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Star Trek: The Original Series episode guides - All TOS episodes rated, reviewed

In those days before the Federation had continuity, there was Star Trek: The Original Series. Watch the TOS stories in any other you wish; it rarely matters, as essentially every single episode in TOS is a bottle episode. Ultimately, however, many TOS episodes are retconned into prequel stories (e.g. “The Menagerie”, “Space Seed”, “City on the Edge of Forever”), sequels (e.g. “Mirror Mirror”) or even crossovers (“The Trouble with Tribbles”) for the other series and movies.

wikipedia star trek episodes

Star Trek: The Original Series – the seaons, the key episodes

Season 1 – In the 1960s, TV was a different beast. Serialization (and thus continuity) was essentially non-existent. Each story plays out over a single episode only (with one exception in three years of Star Trek), thereby not allowing for much character development each season of Star Trek’s original run is really barely indistinguishable from another – but at lest that means that season 1 isn’t filled with the “growing pains” every other ST series goes through. The biggest highlights in Star Trek’s first year has got to be “The Menagerie” (episode #s 11 and 12), an eerie story of Captain Kirk’s doomed mentor Captain Pike, and “City on the Edge of Forever” (#29), a neat twist on the traditional “preserve the past” time travel tale. Also of note: “Space Seed” (#22), the introduction of Star Trek II baddie Khan.

Season 2 – Ensign Chekov joins the bridge crew for season 2, which manages to have some fun in the explicitly comic “Trouble with Tribbles” (#15) and the absolutely bananas “Assignment: Earth” (#26). And Spock fans dig on “Amok Time” (#1) and Journey to Babel (#10) for the info doled on that wacky Vulcan culture.

Season 3 – As mentioned above, a fan campaign saved Star Trek for a third series, but NBC executives were not enthused about supporting the marginally successful series and cut the show’s operating budget in half. However, Star Trek Guide must say that tripling the budget could not save scripts like those for “Spock’s Brain” (Can all Vulcans live without a brain or just Spock?), “Specter of the Gun” (Scotty’s dead because he *thinks* he’s dead?) and “The Savage Curtain” (Kirk, Spock, Vulcan hero Surak and Abe Lincoln vs. Genghis Khan, Klingon Empire founder Kahless, 21st-century Earth dictator Mr. Green – who did it in the kitchen with a revolver – and fuzzy chick Zora?) Dude.

wikipedia star trek episodes

Full List of Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes

Reference

Star Trek's 25th Anniversary Special

The cage (extended version), star trek: a captain's log, star trek: 30 years and beyond.

A Taste of Armageddon

A Taste of Armageddon

Balance of Terror

Balance of Terror

Charlie X

Court Martial

Dagger of the Mind

Dagger of the Mind

Errand of Mercy

Errand of Mercy

Mudd's Women

Mudd's Women

Space Seed

The Alternative Factor

The City on the Edge of Forever

The City on the Edge of Forever

The Conscience of the King

The Conscience of the King

The Corbomite Maneuver

The Corbomite Maneuver

The Devil in the Dark

The Devil in the Dark

The Enemy Within

The Enemy Within

The Galileo Seven

The Galileo Seven

The Man Trap

The Man Trap

The Naked Time

The Naked Time

The Return of the Archons

The Return of the Archons

The Squire of Gothos

The Squire of Gothos

Tomorrow Is Yesterday

Tomorrow Is Yesterday

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

Where No Man Has Gone Before

Where No Man Has Gone Before

Shore Leave

Shore Leave

This Side of Paradise

This Side of Paradise

Miri

  • Star Trek: The Original Series (NBC)
  • Star Trek Franchise
  • Star Trek Universe
  • Unspeakable Times
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  • TV Episodes

The 20+ Greatest Anime Trios Of All Time

epguides.com & TVmaze present

  • William Shatner as Capt. James Tiberius Kirk
  • Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
  • DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy
  • James Doohan as Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott
  • Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Nyota Uhura
  • George Takei as Lt. Hikaru Sulu
  • Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel
  • Walter Koenig as Ensign Pavel Andreievich Chekov [ 2-3 ]
  • Grace Lee Whitney as Yeoman Janice Rand [ 1 ]
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
  • Star Trek: Voyager
  • Star Trek: Enterprise

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, Sep 7 - 9, 2023, Hunt Valley, MD

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention

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

The full star trek timeline, explained..

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

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

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

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

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

How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order

  • How to Watch Star Trek by Release Order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

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

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

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

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

13. Star Trek Generations (2293)

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

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

14. Star Trek: First Contact (2373)

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

15. Star Trek: Insurrection (2375)

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

16. Star Trek: Nemesis (2379)

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378)

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20. Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-TBD)

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

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

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

21. Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402)

wikipedia star trek episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Watch Star Trek by Order of Release

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

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

In This Article

Star Trek

Star Trek: The Next Generation

  • View history

Star Trek: The Next Generation , often abbreviated to TNG , is the second live-action Star Trek television series, and the first set in the 24th century . Like its predecessors, it was created by Gene Roddenberry . Produced at Paramount Pictures , it aired in first-run syndication , by Paramount Television in the US, from September 1987 to May 1994 . The series was set in the 24th century and featured the voyages of the starship USS Enterprise -D under Captain Jean-Luc Picard .

The series led to four spin-offs set in the same time period: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , which it ran alongside during its final two seasons, Star Trek: Voyager , Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Picard . It is also the beginning of a contiguous period of time during which there was always at least one Star Trek series in production, ending with Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005 .

  • Main Title Theme  file info (arranged by Dennis McCarthy , composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage )
  • 2.1 Starring
  • 2.2 Also starring
  • 3.1 Season 1
  • 3.2 Season 2
  • 3.3 Season 3
  • 3.4 Season 4
  • 3.5 Season 5
  • 3.6 Season 6
  • 3.7 Season 7
  • 4.1 Remastering
  • 5.1 Performers
  • 5.2 Stunt performers
  • 5.3 Production staff
  • 5.4 Companies
  • 6 Related topics
  • 8 External links

Summary [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation moved the universe forward roughly a century past the days of James T. Kirk and Spock . The series depicted a new age in which the Klingons were allies of the Federation , though the Romulans remained adversaries. New threats included the Ferengi (although they were later used more for comic relief), the Cardassians , and the Borg . While Star Trek: The Original Series was clearly made in the 1960s, the first two seasons of The Next Generation show all the markings of a 1980s product, complete with Spandex uniforms .

As with the original Star Trek , TNG was still very much about exploration, "boldly going where no one has gone before". Similarly, the plots captured the adventures of the crew of a starship, namely the USS Enterprise -D . Despite the apparent similarities with the original series, the creators of TNG were adamant about creating a bold, independent vision of the future. The public did not widely accept the show on its own terms until the airing of " The Best of Both Worlds ", which marked a shift towards higher drama, serious plot lines, and a less episodic nature. This helped pave the way for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and its two-year-long Dominion War arc and preceding build-up, as well as the third and fourth seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise . Star Trek: Voyager capitalized on the heightened crew relationships and familial bonds first seen on The Next Generation. DS9, on the other hand, balanced political intrigue, character development, and series-long plot threads with a rerun-friendly format.

As with the original Star Trek , TNG's special effects utilized miniatures, but due to great advancements in computerized effects and opticals, the show leaped ahead of its predecessor in terms of quality effects. This series marked the greatest surge in Star Trek 's mainstream popularity, and paved the way for the later televised Trek shows.

Four of the Star Trek motion pictures continued the adventures of the TNG cast after the end of the series in 1994. Star Trek Generations served to "pass the torch" from The Original Series cast, who had been the subject of the first six motion pictures, by including crossover appearances from William Shatner , James Doohan , and Walter Koenig ; it also featured the destruction of the USS Enterprise -D. Star Trek: First Contact , released two years later , was the first of the motion pictures to solely feature the TNG cast, transferred aboard the new USS Enterprise -E and engaging with one of their deadliest enemies from the television series, the Borg. Star Trek: Insurrection followed in 1998 , continuing certain character arcs from the series. In 2002 , Star Trek Nemesis brought some of these character arcs and plot threads to a seemingly definite conclusion, although some cast members expressed hope that future movies would yet pick up the story. Regardless, a new generation of actors appeared in 2009 's Star Trek , which created an alternate reality and returned the films' focus to Kirk and Spock .

On television, characters from TNG appeared in subsequent series. Recurring TNG character Miles O'Brien became a series regular on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , as did Worf in DS9's fourth season . Jean-Luc Picard appeared in Deep Space Nine 's pilot episode , and supporting characters from TNG appeared occasionally on DS9 (specifically, Keiko O'Brien , Lursa , B'Etor , Molly O'Brien , Vash , Q , Lwaxana Troi , Alynna Nechayev , Gowron , Thomas Riker , Toral , and Alexander Rozhenko ). Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi appeared several times each on Star Trek: Voyager , and Troi and William T. Riker appeared in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise , which was primarily a holographic simulation set during the TNG episode " The Pegasus ". However, Star Trek Nemesis was the final chronological appearance of the Next Generation characters for over 18 years, until Star Trek: Picard , which focused on the later life of Jean-Luc Picard. Riker, Troi, Data , and Hugh also appeared in Picard .

In 1994 , Star Trek: The Next Generation was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. During its seven-year run, it was nominated for 58 Emmy Awards, mostly in "technical" categories such as visual effects and makeup; it won 18.

Main cast [ ]

Starring [ ].

  • Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
  • Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker

Also starring [ ]

  • LeVar Burton as Lt. j.g. / Lt. / Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  • Denise Crosby as Lt. Tasha Yar ( 1987 - 1988 )
  • Michael Dorn as Lt. j.g. / Lt. Worf
  • Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher ( 1987 - 1988 ; 1989 - 1994 )
  • Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
  • Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
  • Wil Wheaton as Ensign Wesley Crusher ( 1987 - 1990 )

Episode list [ ]

Season 1 [ ].

TNG Season 1 , 25 episodes:

Season 2 [ ]

TNG Season 2 , 22 episodes:

Season 3 [ ]

TNG Season 3 , 26 episodes:

Season 4 [ ]

TNG Season 4 , 26 episodes:

Season 5 [ ]

TNG Season 5 , 26 episodes:

Season 6 [ ]

TNG Season 6 , 26 episodes:

Season 7 [ ]

TNG Season 7 , 25 episodes:

Behind the scenes [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation was originally pitched to the then-fledgling Fox Network . However, they couldn't guarantee an initial order greater than thirteen episodes, not enough to make the enormous start-up costs of the series worth the expense. It was then decided to sell the series to the first-run syndication market. The show's syndicated launch was overseen by Paramount Television president Mel Harris , a pioneer in the syndicated television market. Many of the stations that carried The Next Generation had also run The Original Series for a long time.

According to issues of Star Trek: The Official Fan Club Magazine from early 1987, TNG was originally planned to be set in the 25th century, 150 years after the original series, and the Enterprise would have been the Enterprise NCC-1701-G. Gene Roddenberry ultimately changed the timeline to mid-24th century, set on board the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, as an Enterprise -G would have been the eighth starship to bear the name and that was too many for the relatively short time period that was to have passed.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was billed initially as being set 78 years after the days of the original USS Enterprise . [1] (p. 16) However, after the series' first season was established as being set in the year 2364 , this reference became obsolete as dates were then able to be set for the original series and the four previous films. When this happened, it was established that the events of the original series were about a hundred years before the events of TNG. With TNG's first season being set in 2364, 78 years prior would have been 2286 . Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home partly takes place during this year along with the shakedown cruise of the USS Enterprise -A .

On the special The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation To The Next , Gene Roddenberry commented, " On the original Star Trek , I practically lost my family from working so many twelve-hour days, fourteen-hour days, seven days a week, and I told them, 'You can't pay me enough to do that.' But then they said, 'Hey, but suppose we do it in a way in which' they call syndication, 'in which we don't have a network and we don't have all those people up there?' And Paramount was saying to me, 'And we guarantee that you will be in charge of the show.' "

Andrew Probert was first hired by Roddenberry in 1978 . However, not until 1986 , when Roddenberry was preparing to launch a new show, entitled Star Trek: The Next Generation , did he call upon Probert to take a lead design role. Everything had to be rethought, imagined, planned and redesigned. As the vision evolved in the designers' minds, the evolution was charted in successive sketches and paintings.

Among Probert's creations, in addition to the new Enterprise starship and many of its interiors including the main bridge , are many other featured spacecraft. The Ferengi cruiser , and even the Ferengi species, are Probert designs.

Roddenberry originally insisted on doing a one-hour pilot and assigned D.C. Fontana to write the episode, first titled Meeting at Farpoint . However, the studio was keen on having a two-hour pilot, mainly because they wanted something big and spectacular to launch the series, especially considering first-run syndication. Roddenberry himself volunteered to extend Fontana's script to two hours, eventually adding the Q storyline to it.

Ronald D. Moore commented, " Gene did not want conflict between the regular characters on TNG. This began to hamstring the series and led to many, many problems. To put it bluntly, this wasn't a very good idea. But rather than jettison it completely, we tried to remain true to the spirit of a better future where the conflicts between our characters did not show them to be petty or selfish or simply an extension of 20th century mores. " ( AOL chat , 1997 ) Rick Berman explained, " The problem with Star Trek: The Next Generation is Gene created a group of characters that he purposely chose not to allow conflict between. Starfleet officers cannot be in conflict, thus its murderous to write these shows because there is no good drama without conflict, and the conflict has to come from outside the group. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 8)

Roddenberry tried to recruit many production staff members from The Original Series to work on the new series. These included producers Robert H. Justman and Edward K. Milkis , writers D.C. Fontana and David Gerrold (who served as the main creative force behind the formation of the series), costume designer William Ware Theiss , assistant director Charles Washburn , composer Fred Steiner , set decorator John M. Dwyer , and writer John D.F. Black . Roddenberry also tried to bring back cinematographer Jerry Finnerman , but he declined the offer, being busy working on Moonlighting at the time. However, all of the above people finished working on the series after or during the first season.

Unit Production Manager David Livingston was responsible for hiring Michael Westmore for the pilot episode. ( ENT Season 3 Blu-ray , " Impulse " audio commentary )

Remastering [ ]

After several months of speculation and partial confirmation, StarTrek.com announced on 28 September 2011 (the 24th anniversary of the series premiere) that The Next Generation would be remastered in 1080p high-definition for release on Blu-ray Disc and eventual syndication, starting in 2012 . The seventh and final season was released on Blu-ray in December 2014 .

Cast and crew [ ]

The following people worked on The Next Generation ; it is unknown during which season or on which episodes.

Performers [ ]

  • Antonio – background actor
  • Charles Bazaldua – voice actor
  • Terrence Beasor – voice actor (17 episodes, including the voice of the Borg )
  • Libby Bideau – featured actress
  • Brian Ciari – background actor: Cardassian ( TNG Season 6 or 7 )
  • Amber Connally – background actress: child
  • Phil Crowley – voice actor
  • Vincent DeMaio – background actor: Enterprise -D operations division officer
  • David Dewitt – background actor
  • Gregory Fletcher – background actor Borg
  • Dan Horton – background actor
  • Carlyle King – voice actress
  • Mark Laing – featured actor
  • Daryl F. Mallett – background actor
  • Tina Morlock – background actress
  • Jean Marie Novak – background actress: Enterprise -D operations division officer
  • Rick H. Olavarria – background actor (1988)
  • Jennifer Ott – background actress: Enterprise -D command division officer
  • Richard Penn – voice actor
  • Judie Pimitera – background actress: Ten Forward waitress
  • Paige Pollack – voice actress
  • Jeff Rector – background actor: Enterprise -D command division officer
  • Gary Schwartz – voice actor/ADR voice
  • Beth Scott – background actress
  • Steve Sekely – background actor
  • Andrea Silver – background actress: Enterprise -D sciences division officer
  • Oliver Theess – recurring background actor (around 1990)
  • Richard Walker – background actor
  • Harry Williams, Jr. – background actor
  • Bruce Winant – supporting actor
  • Stephen Woodworth – background actor

Stunt performers [ ]

  • Laura Albert – stunts
  • John Lendale Bennett – stunts
  • Richard L. Blackwell – stunts
  • John Cade – stunts
  • Chuck Courtney – Assistant Stunt Coordinator
  • Terry James – stunts
  • Gary Jensen – Assistant Stunt Coordinator
  • Lane Leavitt – stunts
  • Pat Romano – stunts

Production staff [ ]

  • Joseph Andolino – Additional Composer
  • David Atherton – Makeup Artist
  • Gregory Benford – Scientific Consultant
  • Steven R. Bernstein – Additional Music Composer/Orchestrator
  • Les Bernstien – Motion Control Operator
  • R. Christopher Biggs – Special Makeup Effects Artist
  • Howard Block – Second Unit Director of Photography
  • Stephen Buchsbaum – Colorist: Unitel Video (Four Seasons)
  • Alan Chudnow – Assistant Editor
  • Marty Church – Foley Mixer
  • Scott Cochran – Scoring Mixer: Advertising Music
  • Robert Cole – Special Effects Artist
  • Sharon Davis – Graphics Assistant
  • David Dittmar – Prosthetic Makeup Artist
  • Dragon Dronet – Prop Maker: Weapons, Specialty Props and Miniatures
  • Jim Dultz – Assistant Art Director
  • Shannon Dunn – Extras Casting: Cenex Casting
  • Chris W. Fallin – Motion Control Operator
  • Edward J. Franklin – Special Effects Artist
  • Lisa Gizara – Assistant to Gates McFadden
  • John Goodwin – Makeup Artist
  • Simon Holden – Digital Compositor (between 1989 and 1994)
  • Kent Allen Jones – Sculptor: Bob Jean Productions
  • Michael R. Jones – Makeup Artist (early 1990s)
  • Jason Kaufman – Prop and Model Maker: Greg Jein, Inc.
  • Nina Kent – Makeup Artist
  • David Kervinen – Visual Effects Illustrator: Composite Image Systems (4 Seasons)
  • Andy Krieger – Extras Casting: Central Casting
  • Tim Landry – Visual Effects Artist
  • Lisa Logan – Cutter/Fitter
  • Jon Macht – Post Production Vendor
  • Gray Marshall – Motion Control Camera Operator: Image "G"
  • Karl J. Martin – Digital Compositor
  • Belinda Merritt – VFX Accountant: The Post Group
  • John Palmer – Special Effects Coordinator: WonderWorks Inc.
  • Frank Popovich – Mold and Prop Assistant
  • Molly Rennie
  • Chris Schnitzer – Motion Control Technician/Rigger: Image "G"
  • Steven J. Scott – Digital Compositor
  • Bruce Sears – DGA Trainee
  • Casey Simpson – Gaffer
  • Ken Stranahan – Visual Effects Artist
  • Rick Stratton – Makeup Artist
  • Greg Stuhl – Miniatures: Greg Jein, Inc.
  • Tim Tommasino – Assistant Editor
  • Peter Webb – Digital Compositor
  • Gregory A. Weimerskirch – Assistant Art Director
  • Bill Witthans – Dolly Grip

Companies [ ]

  • Bob Jean Productions
  • Movie Movers
  • Newkirk Special Effects
  • WonderWorks Inc.

Related topics [ ]

  • TNG directors
  • TNG performers
  • TNG recurring characters
  • TNG studio models
  • TNG writers
  • Character crossover appearances
  • Undeveloped TNG episodes
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation novels
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation comics, volume 1 (DC)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation comics, volume 2 (DC)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation comics (IDW)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation soundtracks
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on VHS
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on Betamax
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on LaserDisc
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on DVD
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-ray
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball machine

External links [ ]

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at Wikipedia
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at the Internet Movie Database
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at StarTrek.com
  • 2 Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • 3 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)

wikipedia star trek episodes

12 best Star Trek episodes in the franchise of all time

S tar Trek as a whole is one of sci-fi's defining works. Gracing our screens via various incredible and different shows, movies, and video games, there are over 900 episodes that make us laugh, cry, cheer, throw things at the TV, and think extra hard about how we're choosing to live our lives.

Out of these 900 episodes, there are a few that stand out as some of the franchise's best episodes. While everyone has their own favorites, I have compiled a list of some of my personal favorite episodes from different Star Trek shows. These episodes have made me laugh, cry, sob, rage, and learn a few things about myself and my favorite characters.

From Star Trek: The Original Series to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , I inhaled these shows growing up as my dad kindly planted the enthusiasm and love I have for the sci-fi genre as a whole, but especially Star Trek .

Again - our lists may look different as we're all drawn to different things in episodes but, without further ado, let's take a look at 12 of my all-time favorite Star Trek episodes across the various series.

1. "The City on the Edge of Forever" ( Star Trek: The Original Series )

Now that's an episode that'll both entertain you and touch your soul. Why is it hailed as one of the best Star Trek episodes ever, you ask? The crew of the USS Enterprise stumbles upon a time-travel portal. Time-traveling is fun and all (or not, if you've seen Loki ), and it's all fun and games until the crew has to face a heart-wrenching dilemma when they learn that saving one life in the past could completely erase their future.

It's like a space version of a game of "What if?" mixed with a dash of drama and sprinkled with sci-fi goodness. The episode isn't just a fun escapade through time - it's a deep dive into moral quandaries that'll have you thinking about it all long after the credits roll. It's classic Trek magic - blending adventurous sci-fi with thoughtful storytelling, and it's clearly one of the best episodes of Star Trek to date.

2. "The Inner Light" ( Star Trek: The Next Generation )

This episode from TNG is a masterclass in storytelling and transcends the typical boundaries of sci-fi. Imagine living an entire lifetime in the blink of an eye. That is the extraordinary journey Captain Jean-Luc Picard finds himself embarking on. The episode is a brilliantly painted canvas full of emotion, memory, and the very essence of what it means to be human.

Picard, known for his stoic leadership, is transformed into a man who experiences a lifetime's worth of joys, sorrows, and love in an alien world. The truth is that the entire experience only takes place in a few minutes in real time. This story not only stretches the imagination but also touches the viewer, leaving a lasting impression about the fragility and beauty of life. It's a stark reminder that, sometimes, the most powerful voyages are not through space, but through time and the human experience.

3. "In the Pale Moonlight" ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine )

This episode isn't just a fantastic one but a huge game-changer in the Star Trek universe. Captain Sisko, usually the embodiment of Starfleet morals, gets yeeted into a shadowy world of deceit and tough choices because he's desperate to save as many lives as possible in a raging interstellar war. This episode brilliantly tosses the usual Star Trek playbook out of the airlock and gifts us with a raw, painful, and unvarnished look at the cost of war.

It's gripping, it's gritty, and it doesn't shy away from the hard truth: sometimes, even heroes have to play in the grey areas. For anyone who thought Star Trek was just about phasers, aliens, and space adventures, "In the Pale Moonlight" delivers a powerful punch and shows that the final frontier isn't just about exploring space, but also the complex moral landscapes within ourselves.

4. "Scorpion" ( Star Trek: Voyager )

The riveting two-parter from Star Trek: Voyager is a standout gem in the Star Trek cosmos, and here's why it's a fan favorite. The Voyager is navigating the treacherous, uncharted space of the Delta Quadrant when they bump into the Borg - the cybernetic baddies that give everyone the heebie-jeebies.

But wait! There's more - enter Species 8472, a new, even scarier alien that makes the Borg look like a bunch of malfunctioning toasters (this also makes me think of our Battlestar Galactica Cylon friends). This episode keeps you on the edge of your seat. The stakes? Sky-high. The action? Non-stop. And the moral dilemmas? Oh, they're there. "Scorpion" isn't just a great Star Trek episode; it's an intense ride through space that shows Voyager at its most daring, resourceful, and downright cool.

5. "The Best of Both Worlds" ( Star Trek: The Next Generation )

Another excellent episode of TNG makes our list, and this time, the fearless Captain Picard gets abducted by the Borg (those terrifying half-machine, half-organism aliens I literally just mentioned in the previous slide). It's actually pretty unsettling watching it all unfold. The episode masterfully blends edge-of-your-seat action with a deep dive into the psyche of Starfleet's finest. The crew's desperate struggle to save their captain and stop the Borg's march towards Earth is absolutely electrifying.

And let's talk about that cliffhanger – when Riker says "Fire," and the screen fades to black - you could hear a pin drop in living rooms across the world. This episode isn't just a chapter in Star Trek history - it's one for the books, one that leaves you clinging to your seat, craving for more. "The Best of Both Worlds" is a universe-sized testament to why we love Star Trek : it's adventurous, it's intense, and it boldly goes where no show has gone before.

6. "Trials and Tribble-ations" ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine )

Another excellent episode of DS9 , this one is a gem that brilliantly combines nostalgia with the new, making it a standout in the Star Trek universe. Imagine stepping into a time machine and landing right in the middle of a classic episode from TOS . That's exactly what this episode does, and it does so with a delightful twist.

Our Deep Space Nine crew find themselves in the iconic and hilarious "The Trouble with Tribbles" episode mingling with the Kirk and Spock, and the result is nothing short of incredible. It's like watching history being rewritten most playfully and ingeniously possible. The episode is a technical marvel too - seamlessly blending new scenes with the old, creating a crossover that feels both familiar and excitingly new. It's not just a trip down memory lane - it's a joyous celebration of the Star Trek legacy, served with a side of humor and a ton of tribbles.

7. "Mirror, Mirror" ( Star Trek: The Original Series )

This episode is a wild ride into a universe where everything as we know is flipped on its head. Imagine the upright, morally good crew of the USS Enterprise, but... with a devious twist. This episode boldly introduced us to the concept of a parallel universe, a really fun and not-yet-overly-used idea that sparked the imaginations of fans and future writers alike. Picture Captain Kirk and his crew, but as their own evil twins – complete with epically cheesy, sly grins, evil goatees, and an appetite for mischief.

It's a lot like that one scene in Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 3 - the one where he goes a little... devious. Anyway, the genius of "Mirror, Mirror" lies in its ability to take our beloved characters as they are and show us a shadowy "what-if" scenario. It's fun, it's funny, and it's packed with enough intrigue to make you wonder if there's a mischievous version of you out there in another universe. The episode is a testament to Star Trek 's creative storytelling, proving that a simple twist can turn the familiar into something hilariously and excitingly unfamiliar.

8. "Year of Hell" ( Star Trek: Voyager )

In this episode, the starship Voyager is already zillions of miles from home and gets tossed into a two-parter filled with trouble. In these two nail-biting episodes, the crew faces their toughest challenge yet. It's not just phasers and photon torpedoes - it's a deep dive into what it means to make hard choices.

Captain Janeway leads the crew through a maze of moral issues and disasters while keeping it cool, or at least trying. Imagine having to decide between saving your ship or the very fabric of time itself. It's like a space-age version of choosing between a rock and a hard place, but with more time travel and explosions. The suspense is cranked up to eleven, and the emotional ups and downs will leave you cheering, gasping, and maybe even shedding a tear.

9. "Duet" ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine )

This episode is often hailed as a standout in the Star Trek universe, and for good reason. This isn't just your typical space adventure - it dives deep into the complex aftermath of war. "Duet" is a gripping tale of justice, redemption, and the enduring shadows of past conflicts. The episode skillfully unpacks the weighty themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the moral grey areas that come with conflict. It's a space-age courtroom drama with a twist.

The performances are top-notch, especially the incredible face-off between Kira and Marritza, which is a raw and emotional journey that stays with you long after the credits roll. "Duet" doesn't just entertain - it makes you think, feel, and perhaps even question things. It's a shining example of how Star Trek does more than explore strange new worlds - it explores the depths of the human (and alien) condition.

10. "Chain of Command" ( Star Trek: The Next Generation )

This episode is yet another rollercoaster through space, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. What makes it truly unforgettable is its intense storyline that's more gripping than a Vulcan nerve pinch. Captain Picard is captured and subjected to a grueling test of wills against a Cardassian (not Kardashian, but equally awful) interrogator. The drama is palpable, with tensions and tempers running high. But it's not just about phasers and space battles - it dives deep into the human spirit, challenging our understanding of resilience and truth.

And who can forget the iconic moment when Picard, with all the strength of a Starfleet captain, defies his captor with the powerful declaration, "There are four lights!" This line isn't just a triumph for Picard - it's a victory shout for anyone who's ever stood up against tyranny. This episode doesn't just entertain, it sticks with you. It proves that sometimes the most powerful weapon in the universe is an unbreakable spirit.

11) "The Elysian Kingdom" ( Star Trek: Strange New Worlds )

This episode is both a delightful and depressing gem in the Star Trek universe, offering a refreshing and imaginative twist to the franchise's storied legacy. The U.S.S. Enterprise, a beacon of futuristic technology and exploration, is magically transformed into a medieval kingdom straight out of a fairy tale. The crew abandon their usual posts and uniforms and find themselves playing roles in a storybook, complete with royal garb and dramatic titles and entrances. It's a playful departure from the usual starship corridors and alien encounters, giving the cast a chance to stretch their acting chops in charmingly unexpected ways.

This episode masterfully blends humor, heart, and the art of letting go into one episode, making it not just an entertaining watch, but a testament to the series' ability to entertain viewers while giving us touching life lessons (and keeping the Kleenex market going). With its creative storytelling and surprises, "The Elysian Kingdom" stands out as a shining example of Star Trek 's enduring charm and its capacity to constantly reinvent itself while staying true to its roots.

12) "Coming Home" ( Star Trek: Discovery )

This episode is beautiful and stands out as a shining gem in the vast universe of Star Trek for good reason. In it, we find a mix of heart-pounding action, rich storytelling, and emotional depth that grabs you right from the start and does not let go, much like a needy ex. "Coming Home" is a rollercoaster of feelings, masterfully combining the series' complex themes of exploration, camaraderie, and the enduring human spirit. The crew of the Discovery is portrayed as a family, each member bringing their unique flavor to the narrative, making you laugh, cry, and cheer for them equally.

The episode's climax is very emotionally intense, seamlessly combining high-stakes drama with touching moments, leaving a mark on your memory. It's like a perfectly cooked steak of sci-fi drama - tender and juicy with just the right amount of sizzle (I am hungry). The characters are more than just space explorers, they're like old friends, each with their unique quirks and charms, making you root for them every step of the way.

As Discovery and Strange New Worlds are still going, I can only sit in anticipation to see where these two incredible series will take us to next.

12 best Star Trek episodes in the franchise of all time

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Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien.

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Did you know

  • Trivia The Starfleet vessels seen in the first season, including the Discovery, the Shenzou and the redesigned Enterprise, were all designed by production artist John Eaves. Eaves' work with Star Trek spans three decades. Probably his most notable contribution was the design of the Enterprise-E for Star Trek: First Contact (1996) .
  • Goofs With Michael being the adoptive sister of Spock, the series has many flashbacks to their childhood and upbringing on Vulcan. Spock's Vulcan half-brother, Sybok, does not appear nor is mention during these scenes. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) , Spock says that he and Sybok grew up together. However, since it's never stated when Sybok joined Sarek's home - only that he did so following his mother's death - or when he was exiled from the family, it's not impossible Sybok moved in after Burnham, and left before she graduated (the two extremes of the flashbacks). Also, since Sybok was never mentioned before Star Trek V, it seems reasonable the family never spoke of him again after his estrangement.
  • Alternate versions The serif-font legends and subtitles in the "broadcast" episodes are absent from the DVD versions, where they are replaced with the standard DVD subtitles.
  • Connections Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Female Lead TV Shows You Should Be Watching in 2017 (2017)

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'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Sets Filming Window & Episode Count [Exclusive]

Showrunner and EP Alex Kurtzman also teased some casting information and what to expect from the newest 'Star Trek' series.

The Big Picture

  • Starfleet Academy is set to be the next new Star Trek series, following a group of young cadets.
  • Production is underway with filming expected to start in late summer, with the first season confirmed to be 10 episodes.
  • The series aims to cater to a new generation while welcoming back long-time fans, but it may not air until 2026.

While it may appear that parts of the Star Trek universe are winding down following the end of Picard and heading into Discovery 's fifth and final season, it's still an incredibly exciting time to be a fan of the franchise. Behind the scenes, Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman and the team behind the franchise are diligently working to bring fans more exciting Star Trek adventures. Announced almost exactly one year ago, Starfleet Academy is set to be the next new series , following a group of young cadets at a stage in their Star Trek journey we've rarely seen on screen.

Kurtzman, along with the Discovery cast and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise, are currently making the rounds at SXSW ahead of Discovery 's early premiere at the event. In an interview with Collider's Steve Weintraub at our SXSW studio, Kurtzman was able to share some juicy details about the newest addition to the Star Trek family. While he remained tight-lipped about when the series takes place, Kurtzman told Collider that they're getting ready to begin filming late this summer, and they're "halfway through the writers room now." Following in the steps of Discovery , Picard , and Strange New Worlds , Kurtzman confirmed that the first season of Starfleet Academy will be 10 episodes. With all these exciting details, the EP was also realistic about the timeline for when we might be able to see the new series, saying it may not air until 2026.

"It could end up not airing until 2026. We don’t know. But by starting [shooting in late summer], just building the sets alone is a massive endeavor, then six months of shooting, then six to eight months of post. If you recall, there was all this noise around Season 1 and Season 2 of Discovery because the streaming service, they were like, 'Oh, it’s like a turnaround on a cop show.' I’m like, 'No, you don’t understand. It’s eight months of visual effects turnaround, and we’re not gonna rush that.' So, it’ll come out, but it’ll come out when it’s done."

What to Expect From 'Starfleet Academy'

Even with its lengthy production process, Kurtzman was able to share enough information to keep us excited in the meantime. While he confirmed they "haven't started casting the kids," it sounds like some of the adult roles have already been filled. Though he was insistent on not revealing when the series is set, that information does lend itself to the theory that Starfleet Academy is a Discovery spin-off. Season 4 saw Mary Wiseman 's Tilly take a trip to the newly re-opened Academy in the 32nd century and developing a strong interest in teaching. With Lower Decks star Tawny Newsome in the writers' room , Kurtzman noted that "it feels like the spirit of that show has somehow also migrated into Starfleet in some ways."

Kurtzman was also able to tell Collider a little bit about what we can expect from the new series as far as the characters and the themes. He said:

"There's a lot of different kids from a lot of different places. Some of them want to be there, some of them don’t want to be there. It’s gonna be a fundamental reinforcement of all the things we love about Starfleet, in general. You always want to ask yourself, 'Why this show now?' I think that one of the big things that certainly my 17-year-old son is facing, which is kind of a fundamental 'Star Trek' question, is, 'How did we get here? How has this generation inherited the mistakes from previous generations? And what are we gonna do to fix it, to build that optimistic future that is Roddenberry’s essential vision?' That is very much going to be at the heart of Starfleet Academy ."

With the protagonists of Starfleet Academy primarily being older teens and young adults, Weintraub noted his excitement at expanding the audience for the franchise to aim at a demographic that hasn't had a Star Trek series aimed directly at them. Kurtzman wholeheartedly agreed while noting that in bringing in those new viewers , it's imperative to his team that they also welcome back long-time fans with open arms. "I couldn’t agree with you more," he said. "I will also say, and I’m always very vocal about this with the studio, you can’t do that to the exclusion of OG fans ." Kurtzman elaborated on the dedication of Star Trek fans saying:

"You have to make sure that you are also pleasing people who have been around and are die-hard 'TOS' fans, die-hard ' Next Gen' fans, whatever iteration of 'Trek' is yours. You cannot alienate those people. You actually also have to invite them to the tent. So the challenge is how do you do that while also bringing 'Trek' to a new generation of fans that have no experience with those shows, has never watched those shows? So you need to make a show that you can drop into if you don’t know anything about 'Star Trek,' but also a show that you can get a tremendous amount out of if you have all of that canonical history."

With the nature of a school-set series seeing some students graduate and move on with their lives, Weintraub was also curious about whether Starfleet Academy will follow one set of students through graduation and beyond, or whether we'll see new students added with each season. Kurtzman said: "Without spoiling anything, what I’ll tell you is I think the structure and the construction of the show is going to allow for both of those things to happen."

Star Trek: Discovery returns to Paramount+ on April 4 . You can catch up with Seasons 1-4 now on the streamer, and don't miss our full SXSW interview with Kurtzman and Paradise. Stay tuned at Collider for the latest updates on Starfleet Academy as they become available and look for a lot more on Star Trek: Discovery soon.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

Watch on Paramount+

Star Trek: Section 31 Has Finished Filming, And A Key Detail About The Michelle Yeoh Movie Has Finally Been Confirmed

I'm glad this has been settled.

Michelle Yeoh as the Mirror Universe's Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Discovery

There’s a decent amount we know about Star Trek: Section 31 , the upcoming movie heading to Paramount+ subscribers . For one thing, the project, originally conceived as a TV spinoff to Star Trek: Discovery , will see Michelle Yeoh reprising the Mirror Universe incarnation of Philippa Georgiou , who hasn’t been seen since Discovery Season 3. Now, thanks to a cast member revealing that Section 31 has finished filming, another key detail about the movie has finally been confirmed that had been the subject of much fan speculation.

First off, Robert Kazinsky, who has been cast in an undisclosed role in Section 31 , broke the news on his Instagram page that the movie had finished rolling cameras. Read what the EastEnders and True Blood actor had to say about his experience on the production, and then take a close look at what’s on the screen in the picture:

A post shared by Rob Kazinsky A photo posted by therobkazinsky on

It’s good to hear that Kazinsky had such a great time on Star Trek: Section 31 , particularly being directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, who’s also helmed multiple Discovery episodes and two episodes of Star Trek: Short Treks. However, what’s really intriguing is the Starfleet delta on that screen positioned next to the Section 31 logo. As pointed out by Trek Central , this is the same delta used by the secret division in the 23rd century, i.e. during the time period when Star Trek: Discovery ’s first two seasons and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds take place. Or, to be even more specific, just a handful of years before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series .

So now we know that the Section 31 movie will take place sometime post- Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, meaning in the 23rd century after the crew of the title ship traveled to the 32nd century. Discovery viewers will remember that although Philippa Georgiou traveled with them to the future, she began deteriorating because her body couldn’t handle being in another universe and centuries ahead of her original time period at the same time. As such, at the end of the two-parter “Terra Firma,” the Guardian of Forever opened a portal to a time where the Prime and Mirror Universes were more aligned so she could continue living.

While there was always the possibility that Georgiou could have been sent to a different time period when Section 31 was operating, like in the era of The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine and Voyager , or perhaps even earlier in its existence around the time of Enterprise , the delta in Robert Kazinsky’s photo shows that won’t be the case. He and Yeoh are joined in Star Trek: Section 31 ’s cast by Omari Hardwick, Kacey Roll, Sam Richardson, Sven Ruygrok, Humbly Gonzalez and James Hiroyuki Liao, but Shazad Latif will not reprise Ash Tyler . This will be the first Paramount+ exclusive Star Trek movie, and 14th in the overall film series.

So that’s one mystery that’s been solved about Star Trek: Section 31 , but there are still plenty of questions left to be answered, including when it will be released. We’ll let you know about that and more once those details trickle in, and remember to also keep track of our coverage of the upcoming Star Trek TV shows .

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Adam Holmes

Connoisseur of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, John Wick, MonsterVerse and Doctor Who lore, Adam is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He started working for the site back in late 2014 writing exclusively comic book movie and TV-related articles, and along with branching out into other genres, he also made the jump to editing. Along with his writing and editing duties, as well as interviewing creative talent from time to time, he also oversees the assignment of movie-related features. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Journalism, and he’s been sourced numerous times on Wikipedia. He's aware he looks like Harry Potter and Clark Kent.

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COMMENTS

  1. List of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes

    This is the first television series in the Star Trek franchise, and comprises 79 regular episodes over the series' three seasons, along with the series' original pilot episode, "The Cage". The episodes are listed in order by original air date, [2] which match the episode order in each season's original, [3] [4] [5] remastered, [6] [7] [8] and ...

  2. List of Star Trek television series

    Twelve television series make up the Star Trek franchise: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds. All series in total amount to 900 episodes across 46 seasons of television. Series.

  3. Star Trek: The Original Series

    Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew. It acquired the retronym of Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) to distinguish the show within the media franchise that it began.. The show is set in the Milky Way galaxy, c. 2266-2269.

  4. Star Trek

    Star Trek is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon.Since its creation, the franchise has expanded into various films, television series, video games, novels, and comic books, and it has become one of the most recognizable and highest-grossing media franchises ...

  5. Star Trek (TV Series 1966-1969)

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  6. Star Trek: The Original Series

    Star Trek: The Original Series (referred to as Star Trek prior to any spin-offs) is the first Star Trek series. The first episode of the show aired on 6 September 1966 on CTV in Canada, followed by a 8 September 1966 airing on NBC in America. The show was created by Gene Roddenberry as a "Wagon Train to the Stars". Star Trek was set in the 23rd century and featured the voyages of the starship ...

  7. Star Trek

    Star Trek is a science fiction franchise comprising twelve television series, thirteen films, four companion series, numerous novels, comics, video games, reference works, podcasts, role playing games, along with thousands of collectibles. Originally, Star Trek was a product of Desilu Studios as created by Gene Roddenberry in a first draft series proposal "Star Trek is...", dated 11 March 1964 ...

  8. Star Trek: The Original Series episode guides

    Star Trek: The Original Series - the seaons, the key episodes. Season 1 - In the 1960s, TV was a different beast. Serialization (and thus continuity) was essentially non-existent. Each story plays out over a single episode only (with one exception in three years of Star Trek), thereby not allowing for much character development each season of Star Trek's original run is really barely ...

  9. Star Trek: Discovery

    Star Trek: Discovery is an American science fiction television series created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman for the streaming service CBS All Access (later rebranded as Paramount+).It is the seventh Star Trek series and debuted in 2017. The series follows the crew of the starship Discovery beginning a decade before Star Trek: The Original Series in the 23rd century.

  10. Full List of Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes

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  11. Darmok

    Io9 ranked it as the fifth best episode of all Star Trek in 2011, and again in 2014. In 2016, Empire ranked it sixth of all Star Trek episodes. In 2016, Vox list this as one of the top 25 essential episodes of all Star Trek. In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter listed "Darmok" among the twenty-five best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

  12. Star Trek (TV Series 1966-1969)

    Star Trek: Created by Gene Roddenberry. With Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols. In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

  13. Star Trek (a Titles & Air Dates Guide)

    In the 23rd Century, a starship is sent on a five year mission to seek out new life forms and new civilizations and to boldly go where no man has gone before. Show Details: Start date: Sep 1966. End date: June 1969. Status: cancelled/ended.

  14. List of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes

    The series originally aired from September 1966 through June 1969 on NBC. This is the first television series in the Star Trek franchise, and comprises 79 regular episodes over the series' three seasons, along with the series' original pilot episode, "The Cage". The episodes are listed in order by original air date, which match the episode ...

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

    Where to Watch: Paramount+ 20. Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-TBD) Star Trek: Prodigy was the first fully 3D animated Star Trek series ever and told a story that began five years after the U.S.S ...

  16. Star Trek: Voyager

    Star Trek: Voyager is the fifth Star Trek series. It was created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor, and ran on UPN, as the network's first ever series, for seven seasons in the USA, from 1995 to 2001. In some areas without local access to UPN, it was offered to independent stations through Paramount Pictures, for its first six seasons. The series is best known for its familial ...

  17. "Star Trek" The Cage (TV Episode 1966)

    The Cage: Directed by Robert Butler. With Jeffrey Hunter, Susan Oliver, Leonard Nimoy, Majel Barrett. Capt. Pike is held prisoner and tested by aliens who have the power to project incredibly lifelike illusions.

  18. Star Trek: Picard

    Star Trek: Picard is the eighth main series set in the Star Trek universe, the ninth including the companion series Star Trek: Short Treks, and the eleventh Star Trek series overall. Picard is produced by CBS Studios and stars Patrick Stewart, reprising the role of Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. [1] The new series is set twenty years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis ...

  19. Star Trek

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  20. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    Star Trek: The Next Generation, often abbreviated to TNG, is the second live-action Star Trek television series, and the first set in the 24th century. Like its predecessors, it was created by Gene Roddenberry. Produced at Paramount Pictures, it aired in first-run syndication, by Paramount Television in the US, from September 1987 to May 1994. The series was set in the 24th century and ...

  21. 12 best Star Trek episodes in the franchise of all time

    Star Trek as a whole is one of sci-fi's defining works. Gracing our screens via various incredible and different shows, movies, and video games, there are over 900 episodes that make us laugh, cry ...

  22. Star Trek: Discovery (TV Series 2017-2024)

    Star Trek: Discovery: Created by Bryan Fuller, Alex Kurtzman. With Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Emily Coutts. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien.

  23. 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Sets Filming Window & Episode Count

    Starfleet Academy is set to be the next new Star Trek series, following a group of young cadets.; Production is underway with filming expected to start in late summer, with the first season ...

  24. Star Trek: Section 31 Has Finished Filming, And A Key Detail About The

    There's a decent amount we know about Star Trek: Section 31, the upcoming movie heading to Paramount+ subscribers.For one thing, the project, originally conceived as a TV spinoff to Star Trek ...