My Star Trek TV Show Review – A Lifelong Fan's Take

Let me start off by saying I’ve been a Star Trek fan since I was a kid. I grew up with The Original Series—Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and all those wild alien planets made out of painted plywood and imagination. It might’ve been low-budget, but man, it was big on ideas. That show sparked something in me, and every Star Trek series since has been measured against it. Some came close. Others… not so much.

So here’s my informal, totally biased, and completely heartfelt review of all the major Star Trek television series across broadcast and streaming platforms. Just my personal take, from a fan who never stopped looking to the stars.

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969)

This is the one that started it all—and my favorite, hands down. There was nothing else like it on TV back then. Kirk was bold, Spock was brilliant, and the crew was diverse and gutsy. It had heart, philosophy, and a serious sense of adventure.

Yeah, the effects were cheesy, but the stories? Timeless. I’ll never forget seeing the real shooting model of the Enterprise at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. That was a major bucket list moment.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974)

When this came out, I was thrilled. It was like bonus episodes of TOS, with the original voices and writers, just animated. Sure, it was Saturday morning cartoon-style, but it expanded the universe in cool ways—aliens that couldn’t have existed in live-action, and stories like “Yesteryear,” which gave us more of Spock’s past. I didn’t care that it was animated. It was still Star Trek to me.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

TNG was fascinating when it started, and I wanted to love it. But honestly, I didn’t click with it right away. Picard was more of a diplomat than a swashbuckler, and the tone was a lot more cerebral. It grew on me over time, especially with great episodes like “The Best of Both Worlds,” but I never loved it like I did the original. Still, it was true to Star Trek at its core—humanity striving to be better.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

I thought DS9 was just okay. It took Trek into darker territory—less exploration, more politics and war. Some fans love that, and I respect it, but it didn’t quite grab me. That said, Sisko was a strong captain, and the moral complexity of the Dominion War was compelling. I gave it a pass because it still held to Star Trek values, even if it got a little murky along the way.

Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)

Voyager felt like Lost in Space meets Trek. A starship flung to the far side of the galaxy, trying to get home. Great setup, but for me, it just didn’t land. The characters didn’t stick as much, and the writing felt repetitive. That said, the Doctor was a standout character, and Seven of Nine added depth to the later seasons. I didn’t hate it—it just didn’t excite me.

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Now this one was fun. I enjoyed Enterprise because it felt like a true prequel to TOS. It gave us the early years of space exploration—before the Federation, before the Prime Directive. I liked seeing humanity still fumbling its way through diplomacy and technology. It had problems (especially early on), but it found its groove eventually. I especially liked how it explained a lot of TOS background.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Discovery is easily my least favorite Trek series. It’s not that I mind emotional storytelling or tackling modern issues—but Discovery seemed to focus almost entirely on feelings, trauma, and social commentary, and not enough on exploration or classic Star Trek ideals. The ship, the crew, the look—it all felt disconnected from what I loved about Trek. It had potential, but it missed the mark for me.

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Now Picard was a surprise. While I wasn’t a huge TNG fan originally, Picard had a different tone—darker, more introspective, but very engaging. It felt like a proper epilogue for that era, and the third season especially brought back that nostalgic magic. Seeing the old TNG crew together again was emotional and satisfying. It’s my third favorite series, behind TOS and Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–2023)

I didn’t think I’d like a Star Trek cartoon that was basically a comedy, but Lower Decks is hilarious and clever. It pokes fun at all the Trek tropes but does it with so much love. It’s packed with Easter eggs and inside jokes for longtime fans like me. The crossover with Strange New Worlds was absolutely priceless.

Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–2024)

This one didn’t grab me. It’s aimed at younger audiences, and while the animation is impressive and it has Janeway guiding the crew, it just didn’t hold my attention. I still keep it in my collection—because it’s Star Trek—but I haven’t rewatched it like I have with the others.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present)

Now this one blew me away. Strange New Worlds is the first new Trek in a long time that really feels like the original. Episodic storytelling, strong character development, classic Trek moral dilemmas, and just enough modern flair. Anson Mount’s Captain Pike is fantastic—calm, compassionate, and inspiring. It’s my second favorite Trek series, right after TOS.

Final Thoughts

After all these decades, Star Trek is still boldly going. I’ve had my ups and downs with it, but I’m glad it’s still out there. For me, The Original Series will always be the gold standard. It had everything—adventure, heart, philosophy, and imagination. But I’m also grateful for new entries like Strange New Worlds and Picard, which prove that Star Trek can still evolve without losing its soul.

Here’s to many more voyages.

Live long and prosper. 🖖

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Source Bibliography

Roddenberry, Gene. Star Trek: The Original Series. NBC, 1966–1969.

Star Trek: The Animated Series. NBC, 1973–1974.

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Syndicated, 1987–1994.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Syndicated, 1993–1999.

Star Trek: Voyager. UPN, 1995–2001.

Star Trek: Enterprise. UPN, 2001–2005.

Star Trek: Discovery. CBS All Access / Paramount+, 2017–present.

Star Trek: Picard. Paramount+, 2020–2023.

Star Trek: Lower Decks. Paramount+, 2020–present.

Star Trek: Prodigy. Nickelodeon / Paramount+, 2021–present.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Paramount+, 2022–present.

Okuda, Michael and Denise Okuda. The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Pocket Books, 1999.