List of every Star Trek show

The Enduring Legacy of Star Trek

For over 50 years, the Star Trek franchise has captivated audiences with its unique blend of science fiction and human drama. With multiple television series spanning decades and a range of movies, the Star Trek universe has become a cultural touchstone, inspiring countless fans around the world. The enduring appeal of Star Trek lies in its exploration of the human condition, set against the backdrop of a hopeful and inclusive future. From the original series in the 1960s to the latest instalments, the franchise has continued to tackle important themes such as diversity, morality, and the impact of technology on society, and, of course, beating the shit out of Gorn Captains.

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

The series that started it all, following the five-year mission of the USS Enterprise to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before. It championed a future of diversity and equality, tackling complex moral and social issues through the allegorical lens of science fiction. Key to its lore is the formation of the United Federation of Planets and the introduction of iconic species like the Vulcans and Klingons.

Famous Episodes: "The City on the Edge of Forever", "The Trouble with Tribbles"

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974)

Continuing the adventures of the original crew, this animated series was able to explore more alien and imaginative concepts than the live-action show's budget would allow. It is considered canon and further developed the backstories of the main characters and the Star Trek universe, including a look at Spock's childhood on Vulcan.

Famous Episodes: "Yesteryear", "The Slaver Weapon"

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

Set a century after the original series, TNG featured a new crew aboard the USS Enterprise-D. This series was known for its more philosophical and character-driven stories. It introduced the Borg, one of the most formidable antagonists in science fiction, and delved into themes of what it means to be human through the android character, Data. The show deepened the lore of the Klingons and Romulans and introduced the enigmatic being, Q.

Famous Episodes: "The Best of Both Worlds", "The Measure of a Man"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

Breaking from the traditional "ship exploring the galaxy" format, DS9 was set on a space station. This allowed for long-term, serialized storytelling, focusing on the political and religious turmoil of the planet Bajor and the looming threat of the Dominion from the Gamma Quadrant. The series is praised for its morally gray characters and its unflinching look at the darker aspects of war and conflict.

Famous Episodes: "The Visitor", "In the Pale Moonlight"

Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

This series followed the crew of the USS Voyager, stranded 75,000 light-years from home in the Delta Quadrant. The core of the show was their long and arduous journey back to Earth. This premise forced a mixed crew of Starfleet and Maquis rebels to work together. It extensively featured the Borg, particularly through the character of Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone reintegrated into a human crew. She became a fan favorite and a central figure in exploring themes of individuality and humanity.

Famous Episodes: "Year of Hell", "Scorpion"

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)

A prequel to the original series, Enterprise is set in the 22nd century and depicts the early days of humanity's exploration of deep space. It shows the formation of what would become the United Federation of Planets and features the first Starship Enterprise, the NX-01. The show explored the challenges and dangers of early space travel, including the Temporal Cold War and a year-long mission to save Earth from a mysterious alien species, the Xindi.

Famous Episodes: "In a Mirror, Darkly", "Carbon Creek"

Star Trek: Discovery (2017-present)

Set a decade before the original series, Discovery begins with a devastating war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The show is highly serialized and centers around the character of Michael Burnham, Spock's adopted sister. The crew of the USS Discovery utilizes an experimental spore drive for instantaneous travel. Later seasons see the crew travel to the 32nd century, a distant future where the Federation is a shadow of its former self, and they must work to rebuild it.

Famous Episodes: "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad", "Terra Firma"

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-present)

This animated comedy series focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos. While the bridge crew deals with classic Star Trek anomalies, the ensigns in the "lower decks" are stuck with the less glamorous work. The show is filled with in-jokes and references to the entire Star Trek canon, offering a lighthearted and humorous take on the beloved universe while still embracing its core themes of teamwork and adventure.

Famous Episodes: "Second Contact", "No Small Parts"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-present)

Returning to the classic episodic format, Strange New Worlds follows the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, before James T. Kirk took the chair. The show has been praised for its optimistic tone, stunning visuals, and compelling characterizations of a young Spock and Number One. It recaptures the spirit of exploration and wonder that defined the original series.

Famous Episodes: As the show is still relatively new, fan-favorite episodes are still emerging.

Awesome Star Trek Trivia!

1. The phrase "Beam me up, Scotty" was never actually said in the original Star Trek series. Similar variations of the phrase were used, but the iconic line didn't appear until later adaptations.
2. The Klingon language was created for the Star Trek franchise and has since become a fully-developed language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
3. The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Measure of a Man" was selected by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 101 TV series episodes of all time.
4. The original Star Trek series was one of the first shows to feature an interracial kiss on television, between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura in the episode "Plato's Stepchildren."
5. The character of Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation was originally intended to be blue-skinned, but the producers opted for a more human-like appearance.
6. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the character of Garak was intended to be a minor character, but the actor's performance was so popular that he became a regular cast member.
7. The USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series was designed by Matt Jefferies, who also designed the original Starfleet emblem and the phaser weapon.
8. Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock in the original series, directed two of the Star Trek films: The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home.
9. In Star Trek: Voyager, the character of Seven of Nine was originally intended to be a recurring character, but the producers were so impressed with the actor's performance that they made her a regular cast member.
10. Star Trek: The Next Generation had a tradition of playing practical jokes on cast and crew members. One notable example was when a fake script was created for an episode titled "Data's Day Off," which turned out to be a series of jokes and pranks played on the android character.

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