All Modern Star Trek Shows Ranked Worst To Best

So just how DO the Nu-Trek shows stack up against each other? Let's dive in and find out.

By Sean Ferrick /

If there is one thing that absolutely every Star Trek fan can agree on...please let us know, as we're still searching for that Holy Grail. However, there is generally a lot of discourse over where the individual shows rank up against each other. While there is already a list ranking the series from Original up to Enterprise, where do the modern takes on Star Trek really go?

Advertisement

Should the top spot go to Discovery, which is pushing the franchise ever onward? Or to Picard, which is balancing nostalgia with a slightly more cynical look at the Federation? How about the animated shows, or the shorter takes? Then again, there's that new show, the one with the bloke with the hair.

What to do?

Taking into account audience review, along with critic consensus, this list will look at the six series that have been, at time of writing, released. Who knows if and when Section 31 will finally land, or if the dream of an anthology series will ever get off the ground? To start with the series that has, for better or worse, impressed the least - let's begin.

6. Star Trek: Short Treks

Star Trek: Short Treks is a fascinating idea. These are generally self-contained stories that allow an exploration of style and plot, without needing to influence their wider series. There are some that serve as prequels - such as The Runaway or The Brightest Star, while others seem to exist in a universe of their own - Calypso, we're looking at you.

Advertisement

The biggest issue with Short Treks is that, at the time of writing, they seem to have been sent out to die. There clearly was a strong idea in terms of these small anthologies. Harry Mudd returned, and Ephraim was introduced. The audience discovered what exactly The Trouble with Edward was, for better or worse.

The prequel to Star Trek: Picard was perhaps the second most fascinating of them all, as it was told entirely from the perspective of children attending school, hearing about the attack on Mars as it happened. There were clear parallels with 9/11, which for a short film was handled well.

Calypso is easily the strongest of the bunch, though Discovery's refusal to acknowledge it in the seasons that followed has disappointed fans and reviewers alike.

Overall, the Short Treks make for uneven viewing. Some shine like stars, while others go down like furry little Tribbles.

Advertisement