One thing I do not recommend starting with is Lower Decks. And I absolutely love Lower Decks. But there are so many inside jokes that I doubt it would be especially fun for people who don’t know Star Trek fairly well. For example, I doubt the Twovix episode would make much sense to someone who hasn’t seen the Tuvix Voyager episode.
Another place you might consider starting even though it was made for kids is Prodigy, simply because it introduces a lot of Star Trek concepts to people who know nothing about Star Trek. It starts with kids stealing a Starfleet ship outside of Federation space and they don’t know anything about Starfleet or the Federation or most of the aliens involved in other Star Trek shows, or even how most of the ship works, so it actually is a pretty good start in some ways.
Noted. My star trek list is now longer than I could have ever predicted
900 episodes if you go across all series. And then there are the movies.
Come to think of it, even though it’s a sequel to a TOS episode, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan wouldn’t be the worst place to jump on. Pretty much all you need to know about the background is recapped in the movie. Many people (myself included) consider it top tier Star Trek and maybe the best Star Trek movie. It’s sort of a cross between a “submarine” battle in space and Moby Dick.
Moby Dick.
Thankfully, the plot doesn’t take several detours to explain space travel mechanics, fleet movements, and the finer points of navigating a nebula. Moby Dick is such a bloated mess that if you gutted the filler chapters, you could only consider it a novel.
Agreed. It’s almost unreadable. I have no idea why it is so highly regarded. I quite enjoy the 1950s film though. People say Gregory Peck was miscast as Ahab. He worked for me.
I’d say he did well.
I’m guessing the people who think so enjoy the novel. Also basically unreadable: Robinson Crusoe.
TNG! There is also this great site called Let’s Watch Star Trek which gives helpful recommendations for which episodes to skip for the rocky initial seasons (IMO especially for TNG and DS9). I don’t always agree with their choices but it’s a solid guide overall.
I think TNG has the classic Trek vibe but without the kind of campy weirdness of the original series. Both are great but the original series is definitely more dated
Regardless of where you start: if you feel like some of the older/dated stuff is dragging or not grabbing you, you should absolutely feel free to skip around. With VOD (coughpiracycough), just watch the episodes (or even parts of episodes) that you find compelling, and skip the less good parts if you want to.
Some people are amused by the campy/ham-handed/wonky episodes, and some aren’t. But do feel free to skip around to find parts of the universe that you like. You can always go back later and re-watch the ones you missed if you want to.
TL;DR: enjoy it the way YOU want to. That’s how you’ll like it best, most likely.
Dang really? Is there not much continuity then?
Some series have a lot of continuity; others, less so.
That’s precisely what I mean, though - find the ones YOU like. Have fun with them, and then just explore more of the universe when you want to. Theres no “required order” (I mean, yeah, there’s obviously release order and canonical chronological order, but frankly neither of those matter too much). If a series is making references you don’t get, just circle back later. It’s not a huge deal. There’s a ton of content that was made over the years, and it’s there for YOU to enjoy in the way YOU want to enjoy it.
Sounds good and will do!
Have a long life and try your best!🖖
Did you butcher that on purpose? lol
“Live long and prosper!”
Huh? That’s my original catchphrase along with my original hand sign!
Stay alive for a long time and have an acceptable experience. 🖖🖖
You start with Star Trek the original series. It’s old. It’s campy. Dated cultural mores. But it’s where the genre was birthed and sets the beginning for everything that came after.
Hmm…an intriguing take. I’ll get it loaded up on my server (through LEGAL and OFFICIAL avenues) along with the next generation. So if it freaks me out I can jump ahead to TNG
It shouldn’t freak you out. There are some parts that will make you say “What the…” out loud, though.
The biggest issue I had with TOS was the music. Get ready to quickly turn down the volume because some of the musical cues are shockingly loud compared to the rest of the audio.
Volume issues aside, I find that the music is far better in TOS. I am working through DS9 and the soundtrack is so pale and bland. It’s really the worst element of the show, but I like nearly every other bit of it. They just don’t focus on it at all.
For example, the fight music in the original amps the viewer up, while in DS9 it is barely noticeable. I prefer TOS in that regard.
I started with the original series about 6 months ago doing my first watch through, and I think it was the right call. There are a few references in TNG that only make sense after having seen TOS, which to me makes it more enjoyable. I’m about halfway through TNG now.
Another great thing about watching TOS first is it really gives you perspective on how Starfleet has grown as an organization over the years. The protocol changes, new alliances, old enemies, etc. There’s a great reference in one of the early TNG eps about the prime directive that makes more sense if you’ve watched TOS (or are a Starfleet officer).
I, admittedly, watched about 1/2 of Voyager first, but I recommend going through the franchise chronologically if you have time. There are some bad/tiresome eps of all the generations, so maybe check and episode guide if an ep gets boring to see if it’s skippable, but there are enough amazing TOS eps that I’m glad I didn’t skip that generation. And it’s great seeing the similarities and juxtaposition of the old and the new.
Good luck. The best episodes are timeless despite the cardboard sets, Kirk’s pervvy obsession with sex relationships between men and women, and low tech FX. The worst episodes are really really bad. But I hope you can laugh at the terrible as much as i do.
I also suggest starting with TNG, but I warn you that Star Trek shows in general have kind of a rocky start, so expect that.
TNG -> DS9 in order or start DS9 as simultaneous timelines begin. Either way.
I disagree with choose your own adventure. I think the “bad” episodes and the slog of a few bad apples as it were, differentiate Trek. It makes the highs high. The contrast across the series is what will truly form your fandom.
Yeah, thanks for your thoughts. I’m not one to “pick my own adventure” with a TV show, and I’m of the opinion that “Bad” episodes are usually just controversial.
For example, Mecha Naruto is a famous Naruto filler episode. Many consider it a complete disgrace to the series - since it’s dumb as hell and completely weird. However, I personally love it.
I’d start with Strange New Worlds.
It’s the best/modern looking Trek, and close in story style to older series. I think its a good introduction to get people into Star Trek generally.Yeah no, it is just another JJ Adams
Watch it in order of release, including the movies.
Lots of episodes can be skipped if you’re not feeling it. DS9 takes a long time to get moving for instance.
Once DS9 gets going in the third season, it’s fucking warp 9 and does not stop. Love it.
The Next Generation season 3 is the classic start position.
I started with TNG, went on to Voyager and am now on DS9. Enjoying myself.
@owen my controversial opinion: DISCO, SNW, TNG, TOS, DS9, VOY, ENT and Lower Decks last for maximum joke appreciation.
The Next Generation (TNG) is a great start.
My journey was TNG, Deep Space 9 (DS9), Voyager, The Original Series (TOS), the animated series, Enterprise, Discovery. Movies as you see fit
Each series is very different and has character of their own. TNG is largely unconnected episodes with a 2-parter bridging the seasons. DSN starts pretty unconnected, but gets into a overarching plot at the end. Voyager follows a main theme, but has some unconnected episodes. TOS is episodic and doesn’t have much follow up between episodes. Discovery is the latest and the most singular plot of the Star Treks (ie don’t skip episodes in it).
Note also that the term for a show to “grow a beard” came from TNG. The first season was kind of slow with some very meh episodes. Riker physically grew a beard in the second season and the show got a lot better (unrelated coincidence, but a funny connection).
One other thing is that even though I recommend TNG, remember it came out in the late 80’s. Some parts of it are slower and feel dragged out. The television show runtimes were longer back then.
Notable mentions are Galaxy Quest and Lower Decks. Both are funny on their own, but will 100% be rib-crushing hilarious only after you’ve watched a lot of Trek.
Thanks for the recs. I will absolutely save the parody/whatever shows you mentioned at the end for last!
Oh! I can’t believe I forgot Strange New Worlds. It’s a very good show and scratches the episodic exploration itch of older Treks
Watch two series intermittently
Huge brain answer
TNG, DS9, VOY, BSG
Is this my sleeper agent activation code?
In a way, yes. If you watch The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, and Battlestar Galactica you will become one of us.
