We have journeyed through over half a century of Star Trek adventures. Although the original creators have passed on, their legacy continues to thrive in the hearts of fans and the numerous sequels that have emerged. But which Star Trek series dared to push the boundaries and explore uncharted territories? Let’s dive into the boldness of each series, starting with the least daring and working our way up.
7. Star Trek: Picard
Despite high expectations, Star Trek: Picard fell short of delivering the continuation of the Next Generation’s story that fans craved. Instead, it transformed the Federation’s utopian future into a mere allegory of modern-day Earth. The writers seemed to lack the imagination to venture beyond the world outside their windows, resulting in a disappointing series.
6. Star Trek: Discovery
While bolder and more imaginative than Picard, Star Trek: Discovery serves as a prequel to the Kelvin timeline rather than the original one. This distinction makes it easier to forgive its shortcomings, as it doesn’t tamper with the “real” timeline. However, the series’ bold changes and retcons often fall flat, such as the introduction of Spock’s adopted human sister and the unpopular redesign of the Klingons. Discovery’s boldness doesn’t always translate to quality.
5. Star Trek: Enterprise
As another prequel to the main timeline, Enterprise shows greater respect for its predecessors and strives to fit in seamlessly. While opinions on its success may vary, the effort is commendable. Initially the least popular Trek, time has been kind to Enterprise, and fans are discovering more to appreciate upon rewatching.
4. Star Trek: Voyager
Voyager’s lack of boldness hindered its potential from the beginning. The series had an intriguing premise—a mixed crew of Starfleet and Maquis stranded in hostile territory, forced to cooperate for survival. However, the Maquis quickly adopted Starfleet ways, eliminating the potential for dramatic conflict. Instead, Voyager became a safe and bland Star Trek series with some good episodes and likable characters, but it could have been so much more.
3. Star Trek: The Next Generation
With exceptional writing and memorable characters, The Next Generation delivered classic Trek through mostly episodic storytelling. Although it didn’t break any molds, it provided exactly what fans wanted and continues to do so for new generations.
2. Star Trek: The Original Series
Gene Roddenberry’s groundbreaking vision of the future set the standard for all Star Trek series to follow. The Original Series was revolutionary, featuring Russians and Americans working together during the Cold War and a black woman on the bridge amidst the Civil Rights era. This iconic series has inspired countless fans to boldly go where no one has gone before.
1. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Surpassing even the original series in boldness, Deep Space Nine embraced serialized storytelling to craft a complex, multi-sided galactic conflict. The series was darker and more serious than its predecessors, but it never lost sight of Star Trek’s core optimism. The fact that this optimism shone through even during the massive war at the heart of Deep Space Nine makes it all the more remarkable and deserving of the top spot.
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