STAR TREK
An Episode & Movie Guide
(a list of what to watch and what to skip in the franchise)

Introduction

Star Trek is among the most successful entertainment franchises of all time, especially in the realm of science fiction. It's been over half a century since it first started and even now more is being added to it. People continue to watch it over and over again with new fans constantly being born.

Compared to most other shows, Star Trek is considered very "cerebral." Many scientists, writers, artists, and intellectuals have attributed inspiration to it in their lives. This seems to be one reason why it has such rewatchability, as there is depth to it that you can continue to unpack. Some are intimidated by this, but often, when they give it chance, it starts to click.

However, another problem that potential viewers run into is the question of what parts of Star Trek to watch as well as what order should they be seen in. Moreover, people are often daunted upon learning how enormous the current body of work is that comprises it. So far, Star Trek is composed of 5 complete television series (for a total of 726 episodes) as well as 13 theatrically released movies. On top of that, it's not entirely obvious what series and what movies one should see at what time, since the order in which they were produced does not match up with the chronological events in their respective stories (not unlike Star Wars ... except it's even more confusing). I will say, however, that once you start understanding how it all falls into place, it's quite rewarding ... but for beginners it often sounds despairing.

There is also another significant problem about trying to watch Star Trek, namely, that there are LOTS of awful episodes (and not a few bad films as well). On the one hand, I suppose you can't blame the creators too much, as there was bound to be a few clunkers along the way in the vast ocean of Star Trek's corpus. But still, it understandably has helped to turn off viewers who ran into a particularly bad patch. Granted, some fans enjoy the bad episodes and films because they enjoy making fun of them, but that doesn't always work for everyone.

Being annoyed at all these problems, I was eventually moved to create this guide and facilitate new viewers (and even not-so-new viewers) to experience Star Trek in the best way possible.

 
  HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE  
 

This guide is hopefully straightforward enough, relative to how confusing Star Trek is. Just go down the list in the order of how things are presented (though alternate options will be suggested along the way).

Each Star Trek episode is either "essential," "optional," or "worthless" and will be color-coated thusly:

  1. Essential Episodes
    Those in bolded orange are "must-see" episodes either because they're good and/or because they give important context to future good episodes and/or movies. So, watch these without exception (unless otherwise specified).
  2. Optional Episodes
    Those in purple are decent episodes that do not give necessary context to future essential episodes or movies. They aren't horrible but they're still skippable. If you want to take the quickest route, you can avoid these.
  3. Worthless Episodes
    Those crossed out in gray are bad episodes that contribute little or nothing to future plotlines. These should be avoided at all costs, unless you want to suffer.
As for Star Trek movies, a more in depth recommendation or condemnation will be given for each of them to help you determine which ones you want to watch.

Of course, many fans will disagree with some of my recommendations/condemnations. I've thoroughly researched reviews by other fans to try to weed out my biases, but of course many will still shout objections. Where I feel my taste diverging from that of most people, I have made note of that, as you'll see.

 
  OVERVIEW  
 

Before going into detail, here's a broad outline of all the Star Trek's television series and movies:

Star Trek: The Original Series

Production: 1st of the television series (1966-1969)

Setting: The starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701 (mid-23rd century)

Characters: Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov

Star Trek Movies (1-6)

Production: First Six Films ...
   Star Trek I: The Motion Picture (1979)
   Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
   Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
   Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
   Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
   Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

Setting: The starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701 & NCC-1701-A (late-23rd century)

Characters: (same as The Original Series)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Production: 2nd of the television series (1987-1994)

Setting: The starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D (mid-24th century)

Characters: Picard, Riker, Data, Worf, La Forge, Troi, and Crusher

Star Trek Movies (7-10)

Production: Next Six Films ...
   Star Trek: Generations (1994)
   Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
   Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
   Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

Setting: The starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D & NCC-1701-E (late-23rd century)

Characters: (same as The Next Generation)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Production: 3rd of the television series (1993-1999)

Setting: The space station Deep Space 9 situated next to a Wormhole (mid-24th to late-24th century)

Characters: Sisko, Kira, Odo, Bashir, Dax, O'Brien, Quark, Worf

Star Trek: Voyager

Production: 4th of the television series (1995-2001)

Setting: The starship USS Voyager NCC-74656 (late-24th century)

Characters: Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Paris, Torres, Kim, "The Doctor," Neelix, Kess, and Seven of Nine

Star Trek: Enterprise

Production: 5th of the television series (2001-2005)

Setting: The starship Enterprise NX-01 (mid-22nd century)

Characters: Archer, T'Pol, Trip, Reed, Sato, Mayweather, and Phlox

Star Trek Movies (11-13)

Production: Last Three Films ...
   Star Trek (2009)
   Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)
   Star Trek: Beyond (2016)

Setting: The starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701 (mid-23rd century) but in an alternate timeline

Characters: (same as The Original Series but with new actors)

That's the general overview. A lot of series and films are somewhat interconnected and build off each other, so it's advisable to stick to the guide and not skip "essential" episodes, lest you miss an important plot point that returns later down the line. Don't worry if this seems complicated. Just scroll down and follow the list step-by-step in the order it's presented to know exactly what to do at what time.

Option: While this guide recommends that you generally watch Star Trek's productions in the order they were made, starting with Star Trek: The Original Series, some recommend watching them in the precise order of Star Trek's fictional timeline. While I strongly disagree with that, if you wish to do this anyway, all you must do is watch the Star Trek: Enterprise series first, and then start at the beginning of this guide with Star Trek: The Original Series and continue as normal. However, to see a completely perfect chronological listing of everything, you can go to this website (but the guide here is more than sufficient for this).

Star Trek: The Original Series

This is the first Star Trek series ever made. It was produced from 1966 to 1969. Its story takes place in the future around the year 2260, centering around the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) on a mission of space exploration, featuring characters (and actors) such as James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nemoy), Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Montgomery Scott (a.k.a. "Scotty") (James Doohan), Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett), and Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney).

It should be noted that this series is very different from the rest of Star Trek since it was made so long ago, and consequently it's super campy (though a few of its effects at least have been remastered). Hopefully, however, you'll have no problem and even enjoy the campiness.

IMPORTANT: If you find yourself not enjoying this series ... don't worry. Many Star Trek fans are ironically not fans of it either (while some Star Trek fans only like this series). If you can't stand the campiness (or whatever else about it) and don't think you can even make it through the "essential" episodes, I would still insist you trudge through the following ones at the very minimum: "Balance of Terror" and "Space Seed" (from Season 1) and then "Amok Time", "Mirror, Mirror", "Journey to Babel", and "The Trouble with Tribbles" (from Season 2). This is because they greatly influence and give important context to future Star Trek storylines.

 
  EPISODES  
 

    Note: Some video collections of The Original Series might have these episodes in a different order. However, I would recommend watching them in the order presented here.

      Season 1:   STAR TREK: The Original Series — [ Start Here ]

    1. "The Cage" (the episodes "The Menagerie, Part I" & "The Menagerie, Part II" later on in this season contain the footage of this unaired pilot episode ... in fact, this episode isn't even included in some video collections ... so just skip it)
    2. "The Man Trap"
    3. "Charlie X" (widely hated but some staunchly defend it)
    4. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (not the best, but this was the first aired Star Trek episode ever)
    5. "The Naked Time"
    6. "The Enemy Within"
    7. "Mudd's Women" (some defend this one too)
    8. "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (I like this one)
    9. "Miri"
    10. "Dagger of the Mind" (not great either, but it sets up something important)
    11. "The Corbomite Maneuver" (some wouldn't recommend this ... the ending is admittedly pretty dumb)
    12. "The Menagerie, Part I"
    13. "The Menagerie, Part II"
    14. "The Conscience of the King"
    15. "Balance of Terror"
    16. "Shore Leave"
    17. "The Galileo Seven"
    18. "The Squire of Gothos" (some people hate this)
    19. "Arena" (famous episode ... and unintentially hilarious at times)
    20. "Tomorrow is Yesterday"
    21. "Court Martial"
    22. "The Return of the Archons"
    23. "Space Seed"
    24. "A Taste of Armageddon"
    25. "This Side of Paradise"
    26. "The Devil in the Dark"
    27. "Errand of Mercy"
    28. "The Alternative Factor"
    29. "The City on the Edge of Forever"
    30. "Operation: Annihilate!"
    31. Season 2:   STAR TREK: The Original Series —

    32. "Amok Time"
    33. "Who Mourns for Adonais?"
    34. "The Changeling"
    35. "Mirror, Mirror"
    36. "The Apple"
    37. "The Doomsday Machine"
    38. "Catspaw"
    39. "I, Mudd" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Mudd's Women" from Season 1)
    40. "Metamorphosis" (this one's a little weird but kinda important)
    41. "Journey to Babel" (introduces important reoccuring character)
    42. "Friday's Child"
    43. "The Deadly Years"
    44. "Obsession"
    45. "Wolf in the Fold"
    46. "The Trouble with Tribbles"
    47. "The Gamesters of Triskelion" (a famous episode but lots of people hate it)
    48. "A Piece of the Action" (some think this one is too ridiculous)
    49. "The Immunity Syndrome"
    50. "A Private Little War"
    51. "Return to Tomorrow"
    52. "Patterns of Force"
    53. "By Any Other Name"
    54. "The Omega Glory"
    55. "The Ultimate Computer"
    56. "Bread and Circuses" (incidentally, a curiously pro-Christianity episode, some would say)
    57. "Assignment: Earth" (especially if you like time-travel ... though I think it's pretty dumb)
    58. Season 3:   STAR TREK: The Original Series —

    59. "Spock's Brain" (so bad, some people say it's essential)
    60. "The Enterprise Incident"
    61. "The Paradise Syndrome"
    62. "And the Children Shall Lead"
    63. "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
    64. "Spectre of the Gun"
    65. "Day of the Dove"
    66. "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" (some people think this is dumb)
    67. "The Tholian Web"
    68. "Plato's Stepchildren" (though it features the first interracial kiss ever broadcasted on television)
    69. "Wink of an Eye"
    70. "The Empath"
    71. "Elaan of Troyius"
    72. "Whom Gods Destroy"
    73. "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" (a famous anti-racism episode)
    74. "The Mark of Gideon"
    75. "That Which Survives"
    76. "The Lights of Zetar"
    77. "Requiem for Methuselah"
    78. "The Way to Eden"
    79. "The Cloud Minders"
    80. "The Savage Curtain" (pretty dumb ... but semi-important in the long run)
    81. "All Our Yesterdays"
    82. "Turnabout Intruder" (a bit sexist ... but I don't mind)

    Option: At this point, there is technically another series that I didn't mention in the overview that you can watch, namely, Star Trek: The Animated Series (produced from 1973 to 1974 and composed of 22 episodes), featuring the same characters of The Original Series but in cartoon form and voiced by the same actors. However, my strong recommendation is that you avoid this series altogether and forget I mentioned it.

Star Trek I: The Motion Picture

This is the first Star Trek movie ever made. It came out in 1979 (marking the return of Star Trek after a long hiatus). The story takes place in 2273 and features the same (though upgraded) starship Enterprise and the same crew members (Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, etc.) from The Original Series, though with some additional characters (and this will basically be the case with the next five movies as well).

Unfortunately, this is easily the worst Star Trek movie of all time. It's boring, slow, weird, and just infamously disappointing. Should you watch it? Fortunately, you don't have to! It doesn't really contribute to the plots or character development of any of the subsequent movies or series. On the other hand, it's a movie, not a mere episode. Do what you feel like.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

This is the second Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 1982. The story takes place in 2285, again featuring the starship Enterprise and the characters from The Original Series, as well as the return of a major villain from the episode "Space Seed" from Season 1.

This is widely considered a very good movie (some would say Star Trek's best ... but I personally thinks it's a touch overrated). It probably saved Star Trek from descending into oblivion after the stupidity of The Motion Picture. Watch this one for sure.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

This is the third Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 1984. The story takes place shortly after the events of The Wrath of Khan, once again featuring the starship Enterprise and the characters from The Original Series. We also see the return of a hostile alien race seen from previous episodes like "Errand of Mercy" and "The Trouble With Tribbles" (and technically, though inconsequentially, also seen briefly in The Motion Picture), though they have a famously reimagined appearence now (incidentally, they would prove to be a major factor in future Star Trek episodes and movies).

The "general rule" about Star Trek movies is that the odd numbered ones tend to be bad. However, this one is probably the best of the odd numbers, even though it's not great. It is, however, very important not just for the next movie but, I would say, for tons of episodes. Without doubt ... watch it.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

This is the fourth Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 1986. The story takes place shortly after the events of The Search for Spock, once again featuring the characters from The Original Series. You could also say that it completes the particular story arc begun in The Wrath of Khan.

Some consider this to be the best movie in Star Trek. It's definitely one of the more light-hearted and comedic films of the franchise. I'm a big fan. Watch it!

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

This is the fifth Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 1989. The story takes place shortly after the events in The Voyage Home, featuring the new starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) and the characters from The Original Series.

This movie is famous for being awful. Some have said it's the worst ever. I would say, however, that it's much more watchable than The Motion Picture, even though it's pretty retarded. There are some funny parts in it, including parts that aren't supposed to be funny. The real issue is ... should you watch it? You don't have to. It's not that important. But you know what? Watch it anyway ... just to say that you did. Why not?

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

This is the sixth Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 1991. The story takes place in 2293, once again featuring the starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) and the characters from The Original Series. It's the last Star Trek movie with all these characters (that is, until the 2009 reboot film, played by different actors).

This movie is really popular among fans and is a satisfying ending for Star Trek's original cast. It has some iconic lines and is perhaps one of the more sophisticated films in the franchise. I really like this one. Definitely watch it.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

This is the second Star Trek series that's been made. It was produced from 1987 to 1994. Its story takes place around the year 2360 (about a hundred years after The Original Series). It centers around a new starship that holds the same name as the one before, namely, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D ... or simply the "Enterprise-D" in this case) and is similarly on a mission of space exploration. However, it features a whole new cast of characters (and actors), such as Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Data (Brent Spiner), Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), Worf (Michael Dorn), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton).

The show adds a plethora of new facets to Star Trek that would especially impact the next two series. It is personally my favorite series of Star Trek (and I'm not alone on this), even though I admit its first two (and a half?) seasons are really bad, and its overall good-to-bad episode ratio in general is subpar. Its good episodes, in my opinion, completely make up for it. Thankfully, this list will guide you safely through it.

 
  EPISODES  
 

      Season 1:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    1. "Encounter at Farpoint" (Part 1) (an important, foundational episode ... but bad, really bad)
    2. "Encounter at Farpoint" (Part 2) (same as above)
    3. "The Naked Now"
    4. "Code of Honor"
    5. "The Last Outpost" (although it does introduce an important alien race)
    6. "Where No One Has Gone Before" (a terrible but semi-important episode for one of the characters ... but I suppose it can be skipped)
    7. "Lonely Among Us"
    8. "Justice"
    9. "The Battle"
    10. "Hide and Q" (terrible episode but features a recurring fan favorite character)
    11. "Haven" (quite awful but introduces a reoccurring character)
    12. "The Big Goodbye"
    13. "Datalore"
    14. "Angel One"
    15. "11001001"
    16. "Too Short a Season"
    17. "When the Bough Breaks"
    18. "Home Soil"
    19. "Coming of Age"
    20. "Heart of Glory"
    21. "The Arsenal of Freedom"
    22. "Symbiosis"
    23. "Skin of Evil" (not particularly good ... but very important)
    24. "We'll Always Have Paris"
    25. "Conspiracy"
    26. "The Neutral Zone" (also not great, in my opinion, but rather important)
    27. Season 2:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    28. "The Child" (though it introduces a new character who would remain the rest of the season)
    29. "Where Silence Has Lease"
    30. "Elementary, Dear Data"
    31. "The Outrageous Okona"
    32. "Loud as a Whisper"
    33. "The Schizoid Man"
    34. "Unnatural Selection"
    35. "A Matter of Honor"
    36. "The Measure of a Man"
    37. "The Dauphin"
    38. "Contagion"
    39. "The Royale" (some people might enjoy how bad this is)
    40. "Time Squared" (if you like time paradox stuff)
    41. "The Icarus Factor"
    42. "Pen Pals"
    43. "Q Who"
    44. "Samaritan Snare"
    45. "Up the Long Ladder"
    46. "Manhunt"
    47. "The Emissary"
    48. "Peak Performance"
    49. "Shades of Gray"
    50. Season 3:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    51. "Evolution"
    52. "The Ensigns of Command" (not horrible but quite skippable)
    53. "The Survivors"
    54. "Who Watches the Watchers" (the most anti-religious episode in Star Trek, some would say)
    55. "The Bonding"
    56. "Booby Trap"
    57. "The Enemy"
    58. "The Price" (perhaps not magnificent but pretty important in the long run)
    59. "The Vengeance Factor"
    60. "The Defector"
    61. "The Hunted"
    62. "The High Ground" (not terrible but mediocre in my opinion)
    63. "Déjà Q"
    64. "A Matter of Perspective"
    65. "Yesterday's Enterprise"
    66. "The Offspring"
    67. "Sins of the Father"
    68. "Allegiance"
    69. "Captain's Holiday" (some wouldn't recommend this, but I like it, and it's semi-important)
    70. "Tin Man"
    71. "Hollow Pursuits" (not a great episode but introduces a reoccuring character)
    72. "The Most Toys"
    73. "Sarek"
    74. "Ménage à Troi"
    75. "Transfigurations"
    76. "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I"
    77. Season 4:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    78. "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"
    79. "Family"
    80. "Brothers"
    81. "Suddenly Human"
    82. "Remember Me" (ideally, you should make sure you've seen the terrible episode "Where No One Has Gone Before" from Season 1 ... if you didn't, not the end of the world)
    83. "Legacy" (slightly mediocre)
    84. "Reunion"
    85. "Future Imperfect" (I like this but it's not crucial)
    86. "Final Mission"
    87. "The Loss"
    88. "Data's Day"
    89. "The Wounded"
    90. "Devil's Due"
    91. "Clues"
    92. "First Contact"
    93. "Galaxy's Child" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Booby Trap" from Season 3)
    94. "Night Terrors"
    95. "Identity Crisis"
    96. "The Nth Degree"
    97. "Qpid" (not particularly good, but watch it anyway)
    98. "The Drumhead"
    99. "Half a Life" (a love-it or hate-it episode)
    100. "The Host" (some say this is an anti-gay episode, others say it's pro-gay ... go figure)
    101. "The Mind's Eye"
    102. "In Theory" (some aren't crazy about this, but I think it's important for one of the characters)
    103. "Redemption, Part I"
    104. Season 5:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    105. "Redemption, Part II"
    106. "Darmok" (a lot of people obsess about this episode for some reason, so go ahead ... personally I think it's one of the stupidest episodes of all time)
    107. "Ensign Ro"
    108. "Silicon Avatar"
    109. "Disaster"
    110. "The Game" (a lot of this people hate this episode ... I like it)
    111. "Unification, Part I"
    112. "Unification, Part II"
    113. "A Matter of Time"
    114. "New Ground"
    115. "Hero Worship" (though not the worst ever)
    116. "Violations"
    117. "The Masterpiece Society" (almost good, I would say)
    118. "Conundrum"
    119. "Power Play"
    120. "Ethics" (hated this episode the first time I saw though)
    121. "The Outcast"
    122. "Cause and Effect"
    123. "The First Duty"
    124. "Cost of Living"
    125. "The Perfect Mate"
    126. "Imaginary Friend"
    127. "I, Borg"
    128. "The Next Phase"
    129. "The Inner Light"
    130. "Time's Arrow, Part I"

    Option: At this point, the next series begins, namely Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (both in terms of when the show was produced and in terms of the fictional timeline). If you want, you can start watching it alongside the rest of The Next Generation. This has some advantage, as there will be slight crossover between the two series in this next season. However, if that sounds too complicated, don't worry, it's not that important. You can simply finish the rest of The Next Generation before you start in on Deep Space Nine.

      Season 6:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    1. "Time's Arrow, Part II"
    2. "Realm of Fear"
    3. "Man of the People"
    4. "Relics"
    5. "Schisms"
    6. "True Q"
    7. "Rascals" (although a lot of people despise this ... it's rather silly)
    8. "A Fistful of Datas" (some hate this one though)
    9. "The Quality of Life"
    10. "Chain of Command, Part I"
    11. "Chain of Command, Part II"
    12. "Ship in a Bottle"
    13. "Aquiel"
    14. "Face of the Enemy"
    15. "Tapestry"
    16. "Birthright, Part I" (not great but somewhat important, and there's crossover with Deep Space Nine)
    17. "Birthright, Part II" (same as above)
    18. "Starship Mine"
    19. "Lessons"
    20. "The Chase" (somewhat important, though many dislike it)
    21. "Frame of Mind"
    22. "Suspicions"
    23. "Rightful Heir"
    24. "Second Chances"
    25. "Timescape"
    26. "Descent, Part I"
    27. Season 7:   STAR TREK: The Next Generation —

    28. "Descent, Part II"
    29. "Liaisons" (it's dumb ... but could be worse)
    30. "Interface"
    31. "Gambit, Part I"
    32. "Gambit, Part II"
    33. "Phantasms"
    34. "Dark Page"
    35. "Attached"
    36. "Force of Nature"
    37. "Inheritance"
    38. "Parallels"
    39. "The Pegasus" (somewhat important episode)
    40. "Homeward"
    41. "Sub Rosa"
    42. "Lower Decks"
    43. "Thine Own Self"
    44. "Masks"
    45. "Eye of the Beholder"
    46. "Genesis" (I don't mind this episode ... but it's widely hated)
    47. "Journey's End" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Where No One Has Gone Before" from Season 1 ... it also sets up an important group of people ... but meh)
    48. "Firstborn"
    49. "Bloodlines" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "The Battle" from season 1)
    50. "Emergence"
    51. "Preemptive Strike"
    52. "All Good Things..." (Part 1)
    53. "All Good Things..." (Part 2)

    Option: At this point, the series Star Trek: Voyager begins (again, both in terms of when the show was produced in reality and in terms of the fictional timeline). However, I would strongly recommend you watch the first two seasons of Deep Space Nine first (in short, continue down the guide as is).

Star Trek: Generations

This is the seventh Star Trek movie that's been made, coming out in 1994. The story takes place in 2371. It is the first film that features the crew of The Next Generation (Picard, Riker, Data, Worf, etc.) as well as the Enterprise-D (the next three movies will also follow these characters). It also brings in a few familiar faces from The Original Series.

Unfortunately, this movie was a big disappointment and a huge missed opportunity in more ways than one, as you'll probably see. Nevertheless, it's pretty important. A couple major things happen in it. So, do your best ... and watch it anyway.

Option: This movie approximately takes place after Season 3 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. If you wish to see this movie in perfect chronological context, you can wait to see it until then (there will be a reminder down on the list in the right place so you won't forget). It's not crucial that you do so, so watching this movie now is fine.

Star Trek: First Contact

This is the eighth Star Trek movie that's been made, coming out in 1996. The story takes place in 2373 as well as 2063 (as you'll see). It is the second film that features the crew of The Next Generation and the first film to feature yet another new starship called Enterprise (NCC-1701-E ... also simply known as the "Enterprise-E"). It also sees the return of a menacing enemy from previous episodes.

This is widely considered the best movie of The Next Generation. It's also very important in terms of the franchise's ongoing narrative, introducing multiple things that will appear in episodes of later series. I really love this one. Whatever you do ... watch it!

Option: This movie approximately takes place after Season 5 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. If you wish to see this movie in perfect chronological context, you can wait to see it until then (there will be a reminder down on the list in the right place so you won't forget). It's not crucial that you do so, so watching this movie now is fine.

Star Trek: Insurrection

This is the ninth Star Trek movie that's been made, coming out in 1998. The story takes place in 2375. It is the third film that features the crew of The Next Generation and the second film to feature the Enterprise-E.

Many consider this to be the worst of the The Next Generation movies (though I personally think Generations is worse). The premise isn't very exciting and it doesn't really connect in any interesting way to things in previous episodes. So ... should you watch it? You don't have to. It's not the worst thing ever though. But go ahead and watch it ... see what happens.

Option: This movie approximately takes place after Season 6 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. If you wish to see this movie in perfect chronological context, you can wait to see it until then (there will be a reminder down on the list in the right place so you won't forget). It's not crucial that you do so, so watching this movie now is fine.

Star Trek: Nemesis

This is the tenth Star Trek movie that's been made, coming out in 2002. The story takes place in 2379. It is the fourth and last film that features the crew of The Next Generation and the third film to feature the Enterprise-E. It also features a cameo of a character from Voyager.

This is a polarizing movie. Some people hate it, some people love it, and some are in between. I wasn't crazy about it the first time I watched it, but after subsequent viewings, it won me over. One or two rather significant things happen in it too. It's worth a watch. Make it so.

Option: This movie takes place after the last season of Star Trek: Voyager, which is a long time from now on this list. If you wish to see this movie in perfect chronological context, you can wait to see it until then (there will be a reminder down on the list in the right place so you won't forget). It's not crucial that you do so, so watching this movie now is fine.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

This is the third Star Trek series that's been made. It was produced from 1993 to 1999. Its story takes place from 2369 to 2375 (during but mostly after The Next Generation). Unlike the rest of Star Trek, it does not center around a starship but rather a space station called Deep Space 9 (or simply "DS9"). Again, it features a new cast of characters (and actors), such as Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Odo (René Auberjonois), Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), Dax (Terry Farrel & Nicole de Boer), Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney), Quark (Armin Shimerman), Nog (Aron Eisenberg), Rom (Max Grodénchik), Elim Garak (Andrew J. Robinson), Dukat (Marc Alaimo), and eventually Worf (Michael Dorn).

This has the most interconnected story arc of all the Star Trek series, a consequence of this being that there are lots of "essential" episodes since they build on each other (even if several of them are ... not that great). Some also say this is the "darkest" Star Trek series with its characters comparatively more "flawed." The first two seasons are a little slow but it gradually becomes quite epic. Personally, it took some time for this one to grow on me, but I ended up loving it (especially the second time through).

 
  EPISODES  
 

      Season 1:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    1. "Emissary" (Part 1)
    2. "Emissary" (Part 2)
    3. "Past Prologue" (not great but introduces an important character)
    4. "A Man Alone" (also not spectacular but important)
    5. "Babel" (could be worse though)
    6. "Captive Pursuit"
    7. "Q-Less" (some people hate this ... I love it)
    8. "Dax" (though helps explain Dax's complicated race)
    9. "The Passenger"
    10. "Move Along Home" (famously horrible)
    11. "The Nagus"
    12. "Vortex"
    13. "Battle Lines"
    14. "The Storyteller"
    15. "Progress"
    16. "If Wishes Were Horses" (but some might like it because it's so ridiculous)
    17. "The Forsaken"
    18. "Dramatis Personae"
    19. "Duet"
    20. "In the Hands of the Prophets" (I personally hate this episode, but it's important)
    21. Season 2:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    22. "The Homecoming"
    23. "The Circle"
    24. "The Siege"
    25. "Invasive Procedures" (provides more information about Dax)
    26. "Cardassians" (though some really like this one)
    27. "Melora"
    28. "Rules of Acquisition"
    29. "Necessary Evil"
    30. "Second Sight"
    31. "Sanctuary" (I hate this episode, but some insist upon it)
    32. "Rivals" (one of the more ridiculous episodes ... some might not like it)
    33. "The Alternate" (not crazy about this, but somewhat necessary)
    34. "Armageddon Game"
    35. "Whispers" (really like this one, but not necessary for the storyline)
    36. "Paradise"
    37. "Shadowplay" (however, some don't mind this one)
    38. "Playing God"
    39. "Profit and Loss"
    40. "Blood Oath"
    41. "The Maquis, Part I"
    42. "The Maquis, Part II"
    43. "The Wire"
    44. "Crossover"
    45. "The Collaborator" (an unbearable episode in my opinion ... but necessary)
    46. "Tribunal"
    47. "The Jem'Hadar"

    Option: At this point, the series Star Trek: Voyager begins (both in terms of when the show was produced in reality and in terms of the fictional timeline). If you want, you can start watching it alongside the rest of Deep Space Nine. This has some advantage, as there will be slight crossover between the two series (though not much). However, if that sounds too complicated, don't worry, it's not that important. You can simply finish the rest of Deep Space Nine before you start in on Voyager.

      Season 3:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    1. "The Search, Part I"
    2. "The Search, Part II"
    3. "The House of Quark"
    4. "Equilibrium"
    5. "Second Skin"
    6. "The Abandoned"
    7. "Civil Defense" (almost not essential ... but so fun)
    8. "Meridian"
    9. "Defiant"
    10. "Fascination" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "The Forsaken" from season 1)
    11. "Past Tense, Part I" (some say this is essential)
    12. "Past Tense, Part II" (same as above)
    13. "Life Support" (rather painful but necessary)
    14. "Heart of Stone"
    15. "Destiny"
    16. "Prophet Motive"
    17. "Visionary" (I'm a fan of this one)
    18. "Distant Voices"
    19. "Through the Looking Glass"
    20. "Improbable Cause"
    21. "The Die is Cast"
    22. "Explorers" (some important stuff here)
    23. "Family Business"
    24. "Shakaar"
    25. "Facets"
    26. "The Adversary"

    Option: This is about the point where the movie Star Trek: Generations takes place. If you haven't seen it already, this would be the perfect time to do so.

      Season 4:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    1. "The Way of the Warrior" (Part 1)
    2. "The Way of the Warrior" (Part 2)
    3. "The Visitor"
    4. "Hippocratic Oath"
    5. "Indiscretion"
    6. "Rejoined" (heavy-handed lesbian episode, and yet some say it's anti-lesbian)
    7. "Starship Down"
    8. "Little Green Men"
    9. "The Sword of Kahless" (disappointing but some may enjoy it)
    10. "Our Man Bashir" (some don't like this, I do)
    11. "Homefront"
    12. "Paradise Lost"
    13. "Crossfire"
    14. "Return to Grace"
    15. "Sons of Mogh"
    16. "Bar Association"
    17. "Accession"
    18. "Rules of Engagement"
    19. "Hard Time" (a very good episode, though not necessary for the storyline)
    20. "Shattered Mirror"
    21. "The Muse" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Fascination" from season 3)
    22. "For the Cause"
    23. "To the Death"
    24. "The Quickening"
    25. "Body Parts"
    26. "Broken Link"
    27. Season 5:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    28. "Apocalypse Rising"
    29. "The Ship"
    30. "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places"
    31. "...Nor the Battle to the Strong" (not terrible ... but mediocre overall)
    32. "The Assignment"
    33. "Trials and Tribble-ations" (connected to "The Trouble with Tribbles" from The Original Series)
    34. "Let He Who Is Without Sin..." (possibly the worst thing ever)
    35. "Things Past" (a very good episode but still skippable)
    36. "The Ascent"
    37. "Rapture"
    38. "The Darkness and the Light" (some like this episode though)
    39. "The Begotten"
    40. "For the Uniform" (return of a semi-important character ... some would say it's essential)
    41. "In Purgatory's Shadow"
    42. "By Inferno's Light"
    43. "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" (recommend watching first few episodes of Star Trek: Voyager first)
    44. "A Simple Investigation" (although there's some character development)
    45. "Business as Usual"
    46. "Ties of Blood and Water" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Second Skin" from Season 3)
    47. "Ferengi Love Songs"
    48. "Soldiers of the Empire"
    49. "Children of Time" (not too crazy about this, but at least one important thing happens in it)
    50. "Blaze of Glory" (completes semi-important side-plot ... if you watch this, make sure you've seen "For the Uniform" from this season)
    51. "Empok Nor"
    52. "In the Cards"
    53. "Call to Arms"

    Option: This is about the point where the movie Star Trek: First Contact takes place. If you haven't seen it already, this would be the perfect time to do so.

      Season 6:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    1. "A Time to Stand"
    2. "Rocks and Shoals"
    3. "Sons and Daughters"
    4. "Behind the Lines"
    5. "Favor the Bold"
    6. "Sacrifice of Angels"
    7. "You are Cordially Invited..."
    8. "Resurrection" (another "mirror universe" episode)
    9. "Statistical Probabilities"
    10. "The Magnificent Ferengi"
    11. "Waltz"
    12. "Who Mourns for Morn?"
    13. "Far Beyond the Stars"
    14. "One Little Ship" (rather silly one)
    15. "Honor Among Thieves"
    16. "Change of Heart" (excellent episode but arguably not essential)
    17. "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"
    18. "Inquisition"
    19. "In the Pale Moonlight"
    20. "His Way"
    21. "The Reckoning" (well, semi-important)
    22. "Valiant" (a lot of people hate this one)
    23. "Profit and Lace"
    24. "Time's Orphan" (though maybe some people might find this cute)
    25. "The Sound of Her Voice"
    26. "Tears of the Prophets"

    Option: This is about the point where the movie Star Trek: Insurrection takes place. If you haven't seen it already, this would be the perfect time to do so.

      Season 7:   STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine —

    1. "Image in the Sand" (vital for the storyline)
    2. "Shadows and Symbols"
    3. "Afterimage"
    4. "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" (some people hate this ... I love it)
    5. "Chrysalis" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Statistical Probabilities" from Season 6)
    6. "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River"
    7. "Once More Unto the Breach" (though it does include a reoccuring character)
    8. "The Siege of AR-558"
    9. "Covenant"
    10. "It's Only a Paper Moon"
    11. "Prodigal Daughter"
    12. "The Emperor's New Cloak" (although this is the last "mirror universe" episode)
    13. "Field of Fire" (if you watch it, make sure you've seen "Equilibrium" from Season 3)
    14. "Chimera"
    15. "Badda-Bing Badda-Bang" (some hate this, but it's one of my favorites)
    16. "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
    17. "Penumbra"
    18. "Til Death Do Us Part"
    19. "Strange Bedfellows"
    20. "The Changing Face of Evil"
    21. "When It Rains..."
    22. "Tacking Into the Wind"
    23. "Extreme Measures"
    24. "The Dogs of War"
    25. "What You Leave Behind" (Part 1)
    26. "What You Leave Behind" (Part 2)

Star Trek: Voyager

This is the fourth Star Trek series that's been made. It was produced from 1995 to 2001. Its story takes place from 2371 to 2378 (during Deep Space Nine and then a bit after). It centers around the starship USS Voyager (NCC-74656), and unlike other Star Trek series, it's all about a crew in completely alien territory, having been flung to the other side of the galaxy and struggling to get back home. It again features a new cast of characters (and actors), such as Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Chakotay (Robert Beltran), Tuvok (Tim Russ), Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), "The Doctor" (Robert Picardo), Neelix (Ethan Phillips), Kes (Jennifer Lien), and eventually "Seven of Nine" (Jeri Ryan).

This series, in my opinion, also has a mediocre first couple of seasons (some would disagree), until it gains the infamous "Seven of Nine" (a female character who is somewhat polarizing among fans, though she definitely saved the show ... I personally think she's one the best characters ever).

 
  EPISODES  
 

      Season 1:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    1. "Caretaker" (Part 1) (some say this is good ... I don't)
    2. "Caretaker" (Part 2) (same as above)
    3. "Parallax" (has some minimal character development)
    4. "Time and Again" (unless you really like time-travel)
    5. "Phage" (not great but pretty necessary)
    6. "The Cloud"
    7. "Eye of the Needle" (lots of people like this ... I guess it's okay)
    8. "Ex Post Facto" (well ... this one is kind of okay)
    9. "Emanations"
    10. "Prime Factors"
    11. "State of Flux"
    12. "Heroes and Demons" (really dumb, unless you're obsessed with Beowulf, maybe)
    13. "Cathexis"
    14. "Faces"
    15. "Jetrel"
    16. "Learning Curve" (useful enough for overall character development)
    17. Season 2:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    18. "The 37s" (but almost unbearably far-fetched)
    19. "Initiations" (unless you really like the Kazon)
    20. "Projections"
    21. "Elogium"
    22. "Non Sequitur" (well ... not too bad)
    23. "Twisted"
    24. "Parturition"
    25. "Persistence of Vision"
    26. "Tattoo"
    27. "Cold Fire"
    28. "Maneuvers"
    29. "Resistance" (I guess some people like this ... I can't stand it)
    30. "Prototype"
    31. "Alliances" (kind of important but a little boring and ultimately skippable)
    32. "Threshold" (famously considered one of the worst ever)
    33. "Meld"
    34. "Dreadnought"
    35. "Death Wish" (not great but important)
    36. "Lifesigns" (ideally, make sure you've watched "Faces" from Season 1)
    37. "Investigations" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Lifesigns" from this season)
    38. "Deadlock"
    39. "Innocence" (though I didn't mind this too much)
    40. "The Thaw" (a nightmarish episode that some people might REALLY like)
    41. "Tuvix" (there are those who really like this episode, but most abhor it apparently)
    42. "Resolutions" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Lifesigns" from this season)
    43. "Basics, Part I"
    44. Season 3:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    45. "Basics. Part II"
    46. "Flashback" (ending is pretty dumb though)
    47. "The Chute"
    48. "The Swarm"
    49. "False Profits" (distantly connected to "The Price" from The Next Generation)
    50. "Remember"
    51. "Sacred Ground"
    52. "Future's End, Part I"
    53. "Future's End, Part II"
    54. "Warlord" (I like this one)
    55. "The Q and the Grey"
    56. "Macrocosm"
    57. "Fair Trade"
    58. "Alter Ego"
    59. "Coda" (not terrible, I guess, but whatever)
    60. "Blood Fever" (not the best but has important developments)
    61. "Unity"
    62. "Darkling"
    63. "Rise" (not that bad though, but definitely skippable)
    64. "Favorite Son"
    65. "Before and After"
    66. "Real Life" (I'm a huge fan of this one, but most seem to be indifferent)
    67. "Distant Origin" (very popular among some ... I personally think it's dumb)
    68. "Displaced"
    69. "Worst Case Scenario"
    70. "Scorpion, Part I"
    71. Season 4:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    72. "Scorpion, Part II"
    73. "The Gift"
    74. "Day of Honor" (not the best but important)
    75. "Nemesis" (I almost can't stand this episode ... until toward the end)
    76. "Revulsion" (maybe ... revolting at parts ... but definite character development here)
    77. "The Raven" (more character development)
    78. "Scientific Method" (some character development here too, to be honest)
    79. "Year of Hell, Part I"
    80. "Year of Hell, Part II"
    81. "Random Thoughts" (some appreciate it though)
    82. "Concerning Flight" (a bit too ridiculous at the end of the day)
    83. "Mortal Coil" (some people supposedly love this one ... I don't believe them)
    84. "Waking Moments"
    85. "Message in a Bottle"
    86. "Hunters"
    87. "Prey"
    88. "Retrospect"
    89. "The Killing Game" (Part I)
    90. "The Killing Game" (Part II)
    91. "Vis à Vis" (not terrible but unnecessary)
    92. "The Omega Directive"
    93. "Unforgettable" (strangely forgettable)
    94. "Living Witness"
    95. "Demon"
    96. "One"
    97. "Hope and Fear"
    98. Season 5:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    99. "Night"
    100. "Drone"
    101. "Extreme Risk" (semi-important ... adds the reoccuring "Delta Flyer" ship to the show)
    102. "In the Flesh"
    103. "Once Upon a Time" (though it does introduce the reoccuring character "Naomi Wildman")
    104. "Timeless"
    105. "Infinite Regress"
    106. "Nothing Human"
    107. "Thirty Days"
    108. "Counterpoint"
    109. "Latent Image"
    110. "Bride of Chaotica!" (though some people can't stand it)
    111. "Gravity"
    112. "Bliss"
    113. "Dark Frontier" (Part I)
    114. "Dark Frontier" (Part II)
    115. "The Disease"
    116. "Course: Oblivion"
    117. "The Fight"
    118. "Think Tank"
    119. "Juggernaut" (some people recommend this ... I wouldn't)
    120. "Someone to Watch Over Me"
    121. "11:59"
    122. "Relativity"
    123. "Warhead"
    124. "Equinox, Part I"
    125. Season 6:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    126. "Equinox, Part II"
    127. "Survival Instinct" (maybe it's not that great but close enough)
    128. "Barge of the Dead" (I have mixed feelings about this one)
    129. "Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy" (some people hate this ... watch the opening at least)
    130. "Alice"
    131. "Riddles"
    132. "Dragon's Teeth"
    133. "One Small Step"
    134. "The Voyager Conspiracy"
    135. "Pathfinder"
    136. "Fair Haven" (a lot of people apparently hate this one, but I love it)
    137. "Blink of an Eye"
    138. "Virtuoso"
    139. "Memorial"
    140. "Tsunkatse" (a bit dumb ... but you have to see it anyway)
    141. "Collective"
    142. "Spirit Folk" (if you liked "Fair Haven," then you'll like this one, otherwise avoid)
    143. "Ashes to Ashes" (interesting idea though, I guess)
    144. "Child's Play"
    145. "Good Shepherd" (a minor change of pace but not ground-breaking either)
    146. "Live Fast and Prosper"
    147. "Muse"
    148. "Fury" (a temporary return of a main character)
    149. "Life Line"
    150. "The Haunting of Deck Twelve"
    151. "Unimatrix Zero, Part I"
    152. Season 7:   STAR TREK: Voyager —

    153. "Unimatrix Zero, Part II"
    154. "Imperfection"
    155. "Drive" (important thing happens in this one, even though it's an average episode)
    156. "Repression" (not horrible but not ground-breaking)
    157. "Critical Care"
    158. "Inside Man"
    159. "Body and Soul"
    160. "Nightingale" (very generic and amazingly forgettable)
    161. "Flesh and Blood" (Part I)
    162. "Flesh and Blood" (Part II)
    163. "Shattered"
    164. "Lineage"
    165. "Repentence"
    166. "Prophecy"
    167. "The Void"
    168. "Workforce, Part I"
    169. "Workforce, Part II"
    170. "Human Error"
    171. "Q2"
    172. "Author, Author"
    173. "Friendship One"
    174. "Natural Law" (it's not that bad ... but nah)
    175. "Homestead" (something somewhat significant happens in this)
    176. "Renaissance Man" (a bit strange for the second-to-the-last episode)
    177. "Endgame" (Part I) (a lot of people are disappointed by this one)
    178. "Endgame" (Part II) (same as above)

    Option: This is about the point where the movie Star Trek: Nemesis takes place. If you haven't seen it already, this would be the perfect time to do so.

Star Trek: Enterprise

This is the fifth Star Trek series that's been made. It was produced from 2001 to 2005. It is considered a prequel series, taking place around the year 2160 (a hundred years before The Original Series). It centers around yet another starship called the Enteprise (NX-01) on an "early" mission of space exploration. Once again, it features its own cast of characters (and actors), such as Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), T'Pol (Jolene Blalock), Charles "Trip" Tucker (Connor Trinneer), Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating), Hoshi Sato (Linda Park), Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery), and Phlox (John Billingsley).

It should be noted that when this particular series came out, Star Trek's popularity was in decline, some blaming "franchise fatigue" while others blamed this particular show. I personally found the first half of this series unbearable but then really loved the second half (and then eventually rewatched everything and found the first half not as bad ... in fact, I even kind of liked it). I should also mention that I've met several Star Trek fans who insist that this is the best series of them all.

 
  EPISODES  
 

    Season 1:   STAR TREK: Enterprise —

  1. "Broken Bow" (Part 1) (not spectacular, in my opinion)
  2. "Broken Bow" (Part 2) (same as above)
  3. "Fight or Flight" (some would recommend this ... I wouldn't)
  4. "Strange New World"
  5. "Unexpected"
  6. "Terra Nova"
  7. "The Andorian Incident"
  8. "Breaking the Ice"
  9. "Civilization"
  10. "Fortunate Son"
  11. "Cold Front"
  12. "Silent Enemy"
  13. "Dear Doctor" (controversial episode ... personally, I condemn it wholeheartedly)
  14. "Sleeping Dogs"
  15. "Shadows of P'Jem"
  16. "Shuttlepod One"
  17. "Fusion" (not very good but important later on)
  18. "Rogue Planet"
  19. "Acquisition" (I'm fond of this one ... could have been better though)
  20. "Oasis"
  21. "Detained" (reveals a bit more about an important alien race but you can still skip this)
  22. "Vox Sola"
  23. "Fallen Hero" (could be worse though ... a few would recommend it)
  24. "Desert Crossing"
  25. "Two Days and Two Nights"
  26. "Shockwave, Part I"
  27. Season 2:   STAR TREK: Enterprise —

  28. "Shockwave, Part II"
  29. "Carbon Creek"
  30. "Minefield" (not the greatest but important enough)
  31. "Dead Stop"
  32. "A Night In Sickbay" (if you watch this, make sure you've seen "Vox Sola" from Season 1)
  33. "Marauders"
  34. "The Seventh"
  35. "The Communicator"
  36. "Singularity"
  37. "Vanishing Point"
  38. "Precious Cargo" (although, I kinda like this one but most seem to hate it passionately)
  39. "The Catwalk" (I also almost like this one too)
  40. "Dawn"
  41. "Stigma" (kinda dumb but important)
  42. "Cease Fire"
  43. "Future Tense"
  44. "Canamar" (some would say it's a must-watch, but it's ultimately skippable)
  45. "The Crossing" (some might say this is okay)
  46. "Judgment"
  47. "Horizon"
  48. "The Breach" (not too bad though, I guess)
  49. "Cogenitor" (but some people actually like this)
  50. "Regeneration"
  51. "First Flight"
  52. "Bounty" (rather important but not great)
  53. "The Expanse"
  54. Season 3:   STAR TREK: Enterprise —

  55. "The Xindi"
  56. "Anomaly"
  57. "Extinction" (though there is brief reference to this in the next episode)
  58. "Rajiin" (mediocre but necessary)
  59. "Impulse"
  60. "Exile" (I'm not a big fan of this one, but it's somewhat important)
  61. "The Shipment"
  62. "Twilight"
  63. "North Star" (not necessary but I really like this one)
  64. "Similitude" (I have mixed feelings about this one, to say the least)
  65. "Carpenter Street"
  66. "Chosen Realm" (I'm bored to tears by this ... but it's necessary enough)
  67. "Proving Ground"
  68. "Stratagem"
  69. "Harbinger"
  70. "Doctor's Orders"
  71. "Hatchery" (semi-necessary but you could skip it)
  72. "Azati Prime"
  73. "Damage"
  74. "The Forgotten"
  75. "E2"
  76. "The Council"
  77. "Countdown"
  78. "Zero Hour"
  79. Season 4:   STAR TREK: Enterprise —

  80. "Storm Front, Part I"
  81. "Storm Front, Part II"
  82. "Home"
  83. "Borderland"
  84. "Cold Station 12"
  85. "The Augments"
  86. "The Forge"
  87. "Awakening"
  88. "Kir'Shara"
  89. "Daedalus"
  90. "Observer Effect"
  91. "Babel One"
  92. "United"
  93. "The Aenar"
  94. "Affliction"
  95. "Divergence"
  96. "Bound" (almost a must-see)
  97. "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part I" (this is directly connected to "The Tholian Web" from The Original Series)
  98. "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" (same as above)
  99. "Demons"
  100. "Terra Prime"
  101. "These Are the Voyages" (highly hated and disappointing episode ... I didn't think it was THAT bad)

Star Trek (2009)

This is the eleventh Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 2009. This is the first "reboot" film in the Star Trek franchise. The story takes place around 2250 (though ... it's more complicated than that). It features the crew of The Original Series (but with different actors), namely James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Simon Pegg), Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Hikaru Sulu (John Cho), and Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin), and (a slightly different version of) the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). This takes place effectively in an "alternate universe" (and this is the case with the next two movies as well).

This movie was a financial and critical success. Some say it breathed new life into Star Trek, while many diehard fans criticized it, accusing it of dumbing-down the franchise. Personally, I tried to give it a fair shake, expecting it would be good considering all the craze about it. But in the end, I couldn't help but despise it. I tried though. I hope you have a better experience. The only reason to watch this for continuity's sake is to see its sequels. Proceed at your own discretion.

Star Trek: Into Darkness

This is the twelfth Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 2013. The story takes place in 2259. It is the second "reboot" film that features the crew of The Original Series (with the same new actors) and the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). It is definitely the sequel to the previous film Star Trek (2009). There is also a "return" of sort of a previously seen villain.

This is very much like the movie before it. Some say it's better ... some say it's worse. It was definitely another financial success. I found it slightly better than the previous, but considering I had rock-bottom expectations after my crippling experience with its predecessor, that doesn't say much. Again, the only reason to watch it for continuity's sake is to see it's sequel.

Star Trek: Beyond

This is the thirteenth Star Trek movie that's been made. It came out in 2016. The story takes place in 2263. It is the third "reboot" film that features the crew of The Original Series (with the same new actors) and the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). This is the last Star Trek movie that's been made.

This is more-or-less the same kind of stuff from the previous two movies. As the fans have generally said, the new films are very lacking in the brains department and focuses on action. I would concur with that. I found this to just be cheap thrills. Don't get me wrong ... I love action movies ... but not this one. In other words, I hated it. Fortunately, I already lost hope for this particular trajectory of Star Trek ... so it could've been worse. Again, I hope you have a better experience. Live long a prosper!

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