From humans and Vulcans to ex-Borg drones and holograms, Star Trek has been home to some of the most enduring, fulfilling friendships in all of science fiction. Starfleet is essentially a military organization, with ranks and procedures that sometimes require a certain professional distance, generally for the captain. And yet in virtually every iteration of the franchise, deep bonds of friendship take hold and define some of Star Trek's most celebrated characters.
The strongest friendships in Star Trek often occur between characters who don't immediately have much in common, overcoming some sort of social or professional barrier to become close. The relationship between Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in Star Trek: The Original Series set the tone for friendships where each character's life becomes richer and more interesting due to forming a bond with someone fundamentally different. It's yet another way Star Trek bridges the unknown, always aiming for empathy and understanding in its explorations of space and the human condition.
10 Jonathan Archer And Trip Tucker - Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise was somewhat light on enduring relationships and compelling character work, but an early success was the friendship between Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker (Connor Trinneer). Archer and Trip were friends before Archer took command of the Enterprise, having trained together in anticipation of the first NX mission. Trip and Archer shared meals on the NX-01 Enterprise and would cheer each other up when their journey faltered. It's a warm, relaxed friendship, one of the most natural ever portrayed in Star Trek. Their bond remains one of Enterprise's few unqualified successes.
9 Jean-Luc Picard And Beverly Crusher - Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard
Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) first met through Beverly's husband Jack Crusher (Doug Wert), who was Picard's best friend at Starfleet Academy and served with him aboard the USS Stargazer. Jean-Luc and Beverly fell out of contact for many years after Jack's death, but they rekindled their friendship when Beverly joined the USS Enterprise-D as Chief Medical Officer. The pair often shared breakfast, discussing their hobbies and personal issues. There was a romantic tension between the pair that was never consummated on Star Trek: The Next Generation, though that could change with Beverly's return in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
8 Seven Of Nine And The Doctor - Star Trek: Voyager
Freed from the Borg Collective at the beginning of Star Trek: Voyager season 4, Seven Of Nine (Jeri Ryan) attempted to adjust to life as an individual form her shipmates. While characters like Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Lieutenant Commander Tuvok (Tim Russ) certainly helped Seven in her journey of self-discovery, her greatest advocate and teacher was, ironically, the holographic EMH program called the Doctor (Robert Picardo). Seven and the Doctor were both ostensible outcasts, pursuing a level of humanity and self-acceptance that often eluded them. The relationship between the ex-Borg and the hologram was the highlight of Voyager's later seasons.
7 Michael Burnham And Sylvia Tilly - Star Trek: Discovery
After unintentionally sparking a war with the Klingons and committing mutiny, Star Trek: Discovery's Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) was a complete outcast, a disgraced officer who was loathed by virtually everyone she encountered. After being mysteriously delivered to the USS Discovery, Burnham met Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), a neurotic young cadet with big career plans. After some initial awkwardness, the pair became fast friends, as Tilly was one of the few people willing to give Burnham a second chance. Their friendship would endure and blossom as Burnham rose through the ranks to eventually command the Discovery.
6 Benjamin Sisko And Jadzia Dax - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) had been well-acquainted with Curzon Dax before the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Curzon was a Trill, so when he eventually died of old age his symbiont - containing all of his memories and personality - was transferred to a young female Trill, who became Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). Despite the change, Sisko and Jadzia more or less carried on the same friendship that the former had shared with Curzon, with Sisko even referring to Jadzia as "old man." It was a rewarding dynamic, and a friendship that evolved over time, with Sisko even occasionally offering Dax some sage advice.
5 Spock And Leonard McCoy - Star Trek: The Original Series
Spock's friendship with James T. Kirk is generally considered the Vulcan's most enduring bond, but he also had a notable, fraught friendship with Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley). McCoy was an unusually passionate man, often clashing with Spock's clear-eyed logic. McCoy could occasionally come right up to the limits of good taste, insulting Spock in some very unkind ways. And yet by the era of the TOS movies, Spock and Dr. McCoy clearly cared deeply about each other, their constant bickering becoming a sort of shorthand for their complicated relationship. Neither man would ever admit it, but they loved each other.
4 Jean-Luc Picard And William Riker - Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard
Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) served as Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) trusted First Officer for 15 years aboard the Enterprise-D and Enterprise-E. Riker was not only Picard's right-hand man, he was eventually something akin to a brother to him. Likewise, Riker considered Picard an important mentor and teacher during their time on the Enterprise. By the era of Star Trek: Picard, the pair had become more or less family, with Picard seeking Riker's help on more than one desperate occasion. What was once a teacher and student sort of relationship eventually became one of enduring, lifelong friendship.
3 Data And Geordi La Forge - Star Trek: The Next Generation
TNG's android Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) had many important relationships with his fellow Enterprise-D shipmates, but he considered Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) to be his best friend. Geordi never treated Data like a machine, always fostering a fundamental respect for Data's sentience and status as a synthetic life form. The pair enjoyed Sherlock Holmes holodeck mysteries, unraveling engineering mysteries, and relaxing in 10 Forward. It was a friendship with essentially no tension or rough spots, as Data and Geordi always aimed to support each other no matter the circumstances.
2 James T. Kirk And Spock - Star Trek: The Original Series
The foundational friendship in Star Trek, Kirk and Spock are an iconic pop culture duo even outside of Star Trek fandom. Their rapport was often the highlight of TOS, but their affection for each other would deepen considerably during the TOS films. After Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, Kirk sacrificed his career, the Enterprise, and his son to revive the Vulcan in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock. Neither Kirk nor Spock enjoyed a successful long-term romantic relationship, and by the time of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, they would likely admit their friendship was the most important relationship of their lives.
1 Miles O'Brien And Julian Bashir - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
The most authentic, lived-in friendship in all of Star Trek is between Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig). O'Brien initially found the young, eager Bashir to be obnoxious, but the two eventually formed a bond that felt like the most real platonic relationship in the franchise. Even at the height of the Dominion War, O'Brien and Bashir found time to play darts in Quark's Bar or pretend to be fighter pilots in the holosuite. The pair simply had fun and enjoyed each other's company, with O'Brien even grudgingly admitting he sometimes preferred hanging out with Bashir to spending time with his wife, Keiko (Rosalind Chao).