The Star Trek franchise has evolved significantly over the years, making it practical to categorize its output into distinct eras. From the iconic late '60s with The Original Series, to the cinematic adventures of those pioneering scientists, the franchise transitioned into the Rick Berman era, which spanned from Star Trek: The Next Generation to Star Trek: Enterprise. Today, we delve into the modern era, initiated by Paramount+ with the launch of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017. This era has seen the introduction of the franchise's first direct-to-streaming TV movie, Star Trek: Section 31, originally conceived as a series. Within a span of less than eight years, the creative minds behind modern Trek have brought forth five new series, including two animated shows, and a collection of shorts known as Short Treks.
The diversity in storytelling across these projects—from traditional sci-fi drama to comedy, animation, shorts, and feature-length content—presents a challenge when comparing them. It's important to consider that a series can have varying quality across its seasons. Our rankings take into account the entirety of a series' run, rather than focusing solely on standout episodes.
So, without further ado, let's embark on this journey through the modern Star Trek universe, whether you prefer to say "make it so," "engage," "fly," "blast off," or "punch it," as you channel your inner Starfleet captain!
The Best Star Trek Series of the Modern Era (and the Worst)
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