Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been making waves from the jump. Not only is it getting rave reviews, but it was the most-streamed show last week. Other series in the franchise have stumbled out of the gate, due to dated plots, poor characterization, and sometimes a weak opening premise.
Doctor Bashir of Deep Space Nine stands out as a character who had a new, albeit improved, personality after the first season. Even Star Trek: The Next Generation, perhaps the strongest series in the franchise, had an uneven first showing. However, some first seasons of popular Star Trek series definitely prove to be more popular than others as the IMDb ratings can certainly show.
Star Trek: Enterprise (ENT) (2001-2005)- 6.4/10
Representing the Star Trek franchise's first foray into going backward in its timeline, ENT takes place before any other Trek show. It follows Captain Archer and his crew on the original starship Enterprise as they deal with a Milky Way galaxy that is largely unknown.
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While the series found ways to create tension, it suffered from the stakes issue that all prequels contend with. Despite things looking grim for humanity several times, the fact the series continues centuries into the future is always present. Captain Archer is more Kirk-like than other captains, especially in the first season, but without Shatner's charm and good looks, he comes off as a bully.
Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1975)- 6.6/10
After the cancellation of the original Star Trek series in 1969, it was unclear what direction the popular property would go. So Star Trek: The Animated Series was born, as it was seen as the cheapest way to keep the series going.
While it isn't bad, The Animated Series had several factors holding it back. Despite bringing in William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and other main characters from Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) to do the voice work, the dialogue has a stilted quality that is hard to ignore. And while this is not always bad, The Animated Series is a children's show, and that along with some plot holes and scientific inconsistencies has put the show's canon-hood in question.
Star Trek: Voyager (VOY) (1995–2001)- 6.7/10
VOY stands out for featuring the first woman captain in a Star Trek series, Kathryn Janeway. When the Starship Voyager and a group of Federation separatists are flung 70,000 light-years from Earth, the two crews have to join forces if they ever hope to see their homes again.
While the first season has some bright spots, such as the acting of Robert Picardo as The Doctor, VOY has several issues. The premise of VOY disconnects the viewer from the wider universe, which had plenty of areas left to explore. Another problem is the first aliens the Voyager crew meets on the far side of the galaxy, Kes and Neelix. They are in a romantic relationship, despite Kes being two and Neelix being thirty. Some excuses are made for the age difference, but ultimately it has little narrative purpose and was ended off-screen by the third season.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) (1987–1994)- 6.8/10
TNG rightfully has a legacy of one of the best Trek shows. A new Enterprise, captained by Jean-Luc Picard, boldly goes where no one has gone before. TNG furthers the plot of previous Trek movies and introduces the most terrifying villain in Star Trek, the Borg.
TNG has some of the best episodes of the series in the first season, but the soap-opera vibe is hard to ignore. Numerous episodes are broken up by characters, especially Worf, eyeing down the camera during commercial breaks. In the infamously racist episode "Code Of Honor," blonde-haired Tasha is kidnapped by aliens that are played exclusively by Black actors who dress inoffensive "tribal" clothes. Other racist troupes, from the accents to the "savage" aliens, put a damper on the first season of TNG.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) (1993–1999)- 6.9/10
DS9 leaped by casting Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko, the first Black man to lead a Trek series. DS9 took other risks that ultimately paid off, including having aliens new and old come to the eponymous space station instead of having a starship do the exploring.
Ds9 had a fairly strong first season, despite a few hiccups. The episode "Move Along Home" sticks out, with a tone and plot reminiscent of a childish installment of TOS. And while the father-son relationship between Ben Sisko and his son Jake is a strong point in the series, DS9 seems to struggle to find organic ways to feature the younger Sisko. For some reason, Jake will find himself in scenes that don't make much sense for his character to be in. Ultimately the first season of DS9 represents a departure from the other Trek shows, but more often than not it hits the mark.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (LDS) (2020– )- 7.2/10
LDS is different from most Star Treks for several reasons; instead of the main characters being the captain and bridge crew, the show follows groups of ensigns as they negotiate the less glamorous side of Starfleet. LDS also is the first comedy in the Trek franchise, and the animation style helps create that atmosphere.
One strength of LDS is that the people behind the show love Star Trek. It is full of references to other series and franchise in-jokes. Another strong point is that LDS avoids cheap-punching-down jokes, and leans more into situational humor, if not plain Star Trek jokes. A gripe with season one is at times it can feel like the show is comprised of Trek references, many of which fly by and will be caught by only the most ardent Trek fan.
Star Trek: Picard (PIC) (2020– )- 7.5/10
Star Trek: Picard standouts for a few reasons. It's the first jump forward in the timeline since TNG, and it's the first show to have a character in the title. The first season finds an older Jean Luc who is somewhat disillusioned with Starfleet and dealing with his mortality.
The acting in Star Trek shows has always been largely solid, occasionally great, and rarely poor. With Patrick Stewart and Trek alums Jerri Ryan and Brent Spiner, and newcomers to the franchise Alison Pill and Santiago Cabrera, PIC might have some of the strongest acting performances of any Trek show. Along with spellbinding visuals, and a serialized season-long arc, PIC's first season did a strong job of pushing the larger Trek narrative forward.
Star Trek: Discovery (DISCO) (2017– )- 7.52/10
DISCO's deeper focus on singular characters, mostly Michael Burnham, and their growth and interpersonal relations signaled a change in how the newer Trek series would be formatted. DISCO takes place slightly before TOS, as Starfleet is developing a starship (Discovery) that can transport anywhere, instantly.
As the first Star Trek program to be so character-based, a lot rides on the acting ability of Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays Michael Burnham. And in the first season especially she's fantastic. Martin-Green brings an edge to her character that is not normally seen in Starfleet officers. The elements of horror that tinge the first season are another in a show that set the tone for the current generation of Star Trek.
Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) (1966-1969)- 7.9/10
The show that started it all, TOS is the bedrock for all sci-fi TV. Taking place in the 23rd century TOS is iconic, featuring phrases like "Beam me up, Scotty" and "Live long and prosper" that are still part of our lives.
TOS has some 60's charms that may not work for everyone, but the quality of the writing is second to none in Trek. Offerings "A Taste of Armageddon" and "Space Seed" pose questions about war, fate, genetics, and our future that are still worth considering today. And no discussion of TOS can be complete without talking about the famous crew: Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Scotty, and Chekov are dynamic characters that bring the show to life.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (SNW) (2022– )- 8.2/10
SNW showcases the Enterprise and the Trek universe right before the start of TOS. While only a few episodes in, so far SNW has been a return to the monster-of-the-week style of TV that Trek made its bones on. Captain Chris Pike leads his crew as he fights with the knowledge of the exact time and manner of his death.
Although only three episodes have aired as of now, all have been fantastic. The return to the "traditional" Trek format of finding and solving problems in a single episode is a welcome change from the serialized nature of the newer Trek shows. Interesting plots and new aliens have, so far, been some of the strongest Trek fans have seen a quite a while. And the acting performances of the entire cast have brought a sense of fun that the other live-action shows have been lacking.