What Order To Watch Star Trek Series And Movies

So, you want to boldly go where no one has gone before? Awesome! You're about to dive into the vast, wonderfully weird, and surprisingly heartwarming world of Star Trek. But with more series and movies than you can shake a phaser at, where do you even start?

Fear not, intrepid explorer! We're here to guide you through the Star Trek universe without getting bogged down in complicated chronologies or temporal paradoxes.

The Original Recipe: The OG Series

First stop: Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS). Think groovy 60s vibes, Captain Kirk's questionable dating choices, and Spock's eternally logical eyebrows. It’s a bit cheesy, but full of charming optimism.

This is where it all began. Watch Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to strange new worlds every week to confront cardboard monsters and solve galactic problems with a healthy dose of common sense. Plus, the music is so retro, it’s actually cool again.

The Movie Era Begins!

After the series, dive into the original cast movies. Star Trek: The Motion Picture starts a little slow, but it’s got a cool space probe. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? A classic!

This is where the emotion hits hard! Prepare to shed a tear (or ten). The movies get progressively lighter in tone after, with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (the one with the whales) being hilariously Earth-centric.

Next Generation, Next Level Awesome

Then, warp speed ahead to Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG). This is where things get philosophical! Think Picard, Riker, Data, and a whole lot of holodeck mishaps.

TNG has a slower burn than TOS. The first couple seasons are a bit rough, but stick with it. By season three, you'll be hooked on the intricate plots and the surprisingly deep character development. Plus, Picard ordering "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." never gets old.

TNG Movies - Quality Varies

The TNG movies are... a mixed bag. Star Trek: Generations is a passable bridge between eras. Star Trek: First Contact is widely considered the best. After that... well, temper your expectations.

Think of First Contact as an action-packed thriller with a surprisingly sexy Borg Queen. It's a great ride.

The 90s Trek Explosion

Now you’ve got a choice! Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) is a darker, grittier take on Star Trek. It deals with religion, politics, and long-term storylines. Or, Star Trek: Voyager, which is about getting home.

Deep Space Nine explores morally grey areas, which is a refreshing change from the black-and-white morality of the earlier series. And Voyager is all about survival and ingenuity.

These series can be watched at the same time, but many suggest DS9 first, then Voyager.

The Prequel: Enterprise

Star Trek: Enterprise (ENT) is a prequel series set before TOS. Some people love it, some people hate it. It's up to you!

It tells the story of humanity's first steps into deep space. It has a catchy theme song and plenty of familiar alien races.

Modern Trek: Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds

Now we get to the modern Star Trek era. Star Trek: Discovery is visually stunning and action-packed. Star Trek: Picard revisits everyone’s favorite Captain in his twilight years. Star Trek: Lower Decks is an animated comedy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds brings the original crew back into action.

Discovery has faced criticism but is very enjoyable. Picard has moments of brilliance and nostalgia, even if it gets a bit convoluted. Lower Decks is hilarious and a great entry point for those nervous about commiting to a Star Trek series. And Strange New Worlds captures the spirit of the Original Series while also being fresh and exciting.

The Kelvin Timeline Films

These films, starring Chris Pine as Kirk, are a reboot of the original crew. They are action-packed and visually stunning, but they exist in a different timeline, so you can watch them whenever you like.

Think of them as a fun, alternate-universe take on the characters you know and love.

The most important thing is to have fun. Don't worry too much about getting everything "right." Just explore, enjoy, and remember: "Live long and prosper."