Every 'Star Trek' TV series, ranked from worst to best

William Shatner on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Jeri Ryan on 'Star Trek: Voyager'; Celia Rose Gooding on 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'. Photo:
Silver Screen Collection/Getty; Getty; Michael Gibson/Paramount+

Star Trek is one of the most expansive franchises ever made, from movies to TV shows to video games all in the double digits. But it all stems from the original '60s series, which made characters like Kirk, Spock, and "Scotty" into household names and captured viewers' imaginations with the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Decades later, there are a whopping 12 Star Trek TV series (with a 13th on the way — Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will debut on Paramount+ sometime in 2025 or 2026), including Star Trek: Voyager, now celebrating the 30th anniversary of its premiere on UPN.

Of course, with so many shows produced, some are bound to be lightyears better than others. For those looking for guidance on which ones to prioritize, we've ranked each Star Trek series (other than the short-form series Short Treks) from worst to best.

11. Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, and Patrick Stewart on 'Star Trek: Picard'. Nicole Wilder/Paramount+

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

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

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

Scotty, Kirk, Spock, and Leonard McCoy on 'Star Trek: The Animated Series'. Everett Collection

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

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

9. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Scott Bakula and Jeffrey Combs on 'Star Trek: Enterprise'. Everett Collection

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

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

8. Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–present)

(From left to right) Zero, Jankom Pog, Gywndala, Dal R'El, Murf, and Rok-Tahk on 'Star Trek: Prodigy'.
Paramount+

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

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

7. Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Sonequa Martin-Green on 'Star Trek: Discovery'. Michael Gibson/Paramount+

If Enterprise is the Star Trek show cut off too soon, Discovery may very well be the first Star Trek show to have outlived its welcome. However, there are many things the show got right, from nifty effects to quirky characters to amazing casting (seriously, Sonequa Martin-Green was electrifying whenever she was on screen).

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

6. Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)

Kate Mulgrew in 'Star Trek: Voyager'. Everett Collection

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

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

5. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–2024)

(From left to right) D'Vana Tendi, Sam Rutherford, Beckett Mariner, and Brad Boimler on 'Star Trek: Lower Decks'. PARAMOUNT+

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

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

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

(From left to right) Ethan Peck, Anson Mount, Dan Jeannotte, and Celia Rose Gooding on 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'. Marni Grossman/Paramount+

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

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

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

(From left to right) Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, and Marina Sirtis on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. Paramount Television/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

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

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

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

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and DeForest Kelley on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'. CBS via Getty Images

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

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

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

(Top, from left) Michael Dorn, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton; (bottom, from left) Armin Shimerman, Rene Auberjonois, Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, and Colm Meaney on 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'. Everett Collection

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

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