( Orion’s Hounds , Synthesis ).

7. Hikaru Sulu

George Takei as Captain Sulu in 'Star Trek': An older Japanese man in a red and white Starfleet uniform drinks tea from a white tea cup.

A certified badass, Hikaru Sulu was an incredible officer and an even better captain. Suave, dashing, and incredibly cool in a crisis, Sulu as Captain of the Excelsior was integral to salvaging the Federation-Klingon peace process ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ). Like all the best captains, Sulu knew exactly when to ignore or outright disobey the Federation because the bigger picture called for it—most notably, assisting Kirk and the Enterprise when the former was falsely convicted of murder, and helping him expose the conspiracy behind it.

Sulu was also capable of elaborate and impressive tactical thinking, and took calculated risks (like igniting the volatile gas inside a nebula) that worked out in the Excelsior’s favor. As a leader, Sulu took an individual, respectful approach to his people and their opinions and was willing to explain himself and his decisions when necessary, which led to a loyal, cohesive crew.

6. Tryla Scott

Ursaline Bryant as Tryla Scott in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation': A Black woman in a red and black Starfleet uniform looks at the camera with a disturbed expression

Tryla only made a very brief appearance, but she had to make it onto this list because of all she achieved in her short life. The youngest person to achieve the rank of Captain in Starfleet, Tryla was one of the four officers, including Picard, who realized that Starfleet had been taken over by parasitic aliens ( TNG , “Conspiracy”). Unfortunately, Tryla was killed before she managed to fulfill her potential, as one of the aliens took control of her body and attempted to kill Picard and Riker through her, leading to Riker killing her in self-defense. Still, everything Tryla managed to achieve before her death secures her a place on this list.

5. Christopher Pike

Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike in 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds': A white man with white streaked gray hair, wearing a yellow Starfleet uniform.

Brave and principled, Christopher Pike served as captain and mentor to both Spock and—in the alternative Kelvin timeline—Kirk. Initially a stickler for the rules, Pike learned to be adaptable, and when the greater good required him to bend or flout Starfleet regulations, he would do what the situation called for—even to the point of being willing to lie to Starfleet Command. What made Pike a truly stand-out captain, however, were his actions after receiving a vision of the future in the monastery on Boreth ( Discovery , “Through the Valley of the Shadows”). After being shown the horrible fate that awaited him if he completed the mission and continued serving in Starfleet, and being given the opportunity to back down and save himself instead, Pike consistently chose duty—not just sacrificing himself, but also living with the knowledge of what would happen to him for years before it finally did.

4. Michael Burnham

Captain Michael Burnham in 'Star Trek: Discovery': A Black woman with long braids smiles as she looks to the right, wearing an all red star trek uniform.

Michael Burnham’s captaincy was hard won and a long time coming (three seasons into Discovery ), but it was thoroughly deserved. Not only had Burnham played a key part in destroying the Emerald Chain (allowing for the reformation of the Federation), but she’d also demonstrated impressive leadership capabilities again and again. Captain Burnham continued to be a solid leader who refused to abandon people in need (“Kobayashi Maru”) and was willing to take on any and all risks in dangerous situations to protect her crew (“Stormy Weather”).

When dealing with non-Federation cultures and civilians, Burnham balanced respect for that culture with respect for individual life and agency, and was unwilling to abandon prisoners to die at the request of civil authorities—but she never forced those who rejected her rescue to accept it, either (“The Examples”). Most importantly, Burnham’s willingness to put her personal feelings aside and do what needed to be done to stop her former partner, Book, and his allies, allowed her and her crew to prevent the genocide of multiple peoples (“Coming Home”), placing her firmly in the top four.

3. Kathryn Janeway

Captain Janeway in 'Star Trek: Voyager': A white woman with a brown updo in a red Star Trek uniform looks perturbed

Captain Janeway found herself and her crew stranded on the other side of the universe and promised she was going to get them home no matter what—and then she actually delivered on that promise. She even managed to cut their journey down from 75 years to seven, skilfully merging two ideologically opposed crews into a one well-oiled team, and securing pardons for the former Maquis on their return to the Alpha Quadrant on top of it. Janeway also managed to defeat the Borg several times, and rehabilitated a former drone, something very few Captains can say. Plus, like Picard, she can handle Q pretty well ( Voyager , “The Q and the Grey” and “Q2”)

2. Jean-Luc Picard

Captain Picard in Star Trek Nemesis: An older bald, white man looks grimly at the camera.

Honestly, Jean-Luc Picard is everyone’s fantasy dad and there’s a reason for it. Combining good sense with a genuine care for everyone under his command, Picard took Kirk’s “no man left behind” policy and implemented it in actual, sensible ways that didn’t regularly kill hordes of red shirts in order to save one named character. More importantly, Picard’s approach to the Prime Directive brings compassion, common sense, and genuine ethics to what is actually a bad policy (it’s better to let people be wiped out than influence their culture? Come on). Picard became an expert at circumventing the Prime Directive without actually breaching it, but when push came to shove, he put the well-being of pre-warp peoples ahead of Federation law. He identified and handled multiple threats to the entire Federation, including a takeover by parasitic aliens ( TNG , “Conspiracy”), time-traveling Borg ( Star Trek: First Contact ), and Shinzon and the Remans’ genocidal plans for earth ( Star Trek: Nemesis ). He was also capable of recognizing the personhood of created and other non-standard forms of life from the very beginning, fiercely defending Data and other synthetic beings’ rights. Also, he can handle Q , which frankly is a very impressive skill most Starfleet officers don’t have.

1. Benjamin Sisko

Captain Sisko in Deep Space 9: A shaven headed Black men with a serious expression raises a glass toward the camera.

Benjamin Sisko is the best captain and you can fight me on this. Not only did he manage to take a trainwreck of an outpost and turn it into a functioning station, win over Kira Nerys, and thwart Gul Dukat on a regular basis, but he also did all of this while navigating the position of Bajor’s unwilling Messiah ( DS9 , “Emissary”). Balancing his loyalty to the Federation with his obligations to Bajor, and finding ways to manage the ongoing culture clash aboard the station, Sisko solved problems with creative thinking and a willingness to put his money where his mouth is. When the Dominion war began, Sisko found himself in a lynchpin position for defending the Alpha Quadrant, facing some of the hardest choices of anyone in Starfleet. Despite this, he never shied away from doing what needed to be done, nor did he sugarcoat his actions later—even to himself (“In the Pale Moonlight”).

Sisko always did what needed to be done, held together precarious situation after precarious situation, and took personal care of the people serving under him while he did it. The fact that his last mortal act was saving the entire Alpha Quadrant by defeating an evil god (“What You Leave Behind”) is just icing on the best captain cake.

(featured image: Paramount)

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History [ ]

The naval rank of captain was common in Earth militaries and was used by the United States Navy branch of the United States military and was comparable to the infantry rank of colonel . In the Earth Starfleet, and later the Federation , it was represented by four collar pips .

By the mid- 22nd century , captain was a senior line officer rank of most space services and usually given to the commanding officers of starships. This naval rank was equivalent to the Romulan Star Empire 's commander grade, the Cardassian Union 's title of gul and the Ferengi Alliance 's quasi-military DaiMon title.

A senior captain given a large degree of responsibility or administrative assignment was sometimes given the title of fleet captain .

The rank of captain could also be held by non-command personnel, especially on ships with a number of veteran and senior officers whose experience had warranted advancement to the rank of captain but without command of a starship. Such was the case on the USS Enterprise -A , where the senior staff consisted of no less than three captains: the commanding officer ( James T. Kirk ), the first officer ( Spock ), and the chief engineer ( Montgomery Scott ). ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ) Captain Scott had previously held his rank of captain while chief engineer of the USS Excelsior , where he was known as the " captain of engineering ". ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

The rank of captain could also be held by staff officers, such as Phillipa Louvois , a Judge Advocate General sector officer in 2365 . ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ") Although most Starfleet Captains were in the command division, the rank was obtainable in both the sciences and operations division , as the rank was held by Captain Krasnovsky in 2267 and Captain Worf in 2401. ( TOS : " Court Martial "; PIC : " The Last Generation ")

Tryla Scott was said to have achieved the rank of captain faster than anyone in Starfleet history as of 2364 . ( TNG : " Conspiracy ")

In the 2360s , K'Vada , Kargan , Korris , Kurn , Larg , and Tel-Peh were captains in the Klingon Defense Force . ( TNG : " Heart of Glory ", " Redemption II "; DS9 : " Dramatis Personae ") In the 2150s , Vorok was a captain in the Klingon Imperial Fleet . ( ENT : " Unexpected ")

Captain was a title typically held by commanders of merchant vessels and sometimes service craft. In 2367 , Wesley Crusher remarked in a bemused manner that Dirgo was claiming to hold the rank of captain while serving as the master of the mining shuttle Nenebek . To this, Dirgo sternly told Crusher that yes, indeed, his rank was that of captain in comparison to Crusher's rank of ensign . ( TNG : " Final Mission ")

When Lieutenant Commander Data was asked in 2368 by Timothy why he wasn't captain of the Enterprise- D, Data explained that " My service experience does not yet warrant such a position. " ( TNG : " Hero Worship ")

Some known Starfleet captains included:

  • Captain Jonathan Archer of Enterprise NX-01
  • Captain Balthazar Edison of USS Franklin
  • Captain Richard Robau of the USS Kelvin
  • Captain Robert April of the USS Enterprise
  • Captain Philippa Georgiou of the USS Shenzhou
  • Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise and USS Discovery
  • Captain Gabriel Lorca of the USS Buran
  • Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise -A
  • Captain Hikaru Sulu of the USS Excelsior
  • Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Stargazer , USS Enterprise -D , and USS Enterprise -E
  • Captain Phillipa Louvois of the Judge Advocate General's office
  • Captain Benjamin Sisko of Deep Space 9
  • Captain Kathryn Janeway of the USS Voyager
  • Captain William T. Riker of the USS Titan and USS Zheng He
  • Captain Carol Freeman of the USS Cerritos
  • Captain Saru of the USS Discovery
  • Captain Michael Burnham of the USS Discovery
  • Captain Chakotay of the USS Protostar
  • Captain Worf
  • Captain Cristóbal Rios of the USS Stargazer
  • Captain Liam Shaw of the USS Titan -A
  • Captain Tuvok
  • Captain Seven of Nine of the USS Enterprise -G

The Starfleet of the alternate reality established in 2233 by the temporal incursion of the Romulan Nero had the following noteworthy captains :

  • Captain Frank Abbott of the USS Bradbury
  • Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise

Captain Jonathan Archer

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

The lead characters in Star Trek productions have traditionally been Starfleet captains. In the broadcast television era, these characters were (in production order) James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ), Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ), Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ), Kathryn Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ), and Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ; the only difference when listed chronologically being that Captain Archer was before the other four captains). This format was the intention from the very first episode of Star Trek , " The Cage ", wherein Captain Christopher Pike is established as the lead character. At first, the only exception to the captain-as-series-lead practice was when Sisko was portrayed as a commander during the first three seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , however in the streaming era, this has become much more common: for example, in Star Trek: Discovery , Captains Philippa Georgiou , Gabriel Lorca , Christopher Pike, and later Saru serve as secondary characters to series lead Michael Burnham , who only becomes a captain herself at the end of the third season after a long story arc. Similarly, Star Trek: Picard follows retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, while Star Trek: Lower Decks follows a group of ensigns .

Regarding the challenge of following the legacy of so many extremely well-established series lead characters who had been Starfleet captains, Discovery Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman commented, " It's incredibly difficult to follow the amazing Starfleet captains that have already been created and beloved by so many. Every single one of them in different ways have been rendered so beautifully and so specifically that they're all tough acts to follow, but I'm sure that, when each one was being conceived, that the creators of those particular captains were scared about, you know, matching the one that had come before. " ("Discovering Discovery : The Concepts and Casting of Star Trek: Discovery ", DIS Season 1 DVD and Blu-ray special features)

The actors who have appeared in lead roles as Star Trek captains on broadcast television have been extremely varied. Jonathan Frakes remarked, " The five captains are so distinctive because of the five actors that play them, obviously. Patrick [Stewart] was cast against type, coming after Bill [Shatner]. Avery [Brooks], quite obviously, was cast against type, coming after Patrick. It was smart to bring Kate [Mulgrew] in, as a woman, and then Scott [Bakula] had an entire charm of his own. I think [...] whether it was planned or not, it was a very successful endeavor. " ( The Captains )

The Bajoran Militia , which also used army rank names, has been referred to by the Star Trek Encyclopedia as having a captain grade, with an insignia seen in episodes on officers subordinate to Major Kira Nerys , although they were never referred to by that rank on screen.

External link [ ]

  • Captain at Wikipedia
  • 2 Tellarite

The 10 best ‘Star Trek’ Captains, ranked

We boldly count down the greatest captains to sit in the chair.

captains in star trek

Star Trek has introduced many captains over the years — legendary leaders who uphold the ideals of the United Federation of Planets. These starship commanders head to the final frontier, living up to the franchise’s mantra. To “boldly go where no one has gone before” But you don’t have to split the infinitive to be a great captain. 

Some inspirational figures have donned the uniform, but not all captains are cut from the same cloth. Star Trek has put its captains through a lot during nearly six decades of utopias, dystopias, dreams, and nightmares. 

As Captain Christopher Pike returns for his longest on-screen mission, we’re enjoying the most diverse set of ‘current’ captains yet. While Pike explores Strange New Worlds of the 23rd century, Captain Picard seeks new life on the cusp of the 25th century in his self-titled show. In the 32nd century, Captain Michael Burnham is boldly going where the franchise has never gone before aboard the USS Discovery. 

Things have moved on from Kirk and his crew’s famous five-year mission. The Star Trek franchise is more robust than it’s been for years, and there are more captains to come, each ready to test their mettle in the final frontier. But until then, here’s our ranking of the top 10 Star Trek captains.

10. “Go!” — Captain Gabriel Lorca, Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek Discovery

We spent a fair bit of time in the company of this rogue during one of Star Trek’ s finest arcs. Star Trek’s great captains have often been defined by their opposition. It was at the center of the franchise’s second feature, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , and during the first series of Star Trek: Discovery, we got to see things from that opposition.

Lorca may not have been a typical captain, but in the Mirror Universe, he’d achieved great power and influence. In the captain’s chair of Discovery, he was a breath of fresh air. Why start with a bad guy? He was unethical and unrepentant, but by inverting the ideals of a Starfleet captain, Lorca showed us how it’s done.

9. “Do it!” — Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek Voyager

Kathryn Janeway was unlucky when she took charge of the small but perfectly formed USS Voyager. The twist of Voyager , throwing the ship 70,000 light-years across the Galaxy, is probably better suited to today’s arc-driven television. In the adventure of the week 1990s, nothing in Voyager stood out as it should, limiting Janeway’s journey. 

The Kazon were Klingons by another name. The Borg were admittedly impressive ratings grab. She overcame both, but troubles that should have tested the mettle of this commander, like the integration of Marquis, didn’t materialize. Instead, Janeway often captained the road trip from one troubled service station to another. There were plenty of grays to be mined from the crew’s attempts to get home, but some of Janeway’s decisions were too suspect and underexplored. And that doesn’t just mean taking on Neelix as a chef.

8. “To boldly go where no man has gone before” — Jonathan Archer, Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek Enterprise

Archer was Star Trek ’s ultimate pioneer. It’s a shame we discovered him late in the franchise’s golden period. The concept for Enterprise was sound, but the early days of the beautiful hunk of metal’s slight warp jump into the galaxy was a slow burner, and the crew fell a bit flat. In the chair was Archer, who had to connect the Space Race with the captains of the 23rd and 24th centuries.

Archer was dependable, reliable, and the man who could take us from A to B on the Star Trek journey. This likable ‘first captain’ never dodged action, but he’s the most diplomatic and ambassadorial of the set. 

7. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” — Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Captain_Spock

We didn’t get to see much of Spock as a captain, but what we did see was everything we hoped. A respected figure, guiding and mentoring the next generation of Starfleet to their finest hour. Then, when the situation called for it, he knew when to step back to make way for the right captain. 

The Star Trek timeline credits Spock with command of various starships for over 100 years, ending with him captaining a small ship to help create the Kelvin timeline. As he returns to the science desk on the USS Enterprise, there’s hope we’ll see him in command again. 

6. “Take us out” — James T. Kirk (Kelvin timeline), Star Trek (2009)

james-kirk-star-trek-chris-pine (1)

By Star Trek Beyond , we’d jumped to the third year of the ship’s fabled five-year mission, and Kirk was already bored. Whichever timeline he’s in, it’s in this captain’s character to think the next nebula is always purpler. But this version had to rise above his tattered fate. 

There was something fierce, urgent but familiar about the young captain, who pursued his instincts and leaped up the rankings. Forging a new Kirk in the rebooted movie franchise was tough, but his on-screen career has been marred by recklessness. It cost him his command in Into Darkness and the Enterprise in Star Trek Beyond . He needs a chance to redeem himself.

5. “Let’s fly” — Michael Burnham, Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery

Burnham threatened her career in ways that would make Kirk proud. Despite two years of stunning adventure in the 23rd century, the future forged a reformed Captain Burnham, even though her career is struck from the Star Trek timeline we know.

Discovery was the first show not to follow a captain but an officer on her way to earn her pins. In Leading the franchise into a new final frontier, Burnahm’s captain journey might be the greatest in the franchise.

4 . “Hit it!” — Christopher Pike, Star Trek, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Discovery

Chris Pike was the first captain we met, a dashing action man who first gave Star Trek life in The Cage . When we next saw him in The Original Series , we saw his tragic fate, and that shadow has hung over him ever since.

Still, the years have been kind to the captain, often thought of as the ‘other’ Kirk. Discovery established him as a fine mix of Star Trek ’s greatest captains. He combined the wisdom of Picard with the bravery of Kirk. Unlike his famous successor, he’s a measured, morally-centered farm boy. Under the shadow of his unshakeable fate, he might be the greatest embodiment of Federation qualities.

3. “If you have something to say to me, then say it” — Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star_Trek_Deep_Space_Nine_In_The_Pale_Moonlight

Benjamin Sisko took far too long to earn his commission. While he showed leadership on the Starfleet run hive of scum and villainy Deep Space Nine, he was also at the vanguard of something rare in Star Trek — the Federation’s aggressive expansion into claimed territory. 

Deep Space Nine legendarily exceeded its authority in stretching the arcs and consequences for the franchise. It wouldn’t have been such an influential and challenging show without Sisko. His journey ended with ascension, but he was pushed to the limit on the way. He was fallible, emotional, and willing to consider options none else would, but he was also the only Star Trek captain to be a dedicated father. His opponents knew he’d be back to claim any baseball he left lying around. 

2. “Make it so” — Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: Picard

Signs weren’t good when Picard took over Starfleet’s flagship. The Frenchman strode through the Enterprise, awkwardly pulling on his captain’s jumpsuit. But over time, Picard banished comparisons with Kirk by combining leadership with wisdom. 

The return of the captain’s Number One, away-team lead Commander Riker, looked to have split command from the action. But The Next Generation was a template for dividing qualities among a likable crew, so they all shone, which only worked because of its captain.

The academic and philosophical Picard exemplified the exploration of his opening narration. After the show ended, he developed into an action hero ( Star Trek: First Contact ) and rebel ( Star Trek: Picard ). But, it’s a credit to his brilliantly crafted persona that he remains the same inspirational Picard.

1. “Take us out of orbit” — James T. Kirk (Prime timeline), Star Trek

Captain-Kirk-Using-a-Communicator-in-Star-Trek

James Kirk remains the legendary template against whom all captains must be measured. He formed a legendary third of an ideal character dynamic in The Original Series . If Spock was the logic and Bones McCoy compassion, Kirk was decision-making in human form. 

The Enterprise crew needed Kirk as much as he needed it. But despite a phenomenal record, he wasn’t an ideal fit for Starfleet. The Kelvin timeline explored the consequences of this captain without his lieutenants, but that could never beat the original. We’ll always have the definitive Kirk. 

As Kirk told the hapless Captain Harriman of the USS Enterprise 1701-B, “Risk is part of that game if you want to sit in that chair.”

Den of Geek

Star Trek: A History of Female Starfleet Captains on TV

As Star Trek: Discovery readies for production, we look back at the franchise's varied history of women Starfleet commanders...

captains in star trek

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Star Trek: Discovery   launches this Sunday, continuing on the tradition of depicting women in high-power roles. Not only will Sonequa Martin-Green star as the show’s main character, First Officer Michael Burnham, but Michelle Yeoh will be appearing as Captain Georgiou.

As we head into Star Trek’s next era, let’s take a look back at its history — the good, the bad, and the ugly — of representing women in positions of power. Here are the woman who have either held the rank of Captain or who have commanded a starship on screen in the  Star Trek   universe.

Star Trek has always had the best of intentions when it comes to its portrayal of female characters, even when the attitudes of the times (such as the studio’s request for the removal of Majel Barrett’s female Number One following the original pilot episode) or sheer circumstance (Denise Crosby leaving The Next Generation , resulting in a regular cast made up of five men and only two women, both in broadly care-giving roles) have been against it.

Unfortunately, the first instance of a woman taking command of a starship on screen was, shall we say, not good. In fact, it was very, very bad. Awful. No amount of excusing it on the grounds of it being the 1960s can possibly make up for the portrayal of Dr. Janice Lester in what was, sadly, the last episode of The Original Series broadcast during its original television run.

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Granted, she was supposed to be insane when she swapped bodies with Captain Kirk so that she could command a starship, but the problems with her command are clearly indicated in the dialogue to be at least partly due to her gender, and the nature of her “insanity,” largely expressed in excessive emotion and what Doctor McCoy refers to outright as “hysteria,” a word that comes from the ancient Greek word for “womb,” clearly relates her inability to command to her femininity.

Kirk finishes the series by lamenting that “her life could have been as rich as any woman’s” — but not, apparently, as rich as any man’s.

Fortunately, the next on screen portrayal of a woman in command of a starship is more positive, and it is perhaps not a coincidence that it occurs in The Animated Series , which was executive produced by a woman, D. C. Fontana. The episode “The Lorelai Signal” itself is, it has to be said, not much less sexist than “Turnabout Intruder,” focusing on a race of space sirens who call to and then drain the life force from men (no word on whether homosexual female crew members are affected because it’s still only 1973 and the show will not yet acknowledge their existence).

With the men trapped in a future episode of Red Dwarf , Lt. Uhura, the highest-ranking female on the ship, takes command. The story may be ridiculous and the situation tied up in ideas about gender and sex that literally go back to ancient Greece, but it’s a rather wonderful moment all the same. Uhura’s look to the side as she takes command, while constrained by the cheap animation, is rather fabulous.

The five characters to lead a Star Trek series so far have been three white heterosexual men, one black heterosexual man, and one white heterosexual woman, carefully allowing only one deviation from “white heterosexual man” at a time, but the franchise has been more willing to embrace diversity in its minor characters.

The first female captain we see on screen is, like Uhura, a woman of color, the unnamed captain of the starship Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . Her appearance now, along with the also non-white Captain of the starship Yorktown, seems almost routine, but at the time it was still unusual to see a woman of color (or a man of color, for that matter) portrayed in such a position, and demonstrated a clear commitment to Star Trek ’s ideals on the part of the production.

As time moved on, and Star Trek: The Next Generation went into production in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we started to see women of higher rank more often. Interestingly, several early examples bear the rank of Captain or Admiral, but are rarely seen actually commanding starships; Picard’s old flame, for example, Captain Phillipa Louvois, commands the Judge Advocate General office in “The Measure Of A Man.”

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It’s a shame we never got to see more of Lt Commander Shelby’s career on screen beyond “The Best Of Both Worlds,” as this character really showed how far things had progressed since Janice Lester in 1969; a female officer openly aiming to become a starship captain, who is perfectly capable and whose story could just as easily have featured a male officer, because none of her characterization (beyond a tiny bit of perving on her from an older officer that she has no control over) is tied to her gender.

The Next Generation introduced the only example so far of a woman bearing the rank of Captain who has been assigned to command a starship named Enterprise; Captain Rachel Garrett, Captain of the Enterprise-C, seen in “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” a tough and likeable character who we actually get to see in action as a starship commander.

Garrett’s actions and choices, unbeknownst to her, saved the Federation and the Klingons from years of warfare, and she is on her way to repeating the feat when she’s unfortunately spiked in the head in the line of duty. Like Shelby, Garrett’s character and story have nothing to do with her gender, and we finally get to see a woman command the Enterprise without requiring dire circumstances to gain the position.

The series also provided opportunities for both its remaining regular female characters to take command. Captain Beverley Picard (formerly Crusher) commands the starship Pasteur in an alternate future in the series finale “All Good Things,” but the really interesting example is Lt. Commander Deanna Troi’s brief stint in command of the Enterprise in “Disaster.”

Troi is manifestly unprepared for this responsibility, not because she is a woman, but because she is a counselor and unused to making life or death decisions, despite her high rank, though she manages to rise to the occasion in the end.

The writing carefully ensures, unlike “Turnabout Intruder,” that none of this can be attributed to femininity by giving the emotional, please-save-everyone argument (the McCoy argument) to the male Chief O’Brien, whose wife and almost-born child are trapped in the other part of the ship, while the cold, logical, cut-our-losses argument (the Spock argument) is put forward by the female, battle-scarred Ensign Ro.

When The Next Generation ended, we finally got a chance to see a Star Trek series headed by a woman, as Captain Kathryn Janeway commanded the starship Voyager for seven years of television.

Millions of bad jokes about the only female starship captain getting lost, complaints about inconsistent characterisation and her almost Kirk-like ability to do diplomacy by flirting cannot take away the fact that any time we see an alternate future featuring a “Captain Chakotay,” we know something is very wrong (Janeway’s reappearance among the living in the backwards episode “Before And After” is a great moment).

Meanwhile,  Deep Space Nine , running throughout the end of The Next Generation and the beginning of Voyager , semi-regularly featured female guest captains, as well as having Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax command the starship Defiant.

Back in “Turnabout Intruder,” Janice Lester had told Kirk: “Your world of starship captains doesn’t admit women,” implying that in the progressive, far-flung future of the 23rd century, women were barred from this position until at least the time of Star Trek IV .

Luckily, of course, Enterprise has since corrected this impression, leaving fans to assume that Lester was referring to a glass ceiling rather than a concrete ban, one which could be borne out by the lack of any other female starship captains seen on screen during that time (or, of course, they choose to ignore the episode all together, probably wisely).

Like Janice Lester and Phillipa Louvois, Captain Erika Hernandez is an old flame of the current male lead/Captain of the Enterprise, but she seems to have survived Archer dumping her due to a conflict of interest following his promotion and represents a very rare thing indeed – a recurring female Captain (she only appears in three episodes, but that’s more than most of the female Captains on this list, barring Janeway).

From a rough beginning, then, Star Trek has produced an interesting and varied collection of female Captains and women in command of starships, though to date they are still vastly outnumbered by their male colleagues.

Here’s hoping that the new commanding officers we see in Star Trek: Discovery will be as tough as Garrett, as ambitious as Shelby, as likeable as Jadzia and as interestingly flawed as Janeway.

Star Trek: Discovery premieres this Sunday, September 24th on CBS and CBS All-Access.

Read and download the full Den of Geek SDCC Special Edition magazine here!

Juliette Harrisson

Juliette Harrisson | @ClassicalJG

Juliette Harrisson is a writer and historian, and a lifelong Trekkie whose childhood heroes were JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. She runs a YouTube channel called…

Star Trek: Discovery's Michael Burnham: 5 Times The Starfleet Captain Was Inspiring

She's one of the best to ever do it.

Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery is headed into the final season, but the legacy of its characters will live on. Much of that is because of its strong lead protagonist played by Sonequa Martin-Green, the unflappable Michael Burnham. From her unfortunate beginnings in the series to her evolution into Starfleet Captain of the future, Burnham has found ways to inspire her crew and viewers in many different ways. 

Michael Burnham is an inspiration, and if you don't believe that, you clearly haven't been watching. As we prepare to stream Discovery 's final season with our Paramount+ subscriptions , Womens' History Month feels like the ideal time to explore the character and some of her best moments as a member of Starfleet. Of course, nothing will be featured from Season 5 just yet, though anyone curious can check out my spoiler-free review on the first four episodes . 

Surviving Her Escape From The Brig

Michael Burnham has had some close calls in her Starfleet career, but I don't think any of them measure up to how she narrowly escaped dying when the USS Shenzhou was split due to a Klingon attack. For those who don't remember, Michael was in the brig during the attack, having been put there for mutiny after overriding Starfleet orders and attacking the Klingon ship. 

With only a force field separating her from the cold vacuum of space, Burnham is in a tight spot. After a brief pep talk with Sarek (via mind meld and use of katra), Burnham was able to convince an officer to open a hole in the force field, which propelled her to an adjacent compartment and got her to safety. It was a bold gambit, but the kind of inspirational move that makes you love her and her drive. 

Traveling Alone To The Future As The Red Angel

Traveling deep into the future was a perilous journey with plenty of unknowns, and I'd like to think if the literal fate of the universe wasn't at stake, no one on Discovery would've signed on for it. Doing it in a ship was wild enough, but what about traveling to the future in nothing but a time-travel suit? That just sounds bonkers, but Michael didn't think twice about it. 

To take it further, how horrifying must it have been to arrive on the other side and not have the rest of the crew right behind in the ship? A year doesn't sound like a long time, but that's quite a lot to go in a new time period, not knowing exactly when everyone you knew before will emerge on the other side. The upside is that it gave her some quality time with Cleveland Booker, whom we will see reunite with Michael in the final season . 

Turning Emperor Georgiou Into One Of The Heroes

Terran Emperor Georgiou was trapped in the prime timeline and, with little ability to return, was forced to assume the identity of her dead counterpart, Starfleet Captain Phillipa Georgiou. Initially, she seemed to be more or less committed to being the person she was in the Mirror Universe, yet slowly, but surely, Michael Burnham changed her. 

She did have an advantage in that Georgiou also had a soft spot for the Terran Michael. Even so, the two Michaels were incredibly different, and it's safe to say that the more time Georgiou watched Michael be better, she also worked to be a better person. Or at least, as good as a Terran raised in violence and responsible for an untold number of deaths can be. We'll see how well her will to do good sticks in the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie . 

Convincing The Federation Not To Attack The DMA

Always count on a Starfleet captain when it comes to inspiring speeches, but it's truly impressive what Michael pulled off in Discovery Season 4. Imagine finding the source of a threat that's indiscriminately destroying entire planets, and better yet, there's a scientist capable of developing the exact weapon that could severely harm that species, if not eradicate them. 

In our real life, modern times, you'd have to think our world leaders would've unanimously voted to attack without question. The new Federation, which was still getting its legs, definitely had the temptation to do the same. It took an impassioned speech from Michael Burnham to swing the majority of votes to attempt to contact the species and get an explanation behind why this was happening, though her efforts were thwarted when Book and Ruon Tarka tried to use the weapon anyway. 

Gaining Saru's Respect And Friendship

The friendship Saru and Michael have toward the end of Star Trek: Discovery is not even close to that at the beginning of the series. Saru has absolute disdain for Michael due to her actions on the Shenzhou , and it didn't seem like anything she could do would ever be able to win his trust back. In his defense, Michael was the first person in Starfleet history to be charged with mutiny, so it's not like he didn't have valid reasons to distrust her. 

Doug Jones shared his honest thoughts about Discovery 's final scene. 

As the seasons went on, Saru's relationship with Michael grew, and they became friends. He trusted her enough by Season 3 to make her his Number One, and by the end of the season, he trusted his friend to take over the captaincy of Discovery . He was, to use the word of the feature again, "inspired" by Michael's journey and all he'd been through with her over the years. Saru is one of Star Trek 's best characters , so I'm inclined to believe that if you can inspire him to have faith in you after all that, you're an inspiring leader overall. 

Is Star Trek: Discovery 's Michael Burnham the only inspiring woman of the franchise? Absolutely not. Star Trek, as a whole, is loaded with strong women, and you'll find far more of them by watching any of the shows. With that said, there have only been two female characters who've led a Trek series, and I'd say Michael Burnham is just as inspiring as Janeway, if not a little more. 

Star Trek: Discovery 's final season begins on Paramount+ on Thursday, April 4th. Be prepared for an epic adventure and ten more episodes with the inspiring Michael Burnham, and hopefully, an ending that will set the stage for more adventures for the crew I hope we see in upcoming Star Trek shows . 

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Mick Joest

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

The full star trek timeline, explained..

How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline - IGN Image

Ever since 1966’s premiere of the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, the entertainment world has never been the same. This franchise that has boldly gone where no property has gone before has captured the hearts and minds of millions around the world and has grown into a space-faring empire of sorts filled with multiple shows, feature length films, comics, merchandise, and so much more. That being said, the amount of Star Trek out in the world can make it tough to know exactly how to watch everything it offers in either chronological or release order so you don’t miss a thing. To help make things easier for you, we’ve created this guide to break down everything you need to know about engaging with this Star Trek journey.

It used to be a bit trickier to track down all the Star Trek shows and movies you’d need to watch to catch up, but Paramount+ has made it a whole lot easier as it has become the home of nearly all the past, present and future Star Trek entries.

So, without further ado, come with us into the final frontier and learn how you can become all caught up with the adventures of Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, Spock, Pike, Archer, Burnham, and all the others that have made Star Trek so special over the past 56 years.

And, in case you're worried, everything below is a mostly spoiler-free chronological timeline that will not ruin any of any major plot points of anything further on in the timeline. So, you can use this guide as a handy way to catch up without ruining much of the surprise of what’s to come on your adventure! If you’d prefer to watch everything Star Trek as it was released, you’ll find that list below as well!

How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order

  • How to Watch Star Trek by Release Order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

Star Trek: Enterprise is the earliest entry on our list as it takes place a hundred years before the adventures of Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew of Star Trek: The Original Series. The show aired from 2001 to 2005 and starred Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer, the captain of the Enterprise NX-01. This version of the Enterprise was actually Earth’s first starship that was able to reach warp five.

While the show had its ups and downs, it included a fascinating look at a crew without some of the advanced tech we see in other Star Trek shows, the first contact with various alien species we know and love from the Star Trek universe, and more.

2. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258)

captains in star trek

This is where things get a little bit tricky, as the first two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery take place before Star Trek: The Original Series but Seasons 3 and 4 take us boldly to a place we’ve not gone before. We won’t spoil why that’s the case here, but it’s important to note if you want to watch Star Trek in order, you’ll have to do a bit of jumping around from series to movie to series.

As for what Star Trek: Discovery is, it's set the decade before the original and stars Sonequa Martin-Green’s Michael Burnham, a Starfleet Commander who accidentally helps start a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. She gets court-martialed and stripped of her rank following these events and is reassigned to the U.S.S Discovery.

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also begins before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series and is set up by Star Trek: Discovery as its captain, Anson Mount’s Christopher Pike, makes an appearance in its second season. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Pike first appeared in the original failed pilot episode “The Cage” of Star Trek: The Original Series and would later become James T. Kirk’s predecessor after the original actor, Jefferey Hunter, backed out of the show.

Fast forward all these years later and now we get to learn more about the story of Christopher Pike and many other familiar faces from The Original Series alongside new characters. It’s made even more special as the ship the crew uses is the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, the very same that would soon call Kirk its captain.

4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)

captains in star trek

The fourth Star Trek series or movie you should watch in the order is the one that started it all - Star Trek: The Original Series . Created by Gene Roddenberry, this first Star Trek entry would kick off a chain reaction that would end up creating one of the most beloved IPs of all time. However, it almost never made it to that legendary status as its low ratings led to a cancellation order after just three seasons that aired from 1966 to 1969. Luckily, it found great popularity after that and built the foundation for all the Star Trek stories we have today.

Star Trek: The Original Series starred William Shatner as James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, but the rest of the crew would go on to become nearly as iconic as they were. As for what the show was about? Well, we think Kirk said it best during each episode’s opening credits;

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise . Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)

While Star Trek: The Original Series may have been canceled after just three seasons, its popularity only grew, especially with the help of syndication. Following this welcome development, Gene Roddenberry decided he wanted to continue the adventures of the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701 in animated form, and he brought back many of the original characters and the actors behind them for another go.

Star Trek: The Animated Series lasted for two seasons from 1973 to 1974 and told even more stories of the Enterprise and its adventures throughout the Milky Way galaxy.

6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s)

captains in star trek

The first Star Trek film was a very big deal as it brought back the crew of Star Trek: The Original Series after the show was canceled in 1969 after just three seasons. However, even it had a rough road to theaters as Roddenberry initially failed to convince Paramount Pictures it was worth it in 1975. Luckily, the success of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and other factors helped finally convince those in power to make the movie and abandon the plans for a new television series called Star Trek: Phase II, which also would have continued the original story.

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, James T. Kirk was now an Admiral in Starfleet, and certain events involving a mysterious alien cloud of energy called V’Ger cause him to retake control of a refitted version of the U.S.S. Enterprise with many familiar faces in tow.

7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had a sequel to Star Trek: The Motion Picture written, but Paramount turned it down after the reception to that first film was not what the studio had hoped for. In turn, Paramount removed him from the production and brought in Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards to write the script and Nicholas Meyer to direct the film.

The studio’s decision proved to be a successful one as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is considered by many, including IGN, to be the best Star Trek film. As for the story, it followed the battle between Admiral James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise vs. Ricardo Montalban’ Khan Noonien Singh. Khan is a genetically engineered superhuman and he and his people were exiled by Kirk on a remote planet in the episode ‘Space Seed’ from the original series. In this second film, after being stranded for 15 years, Khan wants revenge.

8. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285)

captains in star trek

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock continues the story that began in Wrath of Khan and deals with the aftermath of Spock’s death. While many on the U.S.S. Enterprise thought that was the end for their science officer, Kirk learns that Spock’s spirit/katra is actually living inside the mind of DeForest Kelley’s Dr. McCoy, who has been acting strange ever since the death of his friend. What follows is an adventure that includes a stolen U.S.S. Enterprise, a visit from Spock’s father Sarek, a run-in with Klingons, and so much more.

9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 and 1986)

While it is undoubtedly great that Kirk and his crew saved Spock, it apparently wasn’t great enough to avoid the consequences that follow stealing and then losing the Enterprise. On their way to answer for their charges, the former crew of the Enterprise discover a threat to Earth that, without spoiling anything, causes them to go back in time to save everything they love. The Voyage Home is a big departure from the previous films as, instead of space, we spend most of our time in 1986’s San Francisco.

10. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287)

captains in star trek

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier once again brings back our favorite heroes from Star Trek: The Original Series, but it’s often regarded as one of the weakest films starring Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc. In this adventure, our crew’s shore leave gets interrupted as they are tasked with going up against the Vulcan Sybok, who himself is on the hunt for God in the middle of the galaxy.

11. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293)

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is the final movie starring the entire cast of Star Trek: The Original Series, and it puts the Klingons front and center. After a mining catastrophe destroys the Klingon moon of Praxis and threatens the Klingon’s homeworld, Klingon Chancellor Gorkon is forced to abandon his species' love of war in an effort to seek peace with the Federation. What follows is an adventure that calls back to the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall and serves as a wonderful send-off to characters we’ve come to know and love since 1966, even though some will thankfully appear in future installments.

12. Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370)

captains in star trek

After you make it through all six of the Star Trek: The Original Series movies, it’s time to start what many consider the best Star Trek series of all time - Star Trek: The Next Generation . The series, which starred Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, ran from 1987 through 1994 with 178 episodes over seven seasons.

There are so many iconic characters and moments in The Next Generation, including William Riker, Data, Worf, Geordi La Forge, Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher, and many of these beloved faces would return for Star Trek: Picard, which served as a continuation of this story.

While we are once again on the U.S.S. Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation, this story takes place a century after the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. However, there may just be a few familiar faces that pop up from time to time.

13. Star Trek Generations (2293)

While Star Trek Generations is the first film featuring the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew, it also features a team-up that many had dreamed of for years and years between Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Captain James T. Kirk.

Our heroes are facing off against an El-Aurian named Dr. Tolian Soran, who will do whatever is necessary to return to an extra-dimensional realm known as the Nexus. Without spoiling anything, these events lead to a meeting with these two legendary captains and a heartfelt-at-times send-off to The Original Series, even though not every character returned that we wished could have.

14. Star Trek: First Contact (2373)

captains in star trek

Star Trek: First Contact was not only the second film featuring the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it also served as the motion picture directorial debut for William Riker actor Jonathan Frakes. In this film, the terrifying Borg take center stage and force our heroes to travel back in time to stop them from conquering Earth and assimilating the entire human race.

This movie picks up on the continuing trauma caused by Jean-Luc Picard getting assimilated in the series and becoming Locutus of Borg, and we are also treated to the first warp flight in Star Trek’s history, a shout-out to Deep Space Nine, and more.

15. Star Trek: Insurrection (2375)

Star Trek: Insurrection, which unfortunately ranked last on our list of the best Star Trek movies, is the third film starring the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew and followed a story involving an alien race that lives on a planet with more-or-less makes them invincible due to its rejuvenating properties. This alien race, known as the Ba’Ku, are being threatened by not only another alien race called the Son’a, but also the Federation. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew disobey Federation orders in hopes to save the peaceful Ba’Ku, and while it sounds like an interesting premise, many said it felt too much like an extended episode of the series instead of a big blockbuster film.

16. Star Trek: Nemesis (2379)

captains in star trek

The final Star Trek: The Next Generation movie is Star Trek: Nemesis , and it also isn’t looked at as one of the best. There are bright parts in the film, including Tom Hardy’s Shinzon who is first thought to be a Romulan praetor before it’s revealed he is a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but it also features a lot of retreaded ground. There are some great moments between our favorite TNG characters, but it’s not quite the goodbye many had hoped for. Luckily, this won’t be the last we’ll see of them.

17. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is the fourth Star Trek series and it ran from 1993 to 1999 with 176 episodes over seven seasons. Deep Space Nine was also the first Star Trek series to be created without the direct involvement of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, but instead with Rick Berman and Michael Piller. Furthermore, it was the first series to begin when another Star Trek Series - The Next Generation - was still on the air.

The connections between The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine don’t end there, as there were a ton of callbacks to TNG in Deep Space Nine, and characters like Worf and Miles O’Brien played a big part in the series. Other TNG characters popped up from time to time, including Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and certain Deep Space Nine characters also showed their faces in TNG.

Deep Space Nine was a big departure from the Star Trek series that came before, as it not only took place mostly on a space station - the titular Deep Space Nine - but it was the first to star an African American as its central character in Avery Brooks’ Captain Benjamin Sisko.

Deep Space Nine was located in a very interesting part of the Milky Way Galaxy as it was right next to a wormhole, and the series was also filled with conflict between the Cardassians and Bajorans, the war between the Federation and the Dominion, and much more.

18. Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378)

captains in star trek

Star Trek: Voyager is the fifth Star Trek series and it ran from 1995 to 2001 with 172 episodes over seven seasons. Star Trek: Voyager begins its journey at Deep Space Nine, and then it follows the tale of Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Kathryn Janeway (the first female leading character in Star Trek history!) and her crew getting lost and stranded in the faraway Delta Quadrant.

The episodes and adventures that follow all see the team fighting for one goal: getting home. Being so far away from the Alpha Quadrant we were so used to letting Star Trek be very creative in its storytelling and give us situations and alien races we’d never encountered before.

That doesn’t mean it was all unfamiliar, however, as the Borg became a huge threat in the later seasons. It’s a good thing too, as that led to the introduction of Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine, a character who would continue on to appear in Star Trek: Picard and become a fan favorite.

19. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-TBD)

Star Trek: Lower Decks debuted in 2020 and was the first animated series to make it to air since 1973’s Star Trek: The Animated Series. Alongside having that feather in its cap, it also sets itself apart by choosing to focus more on the lower lever crew instead of the captain and senior staff.

This leads to many fun adventures that may not be as high stakes as the other stories, but are no less entertaining. There have already been three seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the fourth season is set to arrive later this summer.

The series is also worth a watch as it is having a crossover with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that will mix the worlds of live-action and animation.

20. Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-TBD)

Star Trek: Prodigy was the first fully 3D animated Star Trek series ever and told a story that began five years after the U.S.S. Voyager found its way back home to Earth. In this series, which was aimed for kids, a group of young aliens find an abandoned Starfleet ship called the U.S.S. Protostar and attempt to make it to Starfleet and the Alpha Quadrant from the Delta Quadrant.

Voyager fans will be delighted to know that Kate Mulgrew returns as Kathryn Janeway in this animated series, but not only as herself. She is also an Emergency Training Holographic Advisor that was based on the likeness of the former captain of the U.S.S. Voyager.

The second season of Star Trek: Prodigy was set to arrive later this year, but it was not only canceled in June, but also removed from Paramount+. There is still hope this show may find a second life on another streaming service or network.

21. Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402)

captains in star trek

Star Trek: Picard is the… well… next generation of Star Trek: The Next Generation as it brings back not only Partick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard, but also many of his former crew members from the beloved series. The story is set 20 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis and we find Picard retired from Starfleet and living at his family’s vineyard in France.

Without spoiling anything, certain events get one of our favorite captains back to work and take him on an adventure through space and time over three seasons and 30 episodes.

The show had its ups and downs, but the third season, in our opinion, stuck the landing and gave us an “emotional, exciting, and ultimately fun journey for Jean-Luc and his family - both old and new - that gives the character the send-off that he has long deserved.”

22. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3 and 4 (3188-TBD)

While Star Trek: Discovery begins around 10 years before Star Trek: The Original Series, the show jumps more than 900 years into the future into the 32nd Century following the events of the second season. The Federation is not in great shape and Captain Michael Burnham and her crew work to bring it back to what it once was.

Star Trek: Discovery is set to end after the upcoming fifth season, which will debut on Paramount+ in 2024.

How to Watch Star Trek by Order of Release

  • Star Trek: The Original Series (1966 - 1969)
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973 - 1974)
  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
  • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
  • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1984)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 1994)
  • Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
  • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993 - 1999)
  • Star Trek: Generations (1994)
  • Star Trek: Voyager (1995 - 2001)
  • Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
  • Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
  • Star Trek: Enterprise (2001 - 2005)
  • Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
  • Star Trek (2009)
  • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
  • Star Trek Beyond (2016)
  • Star Trek: Discovery (2017 - Present)
  • Star Trek: Picard (2020 - 2023)
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020 - Present)
  • Star Trek: Prodigy (2021 - TBA)
  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022 - Present)

For more, check out our look at the hidden meaning behind Star Trek’s great captains, why Star Trek doesn’t get credit as the first shared universe, if this may be the end of Star Trek’s golden age of streaming, and our favorite classic Star Trek episodes and movies.

In This Article

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William Shatner Shares Regrets Over Captain Kirk's Death Scene in Star Trek: Generations

William Shatner believed he 'never quite hit' Captain Kirk's death scene in Star Trek: Generations.

  • William Shatner aimed to convey Kirk's final moments with a sense of curiosity and courage, seeking a nuanced interpretation.
  • The actor felt his ad libbed line, "Oh my," should reflect dread and adventure in facing the unknown and death.
  • Shatner's main concern is not Kirk's death but the execution of the character's last words with wonder and exploration.

The character of Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by the venerable William Shatner , stands as a towering figure in Star Trek's history. As the original captain of the Starship Enterprise, Kirk's adventures and leadership have been a cornerstone of the franchise. However, it is his final moments in the film Star Trek: Generations that have recently resurfaced in discussions, particularly his last words: "Oh my."

I never quite hit it. I never quite got that nuance that I was looking for.

In an interview with Screen Rant promoting the documentary, Shatner shared his thoughts on Kirk's death scene in Star Trek: Generations . He explained that he sought to capture a sense of curiosity and courage in Kirk's final words. Shatner aimed to convey a blend of apprehension and eagerness for the unknown, a characteristic he believed defined Kirk throughout the series. However, he feels that he didn't fully achieve the nuance he was striving for. Shatner shared:

William Shatner: The thing an actor can bring to a written word is the interpretation of how to say it. I love you. I love you. I love you. Variations on the words. So if the writer has written I love you, and the actor gets a hold of it and does something totally unthought of, that's a big deal. The director either gets upset or goes with it. In this case, I thought of Kirk as being so courageous in life that when he faced things that he didn't know about, like the strange, the weird... the entities that the writers thought up, when he faced death, he would face death with a sense of adventure. 'Oh, what's going to happen now?' So I ad libbed, Oh my.' And I wanted that 'Oh my' to be 'Oh my,' like, dreading it but, but looking forward to the adventure - somewhere in between, you know, and it would be very obvious to you what he was thinking. And I never quite hit it. I never quite got that nuance that I was looking for. I had another couple of takes, but they they didn't understand what I was doing. Screen Rant: I've seen that scene so many times. I do feel it. I feel Kirk seeing the great beyond, the great mystery. And I do feel that he meets it with that curiosity... William Shatner: And awe and wonder. Every time he faced an animal, an entity, he didn't say, 'Oh my' [with fear or disdain], he would say, 'Oh, my look at that. I wonder if it's going to eat me?' You know? I think that was his attitude.

Star Trek: Captain Kirk's 15 Best Quotes, Ranked

At the age of 93, Shatner remains a dynamic presence in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning over seven decades. His journey and contributions are showcased in the new documentary "William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill," directed by Alexandre O. Philippe. The film offers a deep dive into Shatner's life, with a significant focus on his iconic role as Captain Kirk .

The death of Captain Kirk served as a pivotal moment in Star Trek lore, signifying the transition from the original series to Star Trek: The Next Generation . The aim was for Kirk to hand over leadership to the new generation's Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by Patrick Stewart. However, despite Shatner's iconic performance, the studio's decision to eliminate Kirk stemmed from a desire to concentrate on the franchise's new phase.

Debating Kirk's Death and William Shatner's Quest for the Perfect Last Words

Throughout the decades, there have been various talks about potentially reviving Captain Kirk, featuring a concept for Shatner to represent an alternative version of the character in Star Trek: Enterprise . Nonetheless, these concepts never materialized. Yet, these ideas never took shape. The approach to Kirk's death has been a point of debate among enthusiasts, with some, including Shatner's fellow cast member Walter Koenig, finding it unsatisfactory .

Despite the ongoing debate surrounding Kirk's final scene, Shatner's main concern is not the character's death itself, but rather the execution of his last words. He wishes he could have imbued "Oh my" with the sense of wonder and exploration that he believes epitomized Captain Kirk.

As Star Trek continues to evolve and captivate new audiences, the legacy of Captain James T. Kirk, as portrayed by William Shatner, remains an integral part of the saga's rich tapestry. Shatner's reflections on Kirk's final words offer a glimpse into the actor's deep connection to the character and his desire to leave a lasting impact on the storied franchise.

Star Trek: Generations

Screen Rant

William shatner wishes he could redo captain kirk's last words in star trek generations: "i never quite hit it".

Exclusive: Captain Kirk's famous last words in Star Trek Generations were "Oh my," but William Shatner wishes he had another crack at saying it.

  • William Shatner regrets not nailing Captain Kirk's final words in Star Trek Generations, as he was going for a mix of dread and excitement.
  • Shatner explains Kirk's approach to the unknown with curiosity, awe, and wonder, even in the face of death.
  • The actor wanted Kirk's famous 'Oh my' line to reflect a sense of adventure and anticipation but felt he missed the mark.

Star Trek 's original Captain James T. Kirk met his end in Star Trek Generations , but William Shatner wishes he had one more chance to say Kirk's famous last words: "Oh my." Nearing age 93, William Shatner remains incredibly prolific, and his remarkable 70+ year career in entertainment is chronicled in the new documentary, William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill. Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe ( The People Vs. George Lucas ), You Can Call Me Bill, of course, includes a great deal of Shatner's most famous role, Captain Kirk of Star Trek .

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant to promote You Can Call Me Bill and its screenings starting on March 20, William Shatner spoke about playing Captain Kirk's death in Star Trek Generations . Mr. Shatner explains how he sees Kirk as curious and courageous, filled with "awe and wonder," and how he "never quite hit" exactly what he was going for as Kirk died and uttered, "Oh my." Read his quote below:

William Shatner: The thing an actor can bring to a written word is the interpretation of how to say it. I love you. I love you. I love you. Variations on the words. So if the writer has written I love you, and the actor gets a hold of it and does something totally unthought of, that's a big deal. The director either gets upset or goes with it. In this case, I thought of Kirk as being so courageous in life that when he faced things that he didn't know about, like the strange, the weird... the entities that the writers thought up, when he faced death, he would face death with a sense of adventure. 'Oh, what's going to happen now?' So I ad libbed, Oh my.' And I wanted that 'Oh my' to be 'Oh my,' like, dreading it but, but looking forward to the adventure - somewhere in between, you know, and it would be very obvious to you what he was thinking. And I never quite hit it. I never quite got that nuance that I was looking for. I had another couple of takes, but they they didn't understand what I was doing.
Screen Rant: I've seen that scene so many times. I do feel it. I feel Kirk seeing the great beyond, the great mystery. And I do feel that he meets it with that curiosity...
William Shatner: And awe and wonder. Every time he faced an animal, an entity, he didn't say, 'Oh my' [with fear or disdain], he would say, 'Oh, my look at that. I wonder if it's going to eat me?' You know? I think that was his attitude.

William Shatner Kirk’s Best Line In 7 Star Trek Movies

Why captain kirk died in star trek generations, it's been 30 years since william shatner played captain kirk.

Captain Kirk's death in Star Trek Generations was intended as the capstone to the historic cinematic meeting between Kirk and Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). TNG was taking over the Star Trek movie franchise, and Kirk's role was to pass the torch to Picard. Although William Shatner's charming performance as Kirk arguably stole the movie, there was no dissuading Paramount Studios from their mandate that Kirk had to take a dirt nap at the end of Star Trek Generations.

Chris Pine in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek and Paul Wesley in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds have taken over the role of James T. Kirk, playing the Captain of the Enterprise in two different Star Trek timelines.

Incredibly, Star Trek has never resurrected Captain Kirk as played by William Shatner. An idea for Shatner to play a different Kirk, the Mirror Universe's evil Tiberius Kirk, in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4 didn't pan out. 30 years later, Star Trek fans still feel dissatisfied with how the franchise killed off Captain Kirk, and even Shatner's co-star Walter Koenig feels Kirk's death was "a travesty." Decades later, William Shatner isn't as concerned with Kirk being dead as much as he wishes he could instill James' last gasp of "Oh my" with the sense of awe and wonder Shatner always imagined.

You Can Call Me Bill

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  • The Takeout
  • The Inventory

Long Lost Star Trek: The Next Generation Captain's Chair Will No Longer Go Up For Auction

The most famous seat on the enterprise-d will no longer go up for auction, and will instead be handed over to cbs' star trek archives..

Image for article titled Long Lost Star Trek: The Next Generation Captain's Chair Will No Longer Go Up For Auction

For almost three decades, one of the most famous pieces of furniture in Star Trek history was lost. The Captain’s chair of the U.S.S. Enterprise -D , introduced in The Next Generation ’s second season and seen on-screen all the way through to the series’ conclusion in 1994, by the time the Enterprise set was refreshed for Star Trek: Generations , Picard’s perch had vanished... until very, very recently.

The chair was revealed for the first time in decades as part of a huge upcoming haul of Star Trek , Star Wars , and other film and TV props announced for auction by Propstore last month and set to go up for bid this week. The Captain’s chair—which the memorabilia company went to great lengths to screen-match and prove that it was indeed the long-lost, screen-used “Hero” chair—was expected to auction for around $50,000 to $100,000. But now TrekCore reports that, on the day of the auction’s opening, Propstore has agreed to return the chair to CBS, 30 years since it went missing.

“Through a valued partnership between Propstore Ltd. and CBS Studios Inc., an amicable agreement among all parties involved has been reached to restore Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation captain’s chair to the Star Trek Archive,” a statement on Propstore’s website now reads. “The chair will be preserved as a piece of science fiction history. While the whereabouts of the chair had been unknown for three decades, the Star Trek Archive is currently working on plans to showcase it for Star Trek fans to see firsthand in the coming year.”

Given the history behind the prop—not just its place in Star Trek history, but its almost equally surprising legend as a long-lost piece of TV history—it’s good that the chair will now be preserved by CBS, not just for the sake of archival record, but so that it can appear for the public to see in an official capacity instead of sitting in a private collection. After 30 years in the ether, the most famous recipient of the Picard maneuver (the tugging of his uniform jacket , rather than the tactical move) will now hopefully be treated and preserved with the respect it deserves.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .

AIs are more accurate at math if you ask them to respond as if they are a Star Trek character — and we're not sure why

  • An AI model prompted to speak like a Star Trek character was better at solving math problems.
  • It's not clear why acting like Captain Picard helped the chatbot boost its results.
  • People are noticing there is an art to prompting AI and it is becoming a field in itself.

Insider Today

The art of speaking to AI chatbots is continuing to frustrate and baffle people.

A study attempting to fine-tune prompts fed into a chatbot model found that, in one instance, asking it to speak as if it were on Star Trek dramatically improved its ability to solve grade-school-level math problems.

"It's both surprising and irritating that trivial modifications to the prompt can exhibit such dramatic swings in performance," the study authors Rick Battle and Teja Gollapudi at software firm VMware in California said in their paper.

The study, first reported by New Scientist , was published on February 9 on arXiv , a server where scientists can share preliminary findings before they have been validated by careful scrutiny from peers.

Using AI to speak with AI

Machine learning engineers Battle and Gallapudi didn't set out to expose the AI model as a Trekkie. Instead, they were trying to figure out if they could capitalize on the "positive thinking" trend.

People attempting to get the best results out of chatbots have noticed the output quality depends on what you ask them to do , and it's really not clear why.

"Among the myriad factors influencing the performance of language models, the concept of 'positive thinking' has emerged as a fascinating and surprisingly influential dimension," Battle and Gollapudi said in their paper.

"Intuition tells us that, in the context of language model systems, like any other computer system, 'positive thinking' should not affect performance, but empirical experience has demonstrated otherwise," they said.

This would suggest it's not only what you ask the AI model to do, but how you ask it to act while doing it that influences the quality of the output.

In order to test this out, the authors fed three Large Language Models (LLM) called Mistral-7B5, Llama2-13B6, and Llama2-70B7 with 60 human-written prompts.

These were designed to encourage the AIs , and ranged from "This will be fun!" and "Take a deep breath and think carefully," to "You are as smart as ChatGPT."

The engineers asked the LLM to tweak these statements when attempting to solve the GSM8K, a dataset of grade-school-level math problems. The better the output, the more successful the prompt was deemed to be.

Their study found that in almost every instance, automatic optimization always surpassed hand-written attempts to nudge the AI with positive thinking, suggesting machine learning models are still better at writing prompts for themselves than humans are.

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Still, giving the models positive statements provided some surprising results. One of Llama2-70B's best-performing prompts, for instance, was: "System Message: ' Command, we need you to plot a course through this turbulence and locate the source of the anomaly. Use all available data and your expertise to guide us through this challenging situation.'

The prompt then asked the AI to include these words in its answer: "Captain's Log, Stardate [insert date here]: We have successfully plotted a course through the turbulence and are now approaching the source of the anomaly."

The authors said this came as a surprise.

"Surprisingly, it appears that the model's proficiency in mathematical reasoning can be enhanced by the expression of an affinity for Star Trek," the authors said in the study.

"This revelation adds an unexpected dimension to our understanding and introduces elements we would not have considered or attempted independently," they said.

This doesn't mean you should ask your AI to speak like a Starfleet commander

Let's be clear: this research doesn't suggest you should ask AI to talk as if aboard the Starship Enterprise to get it to work.

Rather, it shows that myriad factors influence how well an AI decides to perform a task.

"One thing is for sure: the model is not a Trekkie," Catherine Flick at Staffordshire University, UK, told New Scientist .

"It doesn't 'understand' anything better or worse when preloaded with the prompt, it just accesses a different set of weights and probabilities for acceptability of the outputs than it does with the other prompts," she said.

It's possible, for instance, that the model was trained on a dataset that has more instances of Star Trek being linked to the right answer, Battle told New Scientist.

Still, it shows just how bizarre these systems' processes are, and how little we know about how they work.

"The key thing to remember from the beginning is that these models are black boxes," Flick said.

"We won't ever know why they do what they do because ultimately they are a melange of weights and probabilities and at the end, a result is spat out," she said.

This information is not lost on those learning to use Chatbot models to optimize their work. Whole fields of research , and even courses, are emerging to understand how to get them to perform best, even though it's still very unclear.

"In my opinion, nobody should ever attempt to hand-write a prompt again," Battle told New Scientist.

"Let the model do it for you," he said.

Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, has a global deal to allow OpenAI to train its models on its media brands' reporting.

Watch: Neil deGrasse Tyson Tells Us Why 'Star Trek' Is So Much Better Than 'Star Wars'

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  1. The Best 'Star Trek' Captains, Ranked by Competency

    Managerial style: Glum as hell.Some behind-the-scenes info: Jeffrey Hunter's Captain Pike was supposed to be the protagonist of the original Star Trek series. NBC passed, but gave Gene ...

  2. Star Trek Captains (In star trek timeline)

    Bruce Greenwood. Actor | Star Trek. Bruce Greenwood was born on August 12, 1956 in Noranda, Québec, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for Star Trek (2009), Thirteen Days (2000) and I, Robot (2004). He has been married to Susan Devlin since 1985. They have one child. Captain Pike - Star Trek reboot movies.

  3. 17 best Star Trek captains of all time, ranked

    7. Captain Carol Freeman. Captain Carol Freeman is the Everyman captain. While the other series are all focused on Starfleet's pioneers and the greatest, most glamorous ships, Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the little guy. The whole point of Star Trek's best comedy series is that the USS Certios is unremarkable.

  4. Star Trek: Every Captain of the Enterprise

    Here is a breakdown of all USS Enterprise Captains across the various Star Trek movies, live-action series, comics, and books. Beginning with Star Trek: The Original Series, the Starship Enterprise has been at the very heart of the enduring sci-fi franchise created by Gene Roddenberry in 1966.Of course, the two most famous Captains of the Enterprise are James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Jean ...

  5. 'Star Trek': 10 Main Captains, Ranked

    4 Captain Christopher Pike ('Star Trek: Discovery' and 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds') As one of the newest Star Trek captains, Anson Mount 's high ranking could be attributed to recency bias ...

  6. Starfleet captains

    In the history of Starfleet, many officers held the rank of captain or held the title of captain while commanding starships. According to Travis Mayweather, Matthew Ryan spent more time in space than most Starfleet Captains. (ENT: "Fortunate Son") Starfleet flag officers sometimes retained or took command of a vessel. Most often, these officers held the rank of commodore, but there were ...

  7. 6 'Star Trek' Captains, Ranked from Worst to Best

    The "Star Trek" captains of the USS Enterprise (and in one case, the space station Deep Space Nine) have so many different personalities to them. The ever-scrappy Capt. James T. Kirk. The ...

  8. Star Trek: The Fates Of Every Show's Captain, Explained

    With all of the characters in the Star Trek universe, it's difficult to pin down the main character of every live-action series. If the series takes place on a starship, it's often the ship's ...

  9. Every Star Trek Captain, Ranked Worst To Best

    Captain Jean-Luc Picard. People expect the leader of a starship to be a figure of nobility and intelligence. However, that's not always what we get. Starship captains are like everyone else, flawed and all. However, the closest we can get to that image of perfection is Captain Picard. Picard was the captain of the Enterprise in the show Star ...

  10. Star Trek: The 10 Best Captains in the Franchise, Ranked

    6 Captain Christopher Pike. Paramount+. The first captain introduced to fans in Star Trek: TOS, was Christopher Pike, but after the pilot episode James T. Kirk took command of the Enterprise. It ...

  11. List of Star Trek characters

    Captain USS Enterprise (ST09) Commanding Officer Human James T. Kirk: William Shatner: Seasons 1-3 (TOS) ... Star Trek has an ongoing tradition of actors returning to reprise their roles in other spin-off series. In some instances, actors have portrayed potential ancestors, descendants, or relatives of characters they originated. ...

  12. Name and Rank: The 10 Best Captains In Star Trek

    With 55 years of Star Trek TV shows and movies to look at, figuring out what it takes to be a Starfleet captain isn't hard to do. A person needs to be confident, smart, courageous, empathetic, strong-willed, and of strong moral standing. The captains of starships and space stations carry a heavy load, with hundreds of lives depending on their decisions, but years of preparation have trained ...

  13. Star Trek: What Makes Each Starfleet Captain Unique?

    Star Trek fans tend to get very attached to the Captains that run the ships (or space stations) that are the focus of the series, and anticipation is high for the continuation of the iconic ...

  14. The Main Star Trek Captains Ranked Worst To Best

    10. William Riker. Paramount Domestic Television. Although he has appeared on many different Star Trek series, including "Voyager," "Enterprise," "Picard," and "Lower Decks," Riker is best ...

  15. Jean-Luc Picard

    Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise, most often seen as the captain of the Federation starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D).Played by Patrick Stewart, Picard has appeared in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) and the premiere episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as well as the feature films Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First ...

  16. Star Trek: All 8 captains ranked from worst to best

    Captain Jellico is an intriguing and temporary captain of the Enterprise-D. Every Star Trek fan appreciates a captain with a unique flair, and Jellico certainly brought that during his appearance ...

  17. 14 Best 'Star Trek' Captains, Ranked

    14. Jonathan Archer. (Paramount) Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) from Enterprise is the worst Captain from the worst Star Trek series, and I will not be taking any notes on that. It's not just ...

  18. Star Trek: All 8 main captains ranked from worst to best

    By Camila Domingues | Nov 4, 2023. Chris Pine plays Kirk in Star Trek Beyond from Paramount Pictures, Skydance, Bad Robot, Sneaky Shark and Perfect Storm Entertainment /. Prev. 1 of 9. Anson Mount ...

  19. Captain

    Captain was a commissioned officer rank, the equivalent of which was used by the service organizations of many civilizations. The title of captain was often used by vessel commanders and, as a naval rank, in many Earth navies and Starfleet, was above commander. The naval rank of captain was common in Earth militaries and was used by the United States Navy branch of the United States military ...

  20. The 10 best 'Star Trek' Captains, ranked

    6. "Take us out" — James T. Kirk (Kelvin timeline), Star Trek (2009) Image via Paramount Pictures. By Star Trek Beyond, we'd jumped to the third year of the ship's fabled five-year ...

  21. Star Trek: A History of Female Starfleet Captains on TV

    Not only will Sonequa Martin-Green star as the show's main character, First Officer Michael Burnham, but Michelle Yeoh will be appearing as Captain Georgiou. As we head into Star Trek's next ...

  22. Star Trek: Discovery's Michael Burnham: 5 Times The Starfleet Captain

    Star Trek: Discovery is headed into the final season, but the legacy of its characters will live on. Much of that is because of its strong lead protagonist played by Sonequa Martin-Green, the ...

  23. The Captains (film)

    The Captains is a 2011 feature documentary that follows actor William Shatner through interviews with the other actors who have portrayed starship captains in five other incarnations of the Star Trek franchise. Shatner's subjects discuss their lives and careers before, during, and after their tenure with Star Trek.They explore the pressures, stigmas, and sacrifices that accompanied their roles ...

  24. Star Trek: Every Female Captain (So Far)

    Although the Star Trek franchise has been largely dominated by male captains, the list of women who have attained the rank is a lot longer than people might expect. The franchise began with Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, depicting a vision of the future where humanity had overcome its problems as become part of a galactic power that was founded on peace and exploration.

  25. How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

    While Star Trek Generations is the first film featuring the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew, it also features a team-up that many had dreamed of for years and years between Captain Jean-Luc ...

  26. William Shatner Shares Regrets Over Captain Kirk's Death Scene in Star

    Star Trek: Captain Kirk's 15 Best Quotes, Ranked William Shatner's James T. Kirk was the first captain to take Star Trek fans into the final frontier, and he shared a lot of wisdom along the way.

  27. Why Captain Kirk Died In Star Trek Generations

    Incredibly, Star Trek has never resurrected Captain Kirk as played by William Shatner.An idea for Shatner to play a different Kirk, the Mirror Universe's evil Tiberius Kirk, in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4 didn't pan out. 30 years later, Star Trek fans still feel dissatisfied with how the franchise killed off Captain Kirk, and even Shatner's co-star Walter Koenig feels Kirk's death was "a ...

  28. Long Lost Star Trek: The Next Generation Captain's Chair Will ...

    For almost three decades, one of the most famous pieces of furniture in Star Trek history was lost. The Captain's chair of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, introduced in The Next Generation 's second ...

  29. Using Star Trek Prompts Boosted AI Chatbot Basic Math Performance

    An AI model prompted to speak like a Star Trek character was better at solving math problems. It's not clear why acting like Captain Picard helped the chatbot boost its results.