The Star Trek franchise has evolved significantly over the years, and for the purpose of this listicle, it's helpful to categorize its output by era. We start with The Original Series from the late '60s, followed by the movies featuring those pioneering scientists. Then came the Rick Berman era, which kicked off with Star Trek: The Next Generation and concluded with Enterprise. Most recently, we've entered the modern era with Paramount+ shows, beginning with Discovery in 2017.
Today, we're focusing on this modern era, especially as Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) introduces the first straight-to-streaming TV movie, Star Trek: Section 31, originally planned as a series. Over the past eight years, the creative minds behind the new Star Trek have produced five new shows, two of which are animated, alongside a series of shorts aptly named Short Treks.
Given the diverse range of storytelling approaches—from traditional sci-fi drama to comedy, animation, shorts, and feature-length productions—comparing these projects can be challenging. It's also important to consider that a series may have varying quality across its seasons. Our rankings take into account the entire run of each series, rather than just focusing on standout episodes.
So, without further ado, let's dive in and explore the best and worst Star Trek series of the modern era. Whether you prefer to "make it so," "engage," "fly," "blast off," or "punch it," let's embark on this journey as if we're commanding our own Starfleet vessel!
The Best Star Trek Series of the Modern Era (and the Worst)
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