The Star Trek franchise has been a cornerstone of science fiction for decades, evolving through various eras that each bring their unique flavor to the universe. From the iconic The Original Series in the late '60s, through the cinematic adventures of the original crew, to the expansive Rick Berman era starting with Next Generation and culminating with Enterprise, the franchise has continuously reinvented itself. Now, we're in the modern era, which kicked off with Discovery in 2017 on what was then CBS All Access, now Paramount+. This era has seen an explosion of content, including the first straight-to-streaming TV movie, Star Trek: Section 31, originally conceived as a series. In just under eight years, the creative minds behind modern Trek have introduced five new shows, with two of them being animated, and a collection of shorts called Short Treks.

Given the diverse approaches—from serious sci-fi drama to comedy, animation, shorts, and feature-length projects—comparing these works can be challenging. It's important to consider that a series can have its highs and lows across different seasons. Our rankings take into account the entirety of a series' run, rather than focusing solely on its peak moments.

So, without further ado, let's dive in and explore the best and worst of the modern Star Trek series. Whether you're ready to "make it so," "engage," "fly," "blast off," or "punch it," join us as we navigate through the cosmos of contemporary Trek!

The Best Star Trek Series of the Modern Era (and the Worst)

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