Star Trek has evolved significantly over the decades, and for the purpose of this listicle, it's practical to categorize its output by era. We start with The Original Series from the late '60s, followed by the movies featuring the original crew. Then came the Rick Berman era, which kicked off with The Next Generation and concluded with Enterprise. Now, we're in the modern era, which began with the launch of Discovery on Paramount+ 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, which initially was conceived as a series. In just under eight years, the creative minds behind modern Trek have produced five new shows, including two animated series, and a collection of shorts called Short Treks.
Given the diverse approaches these projects have taken—from traditional sci-fi drama to comedy, animation, shorts, and feature-length content—comparing them can be challenging. It's also important to consider that a series can have both strong and weak seasons. Our rankings take into account the entire run of each series, rather than focusing solely on standout episodes.
So, without further ado, let's dive in and explore the best and worst of the modern Star Trek series. Whether you say "make it so," "engage," "fly," "blast off," or "punch it," while donning your Starfleet captain's uniform, let's embark on this journey together!
The Best Star Trek Series of the Modern Era (and the Worst)
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