best star trek story arcs

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The promotional logo for DS9's "final chapter" story arc

Story arcs are story lines in Star Trek that are told over the course of multiple episodes. They are not simply two-parters or recurring characters and themes, but rather plots that are interwoven with other arcs and plot threads. An example of this is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's introduction of the Dominion and the eventual Dominion War . Story arcs often take precedence over other plot elements and consume a series for several consecutive episodes, but in many cases (such as the Dominion War) they may take a back seat and re-enter the picture later on.

Prior to DS9, story arcs were a relatively minor part of the Star Trek universe. Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation both largely restored the status quo ante at the end of each episode, and even two-part episodes were somewhat rare. This changed due to the stationary nature of space station Deep Space 9 , which did not simply move on to the next adventure each week; characters' actions had lasting consequences, and the events of one episode directly influenced the next. At the time, Ira Steven Behr had to fight with Viacom over making the show so serialized. [1]

Star Trek: Voyager took the idea of the story arc in a different direction by setting itself aboard a starship as per the traditional Trek formula but stranding its crew in the distant Delta Quadrant . This both enhanced and reduced the prevalence of story arcs; while alien races such as the Kazon and Borg appeared in multiple episodes, the show was hampered by its very nature: the object was to leave familiar elements behind, which meant each plot thread had a limited life span.

Star Trek: Enterprise , like DS9 before it, often relied on story arcs such as the Temporal Cold War and the Xindi arc that took up the entire third season . By the show's fourth season , Enterprise wrapped up these story arcs and instead refocused on the show's prequel concept with a series of "mini arcs." Most season four episodes are two- or three-part story lines, with few stand-alone episodes.

Feature-length episodes [ ]

These episodes are originally broadcast in two hours, as opposed to the standard one hour. After their original run, feature length episodes are re-cut as two part episodes (see below), but are usually released in their original broadcast format as a single episode. They include:

• " Encounter at Farpoint "
• " All Good Things... "
• " Emissary "
• " The Way of the Warrior "
• " What You Leave Behind "
• " Caretaker "
• " The Killing Game " (United Kingdom only)
• " Dark Frontier "
• " Flesh and Blood "
• " Endgame "
• " Broken Bow "

" The Killing Game " and " The Killing Game, Part II " aired on the same night in their premiere in the United States but were not edited into a single episode. A feature-length version was broadcast by the BBC on its first airing on 5 September 1999 , and formed part of the UK VHS release Star Trek: Voyager - Movies .

Two-part episodes [ ]

These episodes air separately, but tell the same story. It is typical for the first part to end with the line "To Be Continued...". They are frequently used to end and begin seasons. Two-part episodes include:

• " The Menagerie, Part I " and " The Menagerie, Part II "
• " The Best of Both Worlds " and " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II "
• " Redemption " and " Redemption II "
• " Unification I " and " Unification II "
• " Time's Arrow " and " Time's Arrow, Part II "
• " Chain Of Command, Part I " and " Chain Of Command, Part II "
• " Birthright, Part I " and " Birthright, Part II "
• " Descent " and " Descent, Part II "
• " Gambit, Part I " and " Gambit, Part II "
• " The Maquis, Part I " and " The Maquis, Part II "
• " The Search, Part I " and " The Search, Part II " (see below)
• " Past Tense, Part I " and " Past Tense, Part II "
• " Improbable Cause " and " The Die is Cast "
• " Homefront " and " Paradise Lost "
• " In Purgatory's Shadow " and " By Inferno's Light "
• " Favor the Bold " and " Sacrifice of Angels " (see below)
• " Image in the Sand " and " Shadows and Symbols " (see below)
• " Basics, Part I " and " Basics, Part II "
• " Future's End " and " Future's End, Part II "
• " Scorpion " and " Scorpion, Part II "
• " Year of Hell " and " Year of Hell, Part II "
• " The Killing Game " and " The Killing Game, Part II "
• " Equinox " and " Equinox, Part II "
• " Unimatrix Zero " and " Unimatrix Zero, Part II "
• " Workforce " and " Workforce, Part II "
• " Shockwave " and " Shockwave, Part II "
• " Storm Front " and " Storm Front, Part II "
• " Affliction " and " Divergence "
• " In a Mirror, Darkly " and " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "
• " Demons " and " Terra Prime "
• " The Vulcan Hello " and " Battle at the Binary Stars "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow " and " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 "
• " Terra Firma, Part 1 " and " Terra Firma, Part 2 "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 " and " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "
• " First First Contact " and " Grounded "
• " The Inner Fight " and " Old Friends, New Planets "
• " A Moral Star, Part 1 " and " A Moral Star, Part 2 "
• " Supernova, Part 1 " and " Supernova, Part 2 "

Notably, DIS Season 3 was bookended by episodes titled " That Hope Is You, Part 1 " and " That Hope Is You, Part 2 ", though the two were not a single "episode" composed of consecutive episodes in the same series. That season also featured " Unification III " despite " Unification II " being an episode of TNG Season 5 .

Similarly, " Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus " also served as a sequel to " Crisis Point " but did not immediately follow that episode.

Three-part episodes [ ]

Three consecutive episodes that air separately, but tell the same story.

• " The Best of Both Worlds ", " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II ", " Family "
• " The Homecoming ", " The Circle ", and " The Siege "
• " The Jem'Hadar ", " The Search, Part I ", and " The Search, Part II "
• " Tears of the Prophets ", " Image in the Sand ", and " Shadows and Symbols "
• " Scorpion ", " Scorpion, Part II ", and " The Gift "
• " Borderland ", " Cold Station 12 ", and " The Augments "
• " The Forge ", " Awakening ", and " Kir'Shara "
• " Babel One ", " United ", and " The Aenar "

Multi-episode arcs [ ]

Multi-episode arcs tell a continuing story and are spread out through several different episodes throughout one or multiple seasons.

The Next Generation [ ]

• " Hide And Q "
• " Tapestry "
• " The Battle "
• " Bloodlines "
• " Datalore "
• " Silicon Avatar "
• " Coming of Age "
• " Conspiracy "
• " The Drumhead "
• " Yesterday's Enterprise "
• " The Mind's Eye "
• " Redemption "
• " Redemption II "
• " Unification I "
• " Unification II "

Deep Space Nine [ ]

• " Rapture "
• " Past Prologue "
• " In the Hands of the Prophets "
• " The Homecoming "
• " The Circle "
• " The Siege "
• " The Maquis, Part II "
• " Civil Defense "
• " Indiscretion "
• " Return to Grace "
• " In Purgatory's Shadow "
• " A Time to Stand "
• " Sons and Daughters "
• " Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night "
• " Covenant "
• " The House of Quark "
• " Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places "
• " Heart of Stone "
• " Crossfire "
• " Children of Time "
• " Call to Arms "
• " His Way "
• " Chimera "
• " The Die is Cast "
• " The Adversary "
• " Homefront "
• " Paradise Lost "
• " Apocalypse Rising "
• " By Inferno's Light "
• " Sons of Mogh "
• " Rules of Engagement "
• " Broken Link "
• " Nor the Battle to the Strong "
• " For the Cause "
• " For the Uniform "
• " Blaze of Glory "
• " In the Cards "
• " Rocks and Shoals "
• " Behind the Lines "
• " Favor the Bold "
• " Sacrifice of Angels "
• " Honor Among Thieves "
• " Prodigal Daughter "
• " The Siege of AR-558 "
• " It's Only a Paper Moon "
• " Penumbra "
• " 'Til Death Do Us Part "
• " Strange Bedfellows "
• " The Changing Face of Evil "
• " When It Rains... "
• " Tacking Into the Wind "
• " Extreme Measures "
• " The Dogs of War "

Voyager [ ]

• " State of Flux "
• " Maneuvers "
• " Alliances "
• " Lifesigns "
• " Investigations "
• " Basics, Part I "
• " Basics, Part II "
• " Death Wish "
• " The Q and the Grey "
• " Message in a Bottle "
• " Hunters "
• " The Killing Game "
• " The Killing Game, Part II "
• " Course: Oblivion "
• " Pathfinder "
• " Life Line "
• " Inside Man "
• " Author, Author "
• " Fair Haven "
• " Spirit Folk "

Enterprise [ ]

• " Cold Front "
• " Detained "
• " Two Days and Two Nights "
• " Shockwave "
• " Shockwave, Part II "
• " Future Tense "
• " The Expanse "
• " Carpenter Street "
• " Harbinger "
• " Azati Prime "
• " Zero Hour "
• " Storm Front "
• " Storm Front, Part II "
• " The Andorian Incident "
• " Shadows of P'Jem "
• " Cease Fire "
• " Proving Ground "
• " The Forge "
• " Awakening "
• " Kir'Shara "
• " Fallen Hero "
• " Desert Crossing "
• " Minefield "
• " Dead Stop "
• " Marauders "
• " Judgment "
• " The Xindi "
• " Anomaly (ENT) "
• " Extinction "
• " Impulse "
• " The Shipment "
• " Twilight "
• " North Star "
• " Similitude "
• " Chosen Realm "
• " Stratagem "
• " Doctor's Orders "
• " Hatchery "
• " The Forgotten "
• " The Council "
• " Countdown "
• " Terra Prime "

Discovery [ ]

• " The Vulcan Hello "
• " Battle at the Binary Stars "
• " Context Is for Kings "
• " The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry "
• " Choose Your Pain "
• " Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad "
• " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum "
• " Into the Forest I Go "
• " The War Without, The War Within "
• " Will You Take My Hand? "
• " Brother "
• " New Eden "
• " Point of Light "
• " An Obol for Charon "
• " Saints of Imperfection "
• " The Sound of Thunder "
• " Light and Shadows "
• " If Memory Serves "
• " Project Daedalus "
• " The Red Angel "
• " Perpetual Infinity "
• " Through the Valley of Shadows "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 "
• " That Hope Is You, Part 1 "
• " Far From Home "
• " People of Earth "
• " Forget Me Not "
• " Die Trying "
• " Scavengers "
• " Unification III "
• " The Sanctuary "
• " Terra Firma, Part 1 "
• " Terra Firma, Part 2 "
• " There Is A Tide... "
• " That Hope Is You, Part 2 "
• " Kobayashi Maru "
• " Anomaly (DIS) "
• " Choose to Live "
• " All Is Possible "
• " The Examples "
• " Stormy Weather "
• " ...But to Connect "
• " Rubicon "
• " The Galactic Barrier "
• " Rosetta "
• " Species Ten-C "
• " Coming Home "
• " Remembrance "
• " Maps and Legends "
• " The End is the Beginning "
• " Absolute Candor "
• " Stardust City Rag "
• " The Impossible Box "
• " Nepenthe "
• " Broken Pieces "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "
• " The Star Gazer "
• " Penance "
• " Assimilation "
• " Watcher "
• " Fly Me to the Moon "
• " Two of One "
• " Monsters "
• " Hide and Seek "
• " Farewell "
• " The Next Generation "
• " Disengage "
• " Seventeen Seconds "
• " No Win Scenario "
• " Imposters "
• " The Bounty "
• " Dominion "
• " Surrender "
• " The Last Generation "

Lower Decks [ ]

• " No Small Parts "
• " Kayshon, His Eyes Open "
• " The Spy Humongous "
• " wej Duj "
• " First First Contact "
• " Grounded "
• " I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee "
• " Something Borrowed, Something Green "
• " Empathological Fallacies "
• " Parth Ferengi's Heart Place "
• " A Few Badgeys More "
• " The Inner Fight "
• " Old Friends, New Planets "
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Subject arcs [ ]

Section 31 [ ].

22nd century episodes

• " Affliction "
• " Divergence "

23rd century episodes

24th century episodes

• " Inquisition "
• " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges "

The mirror universe [ ]

• " In a Mirror, Darkly "
• " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "
• " Despite Yourself "
• " The Wolf Inside "
• " Vaulting Ambition "
• " What's Past Is Prologue "
• " Mirror, Mirror "
• " Crossover "
• " Through the Looking Glass "
• " Shattered Mirror "
• " Resurrection "
• " The Emperor's New Cloak "

The alternate reality [ ]

• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Star Trek Beyond

Q -related episodes

• " Veritas "

Multi-series arcs [ ]

Starting in...

The Original Series [ ]

• TOS : " The Cage "
• DIS : " If Memory Serves "
• TOS : " The Menagerie, Part I ", " The Menagerie, Part II "
• SNW : " Among the Lotus Eaters "
• DIS : " Choose Your Pain ", " Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad "
• ST : " The Escape Artist "
• TOS : " Mudd's Women ", " I, Mudd "
• TAS : " Mudd's Passion "
• TOS : " The Naked Time "
• TNG : " The Naked Now "
• TOS : " Shore Leave "
• TAS : " Once Upon a Planet "
• SNW : " Memento Mori ", " All Those Who Wander ", " The Broken Circle ", " Lost in Translation ", " Hegemony "
• TOS : " Arena "
• PIC : " Farewell "
• ENT : " Borderland ", " Cold Station 12 ", " The Augments "
• SNW : " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow "
• TOS : " Space Seed "
• TOS : " Errand of Mercy "
• TAS : " The Time Trap "
• DS9 : " Blood Oath ", " The Sword of Kahless ", and " Once More Unto the Breach "
• TOS : " The City on the Edge of Forever "
• TAS : " Yesteryear "
• DIS : " Terra Firma, Part 1 " and " Terra Firma, Part 2 "
• ST : " The Trouble with Edward "
• TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles "
• TAS : " More Tribbles, More Troubles "
• DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations "
• TOS : " The Tholian Web "
• ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ", " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "
• DIS : " Despite Yourself ", " The Wolf Inside "
• TNG : " Where No One Has Gone Before ", " Remember Me ", and " Journey's End "
• TNG : " Datalore ", " Brothers ", " Descent ", and " Descent, Part II "
• PIC : " The Bounty ", " Dominion " and " Surrender "
• TNG : " Elementary, Dear Data " and " Ship In A Bottle "
• PIC : " The Bounty "
• TNG : " The Outrageous Okona "
• LD : " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers "
• PRO : " Crossroads ", " Masquerade "
• TNG : " Q Who "
• Star Trek: First Contact
• ENT : " Regeneration "
• TNG : " The Price "
• VOY : " False Profits "
• TNG : " Captain's Holiday " and " Qpid "
• DS9 : " Q-Less "
• TNG : " Sins of The Father ", " Reunion ", " The Mind's Eye ", " Redemption ", " Redemption II "
• DS9 : " Past Prologue "
• TNG : " Firstborn "
• Star Trek Generations
• DS9 : " The Sword of Kahless "
• TNG : " Unification I ", " Unification II ", " Face Of The Enemy "
• DIS : " Unification III "
• TNG : " Second Chances "
• DS9 : " Defiant "
• TNG : " The First Duty ", " Lower Decks ", " Journey's End "
• LD : " Twovix ", " I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee ", " Something Borrowed, Something Green ", " Empathological Fallacies ", " Parth Ferengi's Heart Place ", " A Few Badgeys More ", " The Inner Fight ", " Old Friends, New Planets "
• TNG : " The Chase "
• DIS : " Red Directive ", " Under the Twin Moons ", " Jinaal ", " Face the Strange ", " Mirrors "
• TNG : " The Pegasus "
• ENT : " These Are the Voyages... "
• DS9 : " The Maquis, Part I ", " The Maquis, Part II "
• TNG : " Preemptive Strike "
• DS9 : " Tribunal ", " Defiant "
• VOY : " Caretaker ", " Parallax "
• DS9 : " Heart of Stone "
• VOY : " Learning Curve ", " Dreadnought "
• DS9 : " For the Cause ", " For the Uniform ", " Blaze of Glory "
• VOY : " Worst Case Scenario ", " Extreme Risk ", " Repression "
• PIC : " Imposters "
• SNW : " Ghosts of Illyria ", " A Quality of Mercy ", " The Broken Circle ", " Ad Astra per Aspera "
• DS9 : " Doctor Bashir, I Presume ", " Statistical Probabilities ", " Chrysalis "

Short Treks [ ]

• ST : " The Brightest Star "
• DIS : " The Sound of Thunder ", and " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 "
• ST : " Children of Mars "
• PIC : " Broken Pieces ", " Absolute Candor ", PIC : " Maps and Legends ", and " The End is the Beginning "
• SNW : " The Serene Squall "
• PIC : " Remembrance ", " The End is the Beginning ", " Absolute Candor "
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The best Star Trek series, ranked

Ready to settle in and watch some Star Trek episodes? Since there are so many, we’ve ranked all of the different series to help you get started on your quest.

Star Trek is one of the greatest franchises ever created. If you're new to the world of transporters and holodecks, you have so much wonderful content to catch up on — of course, some would say too much content.

Since there are over 850 episodes and counting (all of which you can stream on Paramount+ ), watching all of Star Trek can be more difficult than fighting a Gorn in the desert. To make things easier for you to get started, we've ranked every series (besides the short-form series Short Treks ) of this long-running franchise. Some of these choices were a bit daunting to play favorites with, but, like Jim Kirk, there's no belief in the no-win scenario.

Without further ado, here's our list of every Star Trek series ranked from worst to best.

11. Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Star Trek: Picard was meant to be like comfort food to fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation . And whether fans were turned off by the changes in franchise direction with shows like Discovery or just wanted to see Patrick Stewart back in action, Paramount clearly thought this show would be almost universally beloved.

That didn't happen . The warm and fuzzy feeling of seeing a few familiar faces in the first season evaporated because of an often-confusing plot about androids. The second season continued this confusion with a time-travel story that often bordered on incoherence. While many Star Trek shows take a few seasons to hit their stride, it was shocking that so much of this relatively short series was seemingly created with "make it so-so" in mind.

10. Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974)

If you're in the right mood (or you've been sipping on some Saurian brandy), Star Trek: The Animated Series has some wacky entertainment value. Any given episode had the writers throwing in stories like a giant version of a beloved character. And the animators threw some fun curveballs, including making the embodiment of evil into a shirtless hottie that would make even shirtless Kirk jealous.

However, this animated show was often caught between two very different worlds. It wasn't fully a return to the (relatively) grounded exploration of space, science, and morality of The Original Series . And it didn't fully lean into the chaotic possibilities of a cartoon world (something Lower Decks would later handle much better). So, while more and more elements of The Animated Series have become canonical thanks to shows like Discovery , and it's fun to hear the voice acting of the Original Series cast, this cartoon is one that all but the most hardcore fans can skip.

9. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Despite what you might have heard, Star Trek: Enterprise is not a bad show. It just didn't start as a very good show. The series was tragically canceled after the fourth season, which was arguably when it had just begun to hit its stride (thanks in part to longer story arcs and a really fun glimpse into Trek 's popular Mirror Universe).

At the end of the day, Enterprise is a show best enjoyed by Star Trek fans that like to pore over the Memory Alpha wiki and familiarize themselves with Trek minutiae. As a prequel show, it laid the groundwork for everything from Starfleet policy to alien interactions that other shows explore in more detail. If you don't have a shot at winning any Star Trek trivia contests at your local bar, it's still worth watching how captivating Scott Bakula can be in the captain's seat.

8. Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–present)

Star Trek: Prodigy was very difficult to rank. Unlike the other two Trek cartoons, this series was explicitly designed for younger audiences. Paramount clearly wants to use this show as a gateway for these younger fans to explore the wider world of Star Trek , but there are enough elements (most notably the return of Kate Mulgrew , reprising her role as Captain Janeway via a holographic form) to keep veteran franchise fans invested.

Ultimately, your enjoyment of this series will be largely dependent on how much you enjoy animated/YA entertainment. If nothing else, you should check out the first two episodes of this show to see just how beautiful the CGI animation can get.

7. Star Trek: Discovery (2017–present)

If Enterprise is the Star Trek show cut off too soon, Discovery may very well be the first Star Trek show to outlive its welcome, though it will end after its fifth season . There are many things the show gets right, from nifty effects to quirky characters to amazing casting (seriously, Sonequa Martin-Green is electrifying whenever she is on screen).

The show veers from a disjointed-but-interesting first season to a mesmerizing second season, which gets a real shot in the arm by introducing Captain Pike (played by the inimitably charming Anson Mount ) and Spock (played as a perfect homage to Leonard Nimoy by Ethan Peck). Later seasons, however, prove that the series can't get away from galactic-level threats, and character drama begins overriding plot development enough that we want to slingshot around the sun and return this series to its earlier roots.

6. Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)

Like many Trek series, Star Trek: Voyager had a rocky beginning, and it was often overshadowed by the excellent Deep Space Nine . Ironically, Voyager dramatically improved with what could be a cynical casting stunt: adding the alluring Jeri Ryan (constantly wearing a catsuit, no less).

Though it really looked like a desperate ratings stunt, Ryan turned the reformed Borg Seven of Nine into the most interesting character on the show. And, despite their alleged clashes behind the scenes, the actress helped to elevate every scene she shared with Kate Mulgrew. Between the new cast member, improved writing, and Mulgrew being nothing short of a damned icon, Voyager soon became appointment television, and it's definitely worth binge-watching for modern audiences.

5. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–present)

Lower Decks is an impressive show for many reasons, including the fact that its execution elevates its initial premise, which focuses on the lives of the lower-level staffers aboard the starship. Because showrunner Mike McMahan previously wrote for Rick and Morty and the animation takes its cues from the cartoon adventures of Rick Sanchez, many fans may have assumed Lower Decks would simply be " Star Trek meets Rick and Morty ."

Thankfully, that's not the case. Aside from animation similarities, the main element these two cartoons have in common is a breakneck, borderline chaotic pace. But as entertaining as it can be, Rick and Morty is an often nihilistic show with gags revolving around how nothing really matters. Lower Decks , however, is a lighthearted series that serves as the cure to modern Trek . If you've dismissed other contemporary series such as Discovery and Picard because they are grim, violent, and serious, Lower Decks is a wonderfully lighthearted alternative that is never afraid to poke fun at its own franchise.

4. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a truly pleasant surprise to fans of the franchise. Set years before Captain Kirk sat in that famous chair, we see Capt. Christopher Pike (Anson Mount reprising the role) lead the U.S.S. Enterprise into bizarre adventures alongside some familiar characters (Ethan Peck returning as Spock, for example) and a few new ones.

Part of what helps this show shine is that it marks a return to episodic Trek in that every installment is a self-contained adventure as opposed to other newer series like Discovery and Picard , which build entire seasons around a single plot. The characters all ooze with the same swashbuckling charm of The Original Series characters, and we can't wait to see more of their adventures. We also can't wait to see more of Anson Mount's amazing hair (arguably the most awesome practical effect in the franchise).

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

Star Trek: The Next Generation has the dubious honor of being the first Trek show where veteran fans warn against new fans starting at the very beginning. Early episodes ranged from stupidly horny (planetary inhabitants in the episode "Justice" were barely wearing scraps of clothing) to ridiculously racist ("Code of Honor" may very well be the worst Star Trek episode ever made). Many of these problems stemmed from the fact that despite being called "The Next Generation," the show was trying to recreate The Original Series (right down to using some of the same writers and shamelessly reusing scripts from the scrapped Star Trek: Phase II series).

As fans like to joke, the show got better as Commander Riker's beard got longer. Season 2 was a major improvement, which was then usurped by season 3, which brought in new uniforms, new sets, and Michael Piller to head up the writing team. Just like that, TNG embraced its differences from its famous forerunner (Picard was cerebral whereas Kirk was impulsive, Data yearned for emotion whereas Spock detested it, and so on). At last, the gamble paid off, and the next generation of this franchise ushered in the next generation of Star Trek fans.

2. Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969)

What can we say about The Original Series that hasn't been said already? Gene Roddenberry successfully fused science fiction with American pioneer spirit to create his vision of this " Wagon Train to the stars." The episodes were both fun and thought-provoking in equal measure, and William Shatner as Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, among many others, turned in performances that seared themselves into our collective pop culture consciousness.

The Original Series offered social commentary about racism, imperialism, and (often to Spock's annoyance) the human condition. And the blend of big acting, ambitious sets, and poignant plots helped this show become something truly transcendent. The OG Star Trek shaped not only the future of the franchise but television itself, and it's not hard to see why it continues to win over new generations of fans year after year.

1. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

Placing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the top spot is perhaps a contentious decision. However, this series did more than measure up to the quality of The Next Generation (a lofty feat in and of itself). The show also made a number of storytelling and production choices that have helped DS9 seem more relevant in recent years than ever before, including tackling issues about race, religious fundamentalism, and war on a regular basis.

Perhaps the main way DS9 feels so pertinent is that the show broke the longstanding Trek rule of making only standalone episodes. As the powers that be focused more on creating their next show, Voyager , DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr was able to get away with creating long story arcs and frequent episode callbacks. The end result of this is that Deep Space Nine is the first of the pre-streaming era Trek shows that is perfect for binge-watching.

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Published Nov 16, 2023

Enterprise’s Ambitious Arcs

Revisit the birth of the Federation with these classic Star Trek: Enterprise storylines.

StarTrek.com

From The Original Series ' “ The Menagerie ” duology to the lengthy struggle against the Dominion as depicted in Deep Space Nine , the Star Trek franchise has never been a stranger to epic, multi-episode story arcs. Discovery and Picard have even been organized into season-long narratives, where each year’s adventures are dedicated to pursuing a specific plot.

However, no other Trek series has attempted what Enterprise accomplished in its popular fourth season — a year’s worth of episodes almost entirely divided into mini-arcs consisting of two- and three-part storylines. These installments served as exciting entries in the NX-01 Enterprise ’s journey while simultaneously connecting the show with other elements of Star Trek lore.

Let’s look back on the intriguing escapades chronicled in its final season.

1. The Temporal Cold War (" Storm Front " and " Storm Front, Part II ")

"Storm Front, Part II"

Fresh off of a yearlong search for the Xindi superweapon, Captain Archer and his crew found themselves transported back in time to a distorted version of Earth’s Second World War by the 31st Century temporal agent Daniels. Hoping to stop a cadre of 29th Century operatives from manipulating the timeline, Daniels once again enlisted Enterprise to intervene in the Temporal Cold War. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Suliban Silik stowed away on the mission and assisted Archer in foiling the plot spearheaded by an alien known as Vosk. The successful resolution prompted Daniels to send Enterprise to its proper time period.

This duology acted as the conclusion to Archer’s dealings with both temporal agents and the Suliban, two groups who the captain encountered on a fairly regular basis during the early phase of Enterprise ’s travels. According to Daniels, Vosk’s defeat helped bring about the end of the Temporal Cold War, a conflict that tied directly into Discovery ’s third season. Once Michael Burnham arrived in the 32nd Century, she learned that the war resulted in a ban on time travel. The disarray caused by the numerous temporal factions also distracted the Federation in the years leading up to The Burn.

2. The Augment Crisis (" Borderland ," "Cold Station 12," and "The Augments")

"Cold Station 12"

After genetically-enhanced humans attacked a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, Archer recruited their adoptive father, Arik Soong, to accompany Enterprise on an excursion to capture the Augments and prevent a war between the Federation and the Empire. Soong initially sympathized with his children, but his son Malik’s grandiose ambitions ultimately led the scientist to realize that the Augments were too dangerous to roam the galaxy. Enterprise narrowly managed to intervene before Malik released a biological weapon over a Klingon colony, and the remaining Augments were presumed to have perished along with their vessel.

This trilogy supplied a wealth of background information about the Augments and the Eugenics Wars, subjects that were initially touched upon as Kirk battled Khan Noonien Singh in The Original Series episode “ Space Seed ” and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Links to The Next Generation -era also abounded, as Arik Soong was an ancestor of Data’s creator Noonian Soong. Upon returning to prison at the end of the arc, Arik mentioned that he intended to shift his focus to cybernetics and artificial lifeforms. While Starfleet temporarily averted a war with the Klingons, a conflict between the two powers ensued a century later during Discovery ’s first season.

3. The Vulcan Reformation ("The Forge," "Awakening," and "Kir’Shara")

"Kir'Shara"

A faction known as the Syrannites received blame for a deadly bombing at Earth’s embassy on Vulcan, so Archer and T’Pol set out to locate a potential suspect named T’Pau. The two encountered Syrran himself, who transferred Surak’s katra to Archer on his deathbed. At the same time, Vulcan Administrator V’Las raised the stakes by firing on Enterprise and accusing the Andorians of planning an invasion. Archer halted the hostilities when he located the Kir’Shara, which stored Surak’s true teachings, and smuggled the artifact to the High Command. Soon afterward, V’Las held a secret meeting with a Romulan operative to discuss reunification.

First introduced in The Original Series episode “ Amok Time ,” T’Pau appeared as her younger self in this arc, while Syrran’s interrogation of Archer featured questions originally heard in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . The dissolution of the High Command and reformation of Vulcan society opened the door for improved Earth-Vulcan relations and paved the way for the Coalition of Planets. While V’Las’s discussion about reunification implied a Romulan takeover of Vulcan, the concept nevertheless suggested a connection to Ambassador Spock’s desire for a diplomatic reunion in The Next Generation two-parter “ Unification .” Discovery ’s “ Unification III ” established that Spock’s peaceful efforts prevailed centuries after his death.

4. The Federation's Preamble ("Babel One," "United," and "The Aenar")

"United"

A starship of unknown origin utilized holographic technology to hide its true identity so that it could destabilize diplomatic relations between humans, Andorians, Tellarites, Vulcans, and Rigelians. Unbeknownst to those species, the craft was under the remote command of Romulan Admiral Valdore. With Archer’s leadership, the Andorians, Tellarites, and Vulcans joined Enterprise in a hunt for the elusive vessel. Having lifted the veil on the plot, Archer and Shran learned that a captured Aenar was controlling the vessel and worked alongside the pilot’s sister to convince him to destroy the experimental Romulan weapons.

As its title suggested, the first entry in this trilogy began with Enterprise transporting a Tellarite delegation to Babel, the same location that Captain Kirk escorted Federation dignitaries to in The Original Series episode “ Journey to Babel .”

Additionally, the cooperation Archer organized between the local species acted as another cornerstone for the Coalition that would be founded in the coming years, particularly in light of the alliance initiated by the Andorians and Tellarites. Although Archer and his associates never definitively proved the Romulans were behind the attacks, Romulus’ interest in interfering with Earth would later resurface during the war that Spock described in “ Balance of Terror .”

5. The Klingon Contagion (“ Affliction ” and “ Divergence ”)

"Divergence"

In order to halt a devastating virus ravaging the Empire, the Klingons abducted Doctor Phlox so that he could work to find a solution. Outraged when he learned the virus had been caused by Klingon experimentation with DNA harvested from Augment embryos, Phlox refused to partake in any efforts to create Klingon Augments. Luckily, Phlox’s Klingon counterpart Antaak devised a method of halting the virus without amplifying the subjects’ intelligence or strength, a process which was accelerated when Archer allowed Phlox to use him to produce antibodies at an expedited rate.

This two-parter is primarily remembered for illustrating why Klingons appeared without cranial ridges in The Original Series. Antaak mentioned a potential for reconstructive surgery, which would also explain why Kor, Kang, and Koloth appeared with intact ridges on Deep Space Nine . The episodes cleverly incorporated information from the Augment arc that occurred earlier in Enterprise ’s fourth season.

While not specifically named, Malcolm Reed contacted a former employer who was clearly an agent of Section 31, an organization that would be further explored in DS9 and Discovery .

6. The Mirror Universe (" In A Mirror, Darkly " and " In A Mirror, Darkly, Part II ")

"In A Mirror, Darkly"

Set entirely in the Mirror Universe, this duology held the unique distinction of being a prequel to The Original Series episode “ Mirror, Mirror ” and a sequel to “ The Tholian Web .”

The two entries cataloged the Terran Empire’s fight against rebels a century before Kirk made his trip to this alternate dimension while also following up on the disappearance of the U.S.S. Defiant that took place in Tholian space. The alien uprisings foreshadowed the Terran Empire’s demise that was predicted by Mirror Spock and showcased in DS9’s own ventures into the Mirror Universe. These events also connected to Emperor Georgiou’s rule in Discovery , as rebels plagued the Empire in her era, as well.

7. The Coalition Confrontation (" Demons " and " Terra Prime ")

"Demons"

With a conference taking place to discuss the creation of a Coalition of Planets, John Frederick Paxton sought to foil the peaceful proceedings and spread the xenophobic message he shared with Colonel Green, a version of whom was initially seen in TOS’ “ The Savage Curtain .”

Paxton harvested Charles Tucker and T’Pol’s DNA to clone a Human-Vulcan child as a means to stir up anti-alien sentiments, but Archer and his crew defeated Paxton and succeeded in keeping the diplomatic meetings on track. The conference formed the seeds of a Coalition, which eventually gave birth to a Federation that endured into the 32nd Century. Although Tucker and T’Pol’s daughter perished, Phlox discovered that it was due to a cloning error rather than DNA incompatibility. This information explained the future presence of Human-Vulcan children, including our beloved Mister Spock.

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This article was originally published on April 17, 2021.

Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Steve Lovelace

• Entertainment

Star Trek and Story Arcs

by Steve Lovelace · March 10, 2014

Made for Channel Surfers

Back in the 80s and 90s , most shows were made up of self-contained episodes. This made a lot of sense back in the days of channel surfing. Even if you weren’t a hardcore Trekkie, you could tune into an episode of Star Trek (either the original or NextGen ), and watch a complete story line in an hour. If you missed a couple of weeks, you could tune in again and not feel lost. But this isn’t how people watch television anymore. Nowadays, people DVR, stream and download TV series. In the 21st century, we “binge-watch” TV shows, and the nature of the medium has changed appropriately. Most modern series worth their salt are based on story arcs.

The Best of Both Worlds

To see how story arcs might have improved the series, let’s look at the NextGen episode, “The Best of Both Worlds” . This was a two-part episode: a cliffhanger at the end of Season 3 with its conclusion at the beginning of Season 4. In the episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is kidnapped a hive mind called the Borg , and “assimilated” to become the cybernetic commander “Locutus of Borg”. This is hands-down one of the best episodes of Star Trek , but watching it now, it feels a bit rushed. Even as a two-part episode, the story is beholden to the Status Quo nature of the series. Later episodes hint at Picard’s deep psychological scarring from the incident, but for the most part, everything wraps up nicely at the end of the episode.

A Locutus Story Arc

If Star Trek: The Next Generation were on today, the Best of Both Worlds story arc might have lasted the better part of a season. I would have like to see a couple more episodes where the evil Locutus uses his insider knowledge against the Enterprise and Starfleet. I would have like to see Picard have a harder time escaping the Borg collective. And most of all, I would like to see the Enterprise crew live and grow more as people, much like the characters on modern series like Mad Men , Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad .

The Future of Star Trek

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had some story arcs in its later seasons, which it used to good effect. The next two series, Voyager and Enterprise , flirted with story arcs a bit, but mostly stayed episodic. (Correct me if I’m wrong. I’ve never watched more than a couple of episodes of either.) But even with the most recent series, Enterprise , it’s been a good decade. Television has changed an awful lot in that time, and I would love to see Star Trek come back and make the best of the new medium.

Tags: sci-fi Star Trek writing

Steve Lovelace is a writer and graphic artist. After graduating Michigan State University in 2004, he taught Spanish in Samoa before moving to Dallas, Texas. He blogs regularly at http://steve-lovelace.com.

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The 10 Highest-Rated Star Trek Shows, According to Rotten Tomatoes

Live long and prosper.

Created by Gene Roddenberry, classic sci-fi series Star Trek first premiered on NBC in the 1960s with its optimistic view of the future, where races and even different species work alongside each other peacefully. The series has since become a huge franchise and pop-culture phenomenon. Although it only ran for three seasons, its popularity exploded when it went into syndication. Now, decades later, its influence is undeniable, and the universe only keeps getting bigger, having added 13 movies and 11 TV shows, plus games, books and more over the years, with more on the way .

With hundreds of episodes, the Star Trek TV series explore other parts of the galaxy, from prequels hashing out the events leading up to the original series to spinoffs set even farther into the future, even animated series featuring new characters. Most of them have pleased audiences and critics alike, with scores on Rotten Tomatoes in the 80s and 90s. But the best Star Trek series build on the original and present a more serious take.

10 'Star Trek: Voyager' (1995-2001)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%

Voyager follows the crew of a ship after getting stranded in the Delta Quadrant—with a journey home that could take 75 years. The ship is forced to travel through unexplored areas of the galaxy and encounter a variety of other life forms. Voyager premiered in 1995 and lasted seven seasons.

RELATED: 'Star Trek': The 10 Main Captains, Ranked

The premise and setting of Voyager meant the series was able to introduce new alien species, but fan opinion of the show is divided. However, the series was notable for being the first to have a female captain—Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew .

9 'Star Trek: The Original Series' (1966-1969)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

The original Star Trek series follows Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner , and his crew on the U.S.S. Enterprise as they voyage through space in the 23rd century, including encounters with alien races—friend and foe.

Although short-lived, the original series went on to have massive influence. While it is sometimes remembered as being somewhat silly, its cast members became household names, and the characters they played are pop-culture icons.

8 'Star Trek: Discovery' (2017-2024)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

Discovery is set a decade before the events of the original series, with the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery exploring new worlds and their inhabitants under the command of Captain Michael Burnham, played by Sonequa Martin-Green . Discovery premiered in 2017 on Paramount+ and will end with Season 5.

RELATED: 'Star Trek': The 10 Best Villains, Ranked

Discovery helped launch the current era of Star Trek shows, which only keeps getting better— Discovery ’s epic missions are great to watch. Part of the show's strength comes from Burnham, a character with depth and a rough history.

7 'Star Trek: Picard' (2020-2023)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Patrick Stewart reprised his role as Jean-Luc Picard to explore the character’s next chapter in Picard , set 20 years after the events of the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis . The series premiered in 2020 on streaming platform Paramount+ and ran for three seasons .

Picard reunited the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise , which is worth seeing in its own right—plus Stewart is an amazing actor who’s always a delight to watch. Like other Star Trek series, Picard revisited familiar plots and villains in the series.

6 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' (1993-1999)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

A spinoff of The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine is about a Federation space station guarding the entrance to a wormhole and handling other groups that might want access to it. DS9 premiered in 1993 and lasted seven seasons.

RELATED: From 'Star Trek' to 'The Mandalorian': 10 Iconic Shows Set in Space

DS9 is notable for being the first Star Trek series that wasn’t created by Roddenberry—but it also has more of a focus on social issues, touching on subjects like race, religion and more, and often, the line between right and wrong isn't so clear. And although it’s not the highest-rated of the series on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s often cited as one of the best.

5 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' (2020-)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

Set in the year 2380, Lower Decks is an adult animated series about the support crew of the U.S.S. Cerrito , one of Starfleet’s least important ships. It premiered in 2020 on Paramount+. Four seasons have aired so far, and a fifth is on the way .

Lower Decks takes a more humorous look at Star Trek—essentially, it’s workplace sitcom. But it’s not all about comedy. Lower Decks still has great characters and story arcs, and it even had a crossover episode with Strange New Worlds .

4 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' (1987-1994)

The Next Generation is set 78 years after the original series and follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D. It premiered in 1987 and ran for seven seasons.

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TNG features an ensemble cast that includes some of the most memorable characters in the franchise, including Picard. Like the original series, its stories were focused on space exploration, but it was a more mature series, with more dramatic plots and longer story arcs.

3 'The Animated Series' (1973-1974)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Star Trek: The Animated Series was a continuation of the original series and was released in 1973. Like its predecessor, it was short-lived, with only 22 episodes and two seasons, but it also featured the same cast providing the voice acting.

TAS is often overlooked, but it’s still a well-done and super entertaining entry in the Star Trek franchise. Although it can be silly at times and is not considered canon, it also featured interesting plots, and it’s notable for being the first animated show in the franchise.

2 'Star Trek: Prodigy' (2021-2022)

Animated childrens’ series Prodigy follows a crew of enslaved teenage aliens in the Delta Quadrant after they escape and find the abandoned U.S.S. Protostar . Prodigy premiered in 2021 on Paramount+ and later aired on Nickelodeon, and although it only lasted one season, a second was completed with the hope it will be picked up by another streaming platform.

Prodigy is a fun, lighter look at the Star Trek universe, and it’s the first in the franchise intended for kids and the first to use all 3D animation. Despite this, longtime adult Star Trek fans will enjoy the ways it ties into the franchise’s other movies and shows , and, like the franchise overall, it’s built a loyal fanbase.

1 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

Strange New Worlds premiered in 2022 on streaming service Paramount+ and is a prequel to the original series. Set on the U.S.S. Enterprise before Captain Kirk came aboard, the series follows Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock, Number One and the rest of the crew as they explore new worlds in the galaxy.

Strange New Worlds has been praised by both critics and fans , as proven by its top ranking on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 98%. It’s walked the line between familiar and new wonderfully, both revisiting classic Star Trek storylines and doing its own thing.

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10 Best Star Trek Episodes

😲 Comment below (without indignation, if possible), or post your personal list. There are many outstanding Trek episodes, but it is my intention to pick just ten favorites from a total of over 800. The only Trek movie that ties with the episodes listed below in my view is "Star Trek: First Contact". And here it goes:

10 ENT: Awakening

"Awakening" is the only Enterprise episode to make my top ten list. Despite its intrinsic disadvantage as the middle part of a trilogy, it is nothing less than an excellent drama with just the right share of action. In a (possibly daring) comparison with "Star Trek III", I think that Archer is more credible as the one who carries Surak's katra than McCoy with Spock's mind. I like the Enterprise-style Surak anyway because he is shown as a gentle and prudent leader, one that would win the hearts of the people and not simply lecture and command them. And Scott Bakula isn't even the greatest actor of the show. That honor falls to Connor Trinneer as Trip once again, whose interaction with Soval is wonderful. In some fashion these two are like the prototypes of Kirk and Spock. Read the full review .

9 TNG: Frame of Mind

Characters of the various Star Trek series repeatedly find themselves in situations in which they can't distinguish what is real and what is an illusion or a hallucination. "Frame of Mind" is the most impressive story of its kind. I think this is mainly because we see everything through Riker's eyes. Jonathan Frakes's performance in this episode is outstanding, and I admit I may have underestimated his acting up to this point. While it is clear that the person who increasingly believes that he is insane really is Will Riker, first officer of the Enterprise, and not a maniacal murderer, the viewer is caught in his distorted world just like Riker himself. We see the true Enterprise crew as late as at the very end of the episode. This is thrilling from the first to the last minute and earns this episode its place among my personal top ten. Read the full review .

8 TNG: The Best of Both Worlds I/II

No list of favorite Trek episodes ever compiled can do without "The Best of Both Worlds", and here it is. The two-parter is the by far most famous episode of TNG and perhaps of all Star Trek. But what is so special about it? First of all, after the slow start of TNG it brought excitement to the franchise. Secondly, "The Best of Both Worlds" involves the crew very personally, in an existential way and (in hindsight) with long-term consequences, especially for Picard. Thirdly, the character relations are played out very well. Everyone of the crew has a few good scenes, and interacts with everyone else. Fourthly, it is full of memorable moments, including the possibly best cliffhanger in the history of television. The excitement comes from the story, from the actors and from the directing - despite or just because of the simple visual effects of the time. Note the pleasant absence of hectic camera motion and of fast cuts! Read the full review .

7 TNG: Cause and Effect

Star Trek has a long history of featuring strange time travel phenomena, very often involving past incursions that the crew has to fix, or other variations of linear time. "Cause and Effect" puts a fresh spin on the idea of time travel with its concept of a time loop. It is arguably one of the most curious episodes ever written, especially keeping in mind that it came out in 1992 even before the famous movie "Groundhog Day" with its similar theme. It is also among the most thrilling stories ever, and a true masterpiece of writer Brannon Braga and director Jonathan Frakes, who had to take care of minutiae that are not important or are not deemed important in a usual episode. For the viewer, this is an episode in which it pays off to pay attention to the smallest details. Read the full review .

6 DS9: What You Leave Behind

"What You Leave Behind" is an awesome conclusion to Star Trek's arguably best multi-episode arc and, of course, to the whole series just as well. I absolutely love how the finale takes time to resolve a couple of issues after the rage of the final battle (with the war ending already half-way through the episode). It is an almost perfect mix of action and character development and never appears hasty. Every part of the arc and every character is given a fair share of the screen time. Regarding Sisko's fate, it may not seem entirely satisfying that he has to stay with the Prophets, especially considering that he leaves behind a son and a pregnant wife. But considering how everything began in "Emissary", the cycle is completed when Sisko, after completing his mundane task, joins the Prophets. When Kira and Jake stand behind the window on the promenade deck, this is the final goodbye to the station, although probably no other Trek series would have called so much for a sequel, and if only in a TV movie. Read the full review .

5 VOY: Distant Origin

"Distant Origin" is remarkable to start with because it is told from the perspective of the dinosaur-like Voth much of the time; Voyager doesn't even appear until about 15 minutes into the episode. The story of Gegen, who defends his "Distant Origin Theory", strikes me as one of the most intellectual ones in the whole franchise. It addresses various questions of science and politics and doesn't leave us with a ready-made answer for everything. If a proof is necessary that Star Trek has evolved beyond simple plots where the roles of good and evil are clear and the good always wins, I will most likely refer to "Distant Origin". There is no happy ending. Still, there is the spark of hope that some day some other Voth and perhaps some more Voth will insist on the truth and will succeed. The Voth are arguably the most remarkable aliens-of-the-week ever featured. I would have loved to see them again in some fashion. Read the full review .

4 VOY: Year of Hell I/II

Even after more than 20 years, "Year of Hell" still blows me away. It deserves a prize for being the perhaps most intelligent and most sophisticated plot ever successfully brought to the small screen. I wonder if anyone is able to understand all the depicted or implied temporal changes after watching the episode only once. Actually, when "Year of Hell" was just released on VHS, I invited a couple of colleagues to watch it. So we spent one and a half hours to watch it, and a few more hours to discuss it. We were young and we still had the time. Also, hardly any episode is so full of tidbits, as special effects, trivia and quotes are concerned. For quite some time after our video showing, "a few more calculations" was a winged word at our university institute. Read the full review .

3 DS9: Trials and Tribble-ations

"Trials and Tribble-ations" perfectly blends the good old TOS episode "The Trouble with Tribbles", a known fan favorite, with a new DS9-based background story. The episode benefits greatly from an intelligent script, from accurate timing, from visual effects that are incredible for their time and from actors who visibly have fun in their roles. It is full of memorable quotes without being contrived, and the crew's numerous mistakes about 23rd century technology and habits are hilarious without becoming silly. An equally affectionate homage to The Original Series has never been produced before and will never be made again. Among my all-time favorite episodes this may not be the most exciting one or the most important one as the story arc is concerned, but it will always have a special place. Read the full review .

2 TNG: Parallels

"Parallels" doesn't customarily show up on fans' lists of favorite episodes, probably because many feel let down if the events of an episode have no impact on "our" characters and "our" universe. And perhaps because they dislike the idea of a Worf-Troi relationship (just like Jonathan Frakes, who tends to be very vocal in this regard). While I can understand these points, I think the fascinating plot idea, the skillful development of the story, the plethora of details and the almost flawless execution and fine acting make "Parallels" a highlight of TNG and of the whole franchise. I personally prefer the universe with the chocolate cake. Read the full review .

1 DS9: The Way of the Warrior

This double feature did not only reinvigorate DS9, it took the storytelling of the whole franchise to a new, still unsurpassed level. It is not just the so far most spectacular space battle in Star Trek's history or the mere fact that Worf, a favorite character from TNG, permanently joins the crew that makes this episode extraordinary. "The Way of the Warrior" draws on the characters and on their relationships, on the realism that lies in the plot and on the overall quality in the screenplay and the directing. Everything is spot-on. If I were to give out an award for the best dramatic presentation in Star Trek, it would go to "The Way of the Warrior". Read the full review .

Great episodes such as TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever", TNG: "The Inner Light", TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise", DS9: "Tears of the Prophets", DS9: "Favor the Bold / Sacrifice of Angels", VOY: "Living Witness" or VOY: "Scorpion I/II" narrowly didn't make this list.

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/rankings/ten-best-episodes.htm

Last modified: 02 Jan 2023

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Fleet Yards

10 Story-arcs Star Trek: Legacy Should Continue

We are the keepers of Star Trek's Legacy as fans - so what do we need to see?

The release of Star Trek: Picard's third season saw an enormous, and almost immediate, call for the powers that be to green-light Star Trek: Legacy . This series, set in the early 25th century, would follow the events of Frontier Day, the promotion of Seven-of-Nine to captain of the Enterprise-G, and focus on post- Nemesis Trek stories.

While the decision-makers mull over the practicalities of Legacy , we have decided to piece together a short list of storylines begging to be developed. One that you won't see here is the Conspiracy aliens, or Bluegills if you prefer, simply as Picard covered far too similar a plot with the Borg infiltration of Starfleet.

We have made our feelings on repeating storylines quite clear at this point!

What do you think, from the list below, is the biggest dangling thread that Star Trek needs to address? While you're thinking, make sure to make your need for Legacy to be greenlit known on your social media platforms - as fans, we helped to save Star Trek: Prodigy , so let's make magic again as a community.

10. Species 8472

Species 8472 have only been seen on-screen in Star Trek: Voyager at this point, though they have an extensive storyline in Star Trek Online. There, they would be renamed the Undine, and a war would break out between them and the Federation. Apparently, the events of In The Flesh didn't have the positive outcome one might have hoped for.

Translating this to Star Trek: Legacy , with Seven-of-Nine commanding the Enterprise-G, this seems like a perfect storyline to pick up, especially when one remembers that Seven and 8472 have a complicated history.

It was the Borg who first invaded their space, with Seven herself directly responsible for beaming a lone survivor aboard a Hirogen vessel. With this history, exploring Seven's relationship with them as she navigates her personal feelings while commanding the Federation flagship, would make for a fascinating continuation of this largely untapped resource.

If nothing else, seeing this tripedal species rendered in 4k would be a sight to behold.

Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick

Star Trek: The Next Generation — 10 Best Story Arcs

With shows such as Strange New Worldsrevitalizing the franchise, Star Trek fans have many unique storylines and arcs to look forward to in the future. Though it was an episodic series, Star Trek: The Next Generationwove complicated narratives throughout its seven seasons and featured compelling story arcs.

A classic Star Trek: The Next Generation character is returning in Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: Prodigyg is returning on October 27 with a classic character in tow. Star Trek: Prodigy is a great series that does a wonderful job of creating ...

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Every Star Trek Series Ranked From Worst To Best

"Star Trek" is one of science fiction's big historical landmarks. It's the franchise that's inspired generations of scientists and engineers and gave Black girls and young Asian kids someone to look up to. It's a franchise about the courage it takes to explore the unknown, guided by a hopeful heart. The original series rarely shied away from tackling tough social issues, and it set about telling these stories with a ferocity that reminded us that we can always be better as a species. "Star Trek" reminds us that the bravery inside us isn't fiction and reaching out to explore will always be our brightest calling.

Since "Star Trek" premiered in 1966, there have been 13 films across multiple generations and timelines. More is on the way, with another J.J. Abrams-led film in preproduction , but for many fans, it's about the many TV series. They have the room to embody that spirit of hope and exploration — with 11 spinoffs to date. Little of "Trek" is objectively bad, but it can be divisive. This ranking is based on how the shows present the ideals of "Trek" and how well they accomplish some of the best things about the franchise.

11. Star Trek: Enterprise

"Enterprise" premiered in September 2001, four months after the USS Voyager and Trekkers were ready to return to the Alpha Quadrant. Captain Jonathan Archer, played by science fiction veteran Scott Bakula, was to helm the first Enterprise, NX-01, with its maiden launch pegged to 2151. Its two-part premiere, "Broken Bow," was set to be as mysterious and intriguing as "Encounter at Farpoint," introducing the Klingons in the canon chronology.

The trouble started as we were blown backward in our seats by the first "Star Trek" theme to have lyrics, "Faith of the Heart," a corny power ballad rebuilt from a Rod Stewart weepie that featured in one of Robin Williams' few bad films . The first season then limped its way through a mystery box time travel plot. Later seasons faced hurdles ranging from executive shakeup s to the abrupt introduction of the Xindi , a new threat that tried to refocus the show but just made things muddier. Canceled as production on Season 4 was wrapping up, the unkindest cut was a limp finale that trudges out William Riker in a desperate bid to appease the fans. The spirit of "Star Trek" lived in the "Enterprise" cast, but the execution did not do them justice.

10. Star Trek: Discovery

"Discovery" returns to the pre-Kirk era, with the crew of the USS Discovery beginning its mission of exploration in 2256. Originally helmed by Bryan Fuller , the diverse cast is a welcome sight, and their passion for exploring "Trek" isn't in doubt. The first couple of seasons are sometimes a grim slog, and for long-time fans desperate to explore new worlds, it may be tiresome to watch Spock's legacy get trotted out over and over again. Equally frustrating is the revelation that ties Spock (Ethan Peck) and Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) together.

As time goes by, "Discovery" developed a rhythm of its own. It's hard to knock a series that's evolved as strongly as this one and has brought legendary director David Cronenberg on board as a recurring guest. Its newer story arcs put the crew of the Discovery in a distant, ruined future with mysteries that pay off. Further, the earlier interpersonal bumps receive enough explanation to satisfy our initial misgivings. Best of all for the future of "Trek" was the introduction of a new Christopher Pike. Anson Mount went on to rebuild this small but important character into someone sturdy enough to helm one of the most promising new "Treks" in decades.

9. Star Trek: Picard

It personally hurts me to place "Picard" this low on the list, but two things weigh it down. The first is the reminder of the way this series is a hot potato among some "Trek" fans, with the show's subreddit often engaging in heated debate after new episodes. The other is that "Picard" isn't so much a "Star Trek" series as it is a rich exploration of a single fan-favorite character. The galaxy is on standby as we travel alongside the sort-of retired Jean-Luc Picard as he explores the consequences of Starfleet's past actions and his own.

The first season allows a fresh look at the Romulans, giving them some of the same treatment Klingons earned under Captain Picard in the '90s. Whatever one may think of the Borg-heavy plot, that exploration is a definite highlight. The second season is a tough look at mortality and the cycle of abuse , guided by the welcome presence of John de Lancie as Q. It's rugged and sometimes messy storytelling, but the emotional journey is worth it. Nonetheless, it's not the strongest "Trek" entry based on the merits of Starfleet's ideals, and we have to accept that.

8. Star Trek: The Animated Series

Remarkable for the time with its kid-friendly but serious storytelling, "The Animated Series" is functionally a fourth season of the original "Star Trek." The animated medium allows for some new characters and fascinating new species to take the fore, with the Caitian M'Ress joining the command deck. Though the animation is sometimes flat with noticeably recycled elements, the scripts retain their quality under "Star Trek" veteran and executive producer D.C. Fontana. The results were good enough to win an Emmy in 1975 .

With the majority of the original cast returning, save for Walter Koenig despite Leonard Nimoy's best efforts , there's a lot of good "Trek" to be found under the hoary silliness. Some of these goofier storylines provide fodder for the teasing new series, "Lower Decks," especially the Walter Koenig-penned "The Infinite Vulcan" with its giant clone of Spock. It's not a bad story, but it is a wild ride to the edges of the franchise's believability. Nonetheless, the series is often an unexplored trove for classic fans who miss the old crew. Give this show a chance. It may surprise you.

7. Star Trek: Prodigy

We're only halfway through the first season of this delightful new show, and it's already a winner . With vibrant CGI animation showcasing its almost entirely alien cast of characters, it's a kid's show that understands that kids are way smarter, tougher, and more curious about the universe around us than we often realize. The return of Captain Janeway as an emergency guidance hologram doesn't overpower its cast of overwhelmed kids but instead provides the kind of support I wish all kids could have.

"Prodigy" mixes in a handful of anthological-style stories with a plot about a prison planet and its mysterious tyrant, the Vau N'Akat Diviner (John Noble). The planet's not above putting child slaves to hard labor, and they're overseen by Drednok (Jimmi Simpson), a robotic nightmare that reminds me that I watched "RoboCop" when I was way too young. The midway point leaves us nervous about the kids' first real encounter with Starfleet, but with the series already renewed , we can be assured there are going to be lots of new things for them to experience.

6. Star Trek: Lower Decks

We can make the case for "Lower Decks" as some of the very best new "Trek" the franchise has to offer. At the same time, the more "Trek" that you know and love, the better this show gets. This means that in terms of this list, it's a central pillar of the franchise, a sturdy construct that showcases so many of the things fans both love and sometimes find funny about "Star Trek." 

With a tightly-paced 22-minute format that speed-runs the best of the "Next Generation" storytelling style, the lower decks of the USS Cerritos are a good place to ease new fans in. The Cerritos is a utility ship, meaning it's not glamorous enough to do the cool things flagships like the Enterprise do. Instead, we get a funny and often touching look at what it's like to just be some dude in Starfleet. As it turns out, that's far more important to Starfleet than we realize. The character dynamics are top-notch, and most important of all, "Lower Decks" is willing to take a look at the consequences of Starfleet's occasionally too-passive approach to new worlds and new civilizations.

5. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

While the explorative angle of "Star Trek" is often pushed to the side by the immobile nature of the former Cardassian space station in orbit around Bajor, hope remains a feature of "Deep Space Nine," one of the oddest "Treks" to date. A little divisive at the time due to the major change of setting and its often somber nature, "Deep Space Nine" is a show that's aging better than that one Botox-loving relative you have to see every holiday.

"DS9" features a rock-solid cast willing and ready to explore the dark side of Starfleet's sunny utopia. The Bajoran star system feels like it's a universe away from the lush comforts of Risa and Betazed. A still-fragile world wears fresh scars under its new freedom, and even their faith is being undermined. Cardassians, the lizardlike species that nearly broke Captain Picard , remain a threat. As the series moves into longer story arcs with the rise of the Dominion, "Deep Space Nine" ensured it would forever be like no other "Trek." But that hope always lingers in the mysterious work of the Prophets, Chief O'Brien's unstoppable competency, and Kira Nerys' efforts to help uplift her people.

4. Star Trek: Voyager

Captain Kathryn Janeway was ahead of her time, embodying all the over-reviled toughness of Doctor Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) and adding a ferocious loyalty to her hodgepodge crew of Starfleet and Maquis exiles. The USS Voyager is flung deep into the Delta Quadrant, a virtually unknown region of space where just about every planet is a first contact world. Unfortunately, it also has the Borg. And sometimes Q shows up.

"Voyager" lays a lot of new ground for "Trek," allowing a larger exploration of the assimilation-lovin' cyborgs via Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Though Seven gets a bit of the Troi effect, in that her initial bodysuit was some particular fan service, she comes into her own as one of "Trek's" best characters. Yes, the first couple of seasons are a little much. Pixie Kes is sometimes too twee, and then there's Neelix, who evokes the same exhaustion as an overabundance of Joe Pesci in "Lethal Weapon," but the evolving holographic Doctor, the wild freedom of untouched new worlds to explore, and the stubborn durability of the USS Voyager makes this a great show to revisit.

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

There's some hubris in putting a brand new show this high on the list, but there's also a sense of relief around this series. From a command deck that reflects decades of new and updated special effects yet feels as rugged and simple as Kirk's old chair, to an opening theme that's the good ol' Alexander Courage theme buffed up a bit by composer Jeff Russo, this show is already proving itself to be the comfort food Trekkies need.

Anson Mount's casting as Christopher Pike may be one of the best things to come out of "Discovery," and he gives Pike both humanity and a heavy dignity. The premiere is talky — like Picard beaming down and scolding the hell out of everybody talky — with a reminder that "Trek," at its best, is always a mirror of the times we live in. A few personalities seem affronted that "Star Trek" is, once again, so forward thinking, so "liberal." They're missing the point. Pike is ready to lead his crew forward into the unknown to prove we can always be better. It's a true voyage home .

2. Star Trek: The Original Series

Without our grandpappy, none of us happy nerds would be here. Captain James T. Kirk, Science Officer Spock, Dr. McCoy, Uhuru, Chekov, Sulu, Scotty, and a host of allies and ever-disposable redshirts pioneered the exploration of strange new worlds and new civilizations. They boldly went where no one had gone before, and we've been following along for more than half a century.

From its premiere episode and throughout some tough times ("Spock's Brain" was a hell of a backhanded reward for a successful campaign to save the series ), the original "Star Trek" was the light of science fiction, guiding the way for more stories, more experimental sci-fi, and a legion of diverse fans inspired by the bravery the crew of the USS Enterprise demonstrated in the face of an unknown galaxy. It's incomparable in some ways because it's the first, but age and social growth mean it's no longer No. 1. The franchise has looked back on its ancestor and demanded of itself to become even better.

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation

It's hard to do better than Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D, but the franchise should never stop trying. "The Next Generation" delivered exactly that, a generation of Starfleet captains now centuries out from Kirk's original mission but still dedicated to the promotion of diplomacy and peace across the galaxy. Unafraid to rely on complex dialogue when it counted yet full of the charm, humor, and nail-biting action of the original, the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" came into its own by the end of the second season. Even the first season is merely rugged in places. The intent to create something special was already plain.

It's a series that mixes thoughtfulness with an optimism that is never mindless. "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose," says Picard in "Peak Performance," a second season episode. "That is no weakness. That is life." 

Like its ancestor, there's often an ageless quality to its episodes. The footage goes grainy and the props look like styrofoam on today's high-def screens, but the stories still matter. With "Star Trek," the stories have always mattered. They're reflections on the hopes Gene Roddenberry had for humanity.

Star Trek: 10 Best Original Stories In The Comics

With hundreds of issues to pour over, it can be intimidating to pick a story to start within Trek's long history of comic books.

First premiering in 1966,  Star Trek   by Gene Roddenberry has become one of the longest-lasting science fiction franchises of all time. The eternally endearing and enduring characters of Kirk, Spock, and the McCoy have become as synonymous with American culture as Superman 's S-shield and the Bald Eagle.

RELATED:  Star Trek: 5 Reasons To Make Another Movie With The Current Cast (& 5 Not To)

With hundreds of issues to pour over, it can be intimidating to pick a story to start within Trek's long history of comic books. That's why the following has been compiled in no particular order to showcase some of the best and brightest tales ever told about the United Federations of Planets (in sequential art).

10 The Trial Of James T. Kirk Is A 3-Part Epic

The Trial of James T. Kirk is a three-issue story arc beginning in  Star Trek  #10 and ending in issue #11 by writer Peter David with artists James W. Fry and Gordon Purcell. A year before  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country  forced Kirk to come to terms with his brewing racism and bigotry towards his decades-old foe, the Klingons , the ongoing title from DC  did much the same on the printed page. While the seeds for the trial had been planted back in issue #7, it's in the main three magazines that the story hits its dramatic highs. For anyone who loved the topics of nationalism and vengeance played upon in  VI , it's a fantastic read more than worth one's time.

9 The Legion Of Superheroes Blast The Past

Star Trek/ Legion of Superheroes   by Chris Roberson with art by Jefferey and Phillip Moy is one of several dozen franchise crossovers that IDW has put out over the last two decades. While the later crossover with DC's Green Lantern Corps may hold the higher marque value, the lesser-known Legion of Superheroes is a great foot in the door for anyone wanting to make the jump from Trek comics to the superhero genre.

RELATED:  Legion Of Superheroes: 10 Most Unique Members & Their Abilities

With remixed versions of classic Legion baddies made up of Trek alien races and a multiversal plot, there is plenty to enjoy in this unexpected yet welcome addition to the history of crossovers for the U.S.S. Enterprise.

8 The Q Conflict Is Fanservice Gone Wild

Q is easily the biggest breakout character from  Star Trek: The Next Generation outside of the main crew. Initially introduced as yet another all-powerful godlike entity that uses their omnipotence to play havoc with the by-the-book nature of the Starfleet crew, the lovably snarky performance by John de Lancie and future episodes that turned Q into less of a trickster and more of a wise teacher would endear the character to Trekkies all across the world. This is why he plays such a vital role in  The Q Conflict , which is a franchise spanning crossover combining the crews of  TOS ,  TNG ,  DS9 , and  Voyager  by writers Scott and David Tipton with art from  David Messina , Elisabetta D'Amico, Carola Borelli, Silvia Califano, and Giorgio Spalletta.

7 Debt Of Honor Was Written By An X-Legend

Chris Claremont is arguably the main reason most people like the X-Men . For 16 years he took a group that had fallen into obscurity, cancellation, and reprints and made them Marvel 's premier superhero team. With such a legendary portfolio with the House of Ideas, it should come as no surprise that  Debt of Honor –  an original graphic novel by DC that shows Captain Kirk and the equally charismatic Romulan Captain T'Cel go on an adventure to stop the machinations of an alien threat that has been seen across Trek history – would be a hit. With wonderfully expressive art from Adam Hughes , this book is a solid send-off to the lore of the series up to that point.

6 Assimilation² Mixes Chocolate And Peanut Butter

While fans love to pit Trek against George Lucas ' sci-fi adventure saga,  Star Wars , the more apt competitor would be the BBC 's flagship franchise,  Doctor Who . Airing 3 scant years before the "The Man Trap," Whovians and Trekkies have been staunch rivals since at least the 1980s when the good Doctor made his first big splash in America . Therefore, it makes sense why they would crossover.

RELATED:  Doctor Who: Ranking Every Doctor From Best To Worst

Assimilation² sees the Cybermen and the Borg team up against the 11th Doctor and the crew of the Enterprise-D. Written by Scott and David Tipton with Tony Lee as advisor and J.K. Woodward , The Sharp Brothers, and Gordon Purcell on art, this lovely mini-series is full of endearing fanservice and some wacky sci-fi action-adventure.

5 IDW's Mirror Series Finally Gives Fans Evil Picard (But Done Well This Time)

Throwing an evil cracked mirror version of the protagonist at the hero is an old-school storytelling trope and Trek has done it well more than its fair share. From ideological opposites like Khan and Kirk to Tom Hardy 's Praetor Shinzon, a literal evil clone of Picard , the franchise loves to dabble in duality and the nature of who people are. Easily one of the best examples of this is  TOS 's "Mirror, Mirror," which pitted Kirk and crew against evil variants of themselves from a parallel universe. Thanks to IDW and its long-running Mirror series, starting in 2017's  Mirror Broken by Scott and Dave Tipton with J.K. Woodward on art and continuing today in  Mirror War , fans have finally gotten to see Mirror Universe Picard, complete with an evil goatee. Jean-Luc's doppelganger runs amok across dimensions and this ongoing tale is already some of IDW's best since licensing the franchise from Paramount .

4 Khan: Ruling In Hell Explains His Wrath

One of the biggest reveals in  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is that the idyllic Eden-like world Kirk had left his adversary on, Ceti Alpha V, had become a Hellish desert after its sister world, Ceti Alpha VI, exploded. While Khan's motivations are perfectly summed up in the film, many fans wondered what his life was like and how he could have survived all that time considering how inhospitable it looked when Chekov came to visit. Scott and David Tipton, again, write this dark Khan solo story with Fabio Mantovani providing the art that beautifully captures Ricardo Montalbán's stoic and statuesque manner.

3 Star Trek/X-Men Is Stupidly Entertaining

Star Trek/X-Men  is a bizarre Frankenstein monster of two of the 90s' most popular franchises being mixed together. Why on Vulcan would someone combine the two? Money.

RELATED:  10 Times The X-Men Changed The Marvel Universe

With multiple series and a current feature film series, the Trek universe was at its peak of popularity in the 1990s, and anyone alive during the decade doesn't need to be told that the X-Men were kind of a big deal. Scott Lobdell with the artistic talents of  Marc Silvestri , Billy Tan , Anthony Winn, David Finch , and  Brian Ching created this so-bad-it's-good magnum opus, where every page is a nightmare of mismatched tones and styles. Is it high quality? No. Is it one of the best things Trek comics ever made? Absolutely.

2 Boldly Go Is A Great Continuation Of The Kelvin Timeline

When J.J. Abrams rebooted the Trek films with 2009's  Star Trek , many fans were divided (as they always are) over whether this new movie strayed too far from the ever ill-defined "Gene's Vision." After 2016's  Star Trek Beyond and the recent boon in series taking place in the Prime Timeline, it's up in the air as to whether fans will ever get a continuation of the Kelvin Timeline and its unique setting. Mike Johnson , Ryan Parrott, Tony Shasteen , Chris Mooneyham, and Megan Levens'  Boldy Go ongoing title fills that gap with a story focused on the time between  Beyond and the construction of the U.S.S. Enterprise-A, pitting classic characters in a new setting with an inexperienced crew.

1 Retrospect Is A Mournful Tearjerker

Star Trek Annual #3 by DC may very well be one of the best Trek stories ever written, even outdoing some of the all-time classics of the films and television series. Peter David with Ricardo Villagran and the legendary Curt Swan tell a beautifully melancholic tale focusing on the lovable Scotsman, Montgomery Scott, and his depression over the death of his wife, Glynnis. This solemn tale is the perfect comic to pick up if one has any love for Trek and especially for  The Original Series .

NEXT:  Star Trek: 10 Reasons It's Time To Do A Full Reboot & Start Completely Fresh

Screen Rant

The clone wars set up a major arc for an iconic revenge of the sith villain - but never used it.

The Clone Wars set up a story arc to explore the backstory of one of its most iconic villains, but the show never capitalized on the chance.

• General Grievous lacked character development in The Clone Wars, remaining one-dimensional and unexplored.
• The show hinted at Grievous' rich backstory with statues in his lair, but failed to capitalize on its potential.
• The Clone Wars missed the opportunity to explore why Grievous hated the Jedi, which could have made him a much better villain.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars provided a wealth of information about some of the best characters in the prequel trilogy, but there's one Revenge of the Sith villain whose backstory was barely explained, despite having a major arc set up for it. The Clone Wars showcased some of Star Wars ' most powerful villains , and it also gave interesting context to many of their stories. Some villains were even completely changed in the show, which made their stories even better, as shown by Darth Maul's essential viewing list . Not every villain got as much chance to stand out, though, and one in particular was almost completely forgotten.

Star Wars has a long history of introducing extremely cool villains and killing them off too quickly. The most notable example is Boba Fett, one of the best bounty hunters in Star Wars . Boba Fett's backstory was explored in the prequel trilogy, and he eventually got his own show that allowed him to become a more developed character. Other villains, like one from Revenge of the Sith , never got such a chance, even though The Clone Wars set up an entire story arc. That story arc could have made them a much more compelling villain, and fixed one of the show's rare mistakes.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Voice Cast - What The Actors Look Like In Real Life

General grievous never got much character development in the clone wars, grievous never grew out of his cowardly depiction.

Of all the villains featured in The Clone Wars , General Grievous had by far the least development. Throughout the entire show, Grievous was only ever shown as a competent but cowardly warrior who would flee at the first sign of a fight going wrong . While there were moments when his true power shone through, such as his assault on the Nightsisters of Dathomir , very few layers of his character were ever revealed in The Clone Wars . There was one episode that explored Grievous' past, though it didn't go into much detail, and it never became as big as it could have been.

The Statues In Grievous’ Lair Almost Made Him An Even More Compelling Villain

The clone wars hinted at his rich & interesting backstory, but never used it.

In The Clone Wars season 1, episode 10, Jedi Master Kit Fisto and his former Padawan infiltrated General Grievous' lair. As they examined his base ahead of his arrival, they came upon several statues that showed Grievous at various stages of his life and with varying levels of cybernetic implants . Grievous also told his medical droid that he "submits to no one" and that he considered his implants to be improvements. Those moments offered a rare glimpse into Grievous' backstory and some of his more interesting character traits, which would have been a compelling story arc for the show to follow.

Exploring Grievous' history could have made him so much more compelling than the cowardly general he was depicted as, but the opportunity was never capitalized on.

Before Grievous was a cyborg general, he was a Kaleesh warlord. The Kaleesh were a reptilian species whose home planet was located in the Wild Space region of the Star Wars galaxy map . Grievous led a war band across Wild Space to invade and conquer several species, like the Huk, which explains why he was so fearsome during the Clone Wars. The statues in Grievous' lair hinted at his warlord backstory, but it was completely abandoned after that episode . Exploring Grievous' history could have made him so much more compelling than the cowardly general he was depicted as, but the opportunity was never capitalized on.

How Could The Clone Wars Have Used Grievous’ Backstory More?

The show could have explored why grievous hated the jedi so much.

While The Clone Wars couldn't have directly shown Grievous' backstory, as it took place years prior, there were several ways it could have been referenced. In Star Wars canon, the Huk called for help after Grievous' rampage, and the Republic and Jedi allied with them, causing Grievous' hatred of both. A Clone Wars episode could have traveled to the Huk world to see the effects Grievous had on them and explore the effects the Republic's intervention had on the Kaleesh in greater detail . The show also could have seen the Separatists capitalize on the Kaleesh's hatred of the Republic and form an alliance with them.

The Clone Wars also could have addressed his history more indirectly by focusing on some of the personality traits Grievous displayed in that episode. His conversation with the medical droid established the pride Grievous felt in himself and his implants, but it also showed how much he wanted Count Dooku's approval. That could have inspired resentment in Grievous, and it would have been the perfect setup for an episode showing him challenging Dooku . It also would have utilized his statement that he never submitted to anyone, which would have then given Grievous a much more compelling reason to be so angry beyond simple hatred of the Jedi.

Grievous' next on-screen appearance will be in Star Wars: Tales of the Empire , which releases on Disney+ on May 4.

Grievous' character development, or lack thereof, is one of the few mistakes The Clone Wars ever made. As the commander of the droid army, Grievous was one of the show's main villains, but he was also one-dimensional. Exploring his backstory would have made Grievous a much more complex villain, and it would have made The Clone Wars better as a whole. There's still a chance that some future Star Wars story will give Grievous that development, but for now, he remains on the list of the franchise's under-utilized villains.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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This Was Anton Yelchin's Favorite Episode From Star Trek: The Original Series

J.J. Abrams' 2009 "Star Trek" feature film wasn't so much an adaptation of the 1966 TV series as it was a film version of how non-Trekkies view the franchise. To explain: on the TV series, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) is typically depicted as being judicious, stern, and decisive. Because of the few times Kirk solved problems with his fists, however, he has gained a (perhaps unfair) reputation for being a reckless cowboy, an insufferable lothario, and a flippant charmer. Abrams' version of Kirk (Chris Pine) rolled with those misconceptions, making a "high-octane" version of the character. Indeed, all the characters are now broader, more passionate versions of themselves. This is in addition to each of them being secret super-geniuses, deeply expert in at least one field of science, language, medicine, or engineering.

Case in point, Chekov (Anton Yelchin) knows how to operate a transporter in such a way that he can snatch crewmates right out of the air as they plummet through a planet's atmosphere below. Everything in the 2009 "Star Trek" is shifted into overdrive, with whirling cameras, shouting, fighting, and desperate last-minute escapes. Abrams turned "Star Trek" into an action movie. 

That said, many of the new cast members did their "Star Trek" homework, watching old episodes of the original series and using their forebears as models for the latest versions of their characters. Yelchin in particular closely emulated Walter Koenig, and was even careful to imitate Koenig's unique Russian accent, even if it wasn't wholly accurate. 

In 2009, TrekMovie interviewed the late Yelchin about playing Chekov, asking the actor -- perhaps naturally -- what his favorite episode of the original series was. Surprisingly, Yelchin was very fond of "Who Mourns for Adonais?," the episode wherein the Enterprise crew faces off against the Greek god Apollo.

Read more: The 21 Best Star Trek Original Series Episodes, Ranked

Yelchin Thought That 'Who Mourns For Adonais?' Was 'Fascinating'

"Who Mourns for Adonais?" (September 22, 1967) begins with the Enterprise being grabbed in space by a giant green human hand. Kirk and company beam down to a nearby planet to find Apollo (Michael Forest) living there. This appears to be the actual god Apollo of Greek myth, and he demands that the Enterprise crew worship him, just like he used to be worshiped back on Earth. Kirk, Chekov, and the others surmise that Apollo is actually an ancient alien that once visited Earth thousands of years ago, and the locals assumed he was a god. Kirk explains to Apollo that humans have outgrown the need for gods, and Apollo is sad. After Apollo ascends to join the other "gods," Kirk admits that even without the benefit of divinity, modern civilization still owes a lot to ancient Greek culture. The title is a reference to an 1821 Percy Shelley elegy about John Keats.

Yelchin probably liked "Adonais" because Chekov has a lot to contribute. He was part of the episode's landing party, and he was active and contributive. In Yelchin's words: 

"Probably the one with Apollo. I think is such an intelligent episode. It is an episode where the basic point is that humanity ... looking at it in terms of the '60s when men are their own gods, and look at where they brought their universe to. It was such a fascinating, touching, weird thing to have an episode. Where men come to a planet where a god wants to be a god again." 

No such heady concepts were included in the 2009 film, as it was, as mentioned, an action picture. But It's nice to see that Yelchin found some of the original Trek concepts to be interesting. 

'Amok Time' - A.k.a. The Pon Farr Episode

Yelchin also liked "Amok Time," saying, "I also love the episode where Spock is PMSing and where Kirk has to fight Spock."

That's an indelicate way of describing pon farr, a Vulcan phenomenon where their bodies sexually activate once every seven years. While undergoing pon farr, Vulcans become unbearably horny, but also very angry and animalistic. They are moved to mate. In "Amok Time" (September 15, 1967) , Spock (Leonard Nimoy) undergoes pon farr and returns to Vulcan to marry his betrothed T'Pring (Arlene Martel). T'Pring finds that Kirk is a more appealing mate, however, and Kirk and Spock have to fight in a Vulcan gladiatorial arena for her hand. It's a notable episode of "Star Trek" because of the amount of Vulcan lore it introduced into the franchise, but many -- like Yelchin -- seem attached to the episode's silly, horny violence. 

Yelchin also admitted that he did more research than some of his co-stars. He read "The Star Trek Encyclopedia" by Mike and Denise Okuda, and watched every episode of the show. Chris Pine, it seems, began watching the series, but stopped partway through the first season. "I kept going. I loved it," Yelchin said. "I even watched the episodes that Chekov wasn't in. The ones that he was in I found interesting, like when they go to a bar in 'The Troubles With Tribbles' and they have a drink, I liked that." 

Yelchin also played Chekov in "Star Trek Into Darkness" in 2013 and in "Star Trek Beyond" in 2016, released posthumously .

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