Star Trek: Every Bridge Ranked Worst To Best

Star Trek: Discovery was the comeback for the franchise and, lets be honest, it is divisive. But whilst there are a few things that you could legitimately take issue with (do they have to be that self-congratulatory whenever the bridge crew do anything?), you cannot possibly deny that, without DISCO, there would be NO Trek on TV today.

They wanted to do something new, despite being set in the time before Star Trek the original series. Even the titular ship was anachronistic--frequently using technology that (in-universe) hadn't been established as standard.

But we can forgive that point, if you consider that Discovery was a hub of experimental technology--intended to trial new innovations before Starfleet implemented them as standard across the fleet (until she disappeared through a wormhole and records sealed).

So why is Discovery's bridge so bare? Truthfully, that's mostly down to the modern production values. Aspect ratios are wider, and budgets have grown. Sets are built on larger sound stages, and can look much more futuristic. But, unfortunately, it makes the bridge a little... well, bland. The consoles are so far apart and the Captain's chair seems to be isolated in the centre, instead of within talking distance of vital personnel. It's also difficult to light, as the designers chose a brown and grey colour palette that eats the lighting instead of enhancing the various stations and characters.

It has gotten better, but there's still a somewhat overly spacious quality that doesn't seem fitting for a command centre--particularly one for a crew so close-knit.