star trek next gen season 6 episodes

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Guide - Season 6

In 1992, Star Trek: The Next Generation heading in to season 6 – while another show called Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was about to launch (so to speak) its initial episodes. This expansion of the ST universe resulted in a few changes for the flagship enterprise (sort of) for TNG.

Among these were definitely a more somber tone for the series in general, as well as more personal-type of storytelling, as opposed to the cosmic politics and ruling-class machinations of the Klingon civil war story arc.

Season six also plays as a bit of a “greatest hits” compilation at times. Returning to the Enterprise to take over an episode or two are Lt. Barclay, Q, Alexander Son of Worf, sentient hologram Moriarty and Klingon badass Gowron. Crossing over from Deep Space Nine is Dr. Bashir, and beaming in (literally) from the original Enterprise crew is Montgomery Scott.

1. Time's Arrow, Part II – The time-travel romp concludes in satisfying enough, though not particularly deep, fashion. The crew gets some funny bits as fish out of water in the 1890s and Lt. Commander Data saves the day while literally getting his head blown off. Minus points for Jerry Hardin’s Mark Twain, which descends into cartoonishness with a one-note, nearly shrill interpretation. ***

2. Realm of Fear – Lt. Reginald Barclay, the timidest dude ever to serve on a starship (how did this guy get through Starfleet Academy, anyway…?), is also afraid of transporters. While using one in routine fashion, he sees strange worm-like beings living in the transporter stream – or are they merely hallucinations…? ***

3. Man of the People – As a Lumerian ambassador and his posse are en route to a negotiation, said ambassador’s aged wife dies. He then gets with Troi, who begins acting wantonly and dangerously before beginning to age rapidly. **

4. Relics – Montgomery Scott of the Enterprise (repeat after me: No bloody A, B, C or D) is found within a repeating transporter signal near a crash site on a Dyson sphere. The Enterprise becomes trapped in the sphere, a ridiculous feat of engineering that houses an entire solar system in order to exploit all possible energy. Despite knowledge a century behind the times, Scotty finds his inner miracle worker once again … ***

5. Schisms – Wait a minute … an alien abduction story in a series set aboard a starship? Come on, now. *

6. True Q – Everyone’s favorite otherly-dimensional trickster is back on the Enterprise, this time revealing that a newly boarded intern is in actuality a member of the Q. And she’s hot for Wesley Crusher. This subplots may or may not be related. ***

7. Rascals – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Ensign Ro Laren, Keiko O’Brien and Guinan are magically turned into children via a transporter accident (no, really) – and then the ship is taken by Ferengi pirates. Episodes of this sort within any TV series depend on the humor value of the cute kiddoes; there just ain’t much here. *

8. A Fistful of Datas – Some neat use of the Holodeck in this episode, plus much chance for Brent Spiner to flex the ol’ thespiary muscles for our amusement. Lt. Commander Worf, his son Alexander and Counselor Troi spend some quality time playing out a Western on the holodeck when LaForge and Data’as experiments go awry, causing the holodeck to – get this – malfunction. ****

9. The Quality of Life – Mining tools called Exocomps have become sentient, thereby inspiring Data to lead a quasi-worker’s revolution against mining interests who would exploit them. **

10. Chain of Command, Part I – This midseason 2-parter starts intriguing enough, with Picard sent on an undercover mission in Cardassian territory, but it’s the completely different concluding episode that everyone remembers. ****

11. Chain of Command, Part II – Regarded as a class, despite the extremely dark storyline and dependence mostly on a conversation between torturer and tortured reminiscent of the final act of George Orwell’s 1984. But maybe that’s what does it: Patrick Stewart and David Warner, old Royal Shakespeare Company comrades, are incredible, and the dialogue they’re given is amazing. Even when Warner’s Cardassian is explaining his culturally-relative normal belief in racism to his daughter, the viewer cannot take his/her eyes off. *****

12. Ship in a Bottle – The sentient Moriarty character again takes over the holodeck and finds a way to manipulate the Enterprise itself. A couple of neat twists, including the capping scenes, keep things interesting. ***

13. Aquiel – One of the primary rules of The Next Generation is this: LaForge Does Not Get Any. Apparently by season six, ol’ Geordi still hasn’t learned this fundamental fact and herein gets interested in the title character, who seemingly offs a traveling companion shortly after getting aboard. She’s exonerated but, when given an offer to join the Enterprise crew by LaForge, she turns him down. **

14. Face of the Enemy – Counselor Troi is given an undercover assignment aboard a Romulan vessel, but stealing the show from the go by Commander Toreth, who gets some fantastic dialogue vis-à-vis Romulan culture and what it’s like to serve the Empire. Probably the best Troi-centric episode. ****

15. Tapestry – Nearly an entire episode primarily devoted to banter between Picard and Q? Yes, please! In this episode, Q offers to help Picard correct foolish mistakes he made in the past, once again finding that any gift from Q is a double-edged sword at very best. *****

16. Birthright, Part I – Crossover episode! Well, sort of. While docked at Deep Space Nine, Dr. Bashir assists LaForge and Data in investigating a mysterious bit of hardware and Data’s “dreams.” In a parallel plot line, one Jaglom Shrek provides Worf with the location of a Romulan base where his father is held captive. ***

17. Birthright, Part II – Definitely one for Klingon fans. In the prison camp, Worf finds two generations’ worth of Klingons, including a younger generation which knows nothing of Klingon culture, traditions, bloodlust, etc. Worf teaches a bit but more importantly leads a peaceful (!) revolt against their Romulan taskmasters. ***

18. Starship Mine – An episode that’s equal parts funny and suspenseful. While attempting to escape a diplomatic meeting, Picard unwittingly stumbles upon a plot to plunder the Enterprise. Whether it’s Data developing a “small talk subroutine” or Picard outwitting the bad guys while racing against time as a deadly baryon sweep sub-atomically cleans the Enterprise, this is good stuff. ****

19. Lessons – Schmaltz reported dead ahead red alert, shields up! Picard falls for an attractive Lt. Commander who almost becomes a Red Shirt, but survives a dangerous away mission long enough to bid Picard adieu and leave the ship. Pretty pointless. *

20. The Chase – In a case of unofficial canon becoming official canon, several prominent Alpha Quadrant races, including the humans lead by an archaeology enthusiast Picard, learn something about their ancestry thanks to a stunning find. ***

21. Frame of Mind – Commander Riker’s dark head trip: Kinda like “Future Imperfect” but more mysterious and creepy. Riker cannot tell whether he’s in a play about a mental patient, *is* a mental patient and/or has awoken some 20 years in the future. ****

22. Suspicions – Dr. Crusher hosts a test demonstration of a new shield technology by a Ferengi scientist. When the first test pilot, Jo'Bril, dies due to a test flight, Dr. Crusher plays detective in hopes of clearing her friend’s name of accusations of murder. A pretty decent detective story with a clever twist or two. ***

23. Rightful Heir – At a Klingon holy site, Worf meets with a warrior resembling and claiming to be the legendary Kahless. ***

24. Second Chances – Season 6 of The Next Generation may definitely be considered the greatest season’s worth of transporter-malfunction episodes – until Voyager, when the damn things never seemed to work. In this one, a malfunction results in a duplicate Riker aboard the Enterprise, which certainly gets Troi thinking along interesting lines … *

25. Timescape – An away mission finds itself in an area of space in which time moves at varied rates in different areas. With time frozen from their perspective as an away team, Picard, Data and LaForge note what appears to be a Romulan ship firing a lethal blow at the Enterprise. A wacky time paradox sorta episode, even by ST:TNG standards. ****

26. Descent, Part I – After Stephen Hawking smokes Data, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein in a hand of holodeck poker, an away team is accosted by a guerilla army of Borg; Data, apparently feeling anger, kills one. Another attack happens in which a Borg individual manipulates Data’s emotions again. Ultimately, an away team of Picard, LaForge and Troi, in a quest for Data on an uninhabited planet, is captured by the Borg and their leader, Lore. ****

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Season 6 (1992)

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Time's Arrow (2)

Stardate: 46001.3. The away team's investigations are hampered by a nosy Samuel Clemens. Picard discovers that he originally met Guinan in the 1890s on Earth.

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Realm of Fear

Stardate: 46041.1. Lt. Barclay's fear of using transporters is eerily justified when he sees bizarre aliens within the transporter beam.

Man of the People

Stardate: 46071.6. Deanna becomes attracted to an alien ambassador. Shortly thereafter, she starts ageing rapidly and starts becoming violent.

Stardate: 46125.3. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott is discovered suspended in a transporter beam 75 years after he disappeared. After the Enterprise crew re-materialise him, he has a hard time adjusting to the new society.

Stardate: 46154.2. Members of the crew are secretly abducted from the Enterprise to be used in bizarre experiments where they are dismembered and re-assembled without anyone's knowledge - including their own. The only signs that anything is wrong is a strange form of tiredness and no recollection of having slept well the night before.

Stardate: 46192.3. A young intern visiting the Enterprise captures the interest of Q when she starts displaying Q-like powers.

Stardate: 46235.7. A transporter accident transforms Picard, Ro Laren, Guinan and Keiko O'Brien into small children who appear to be about 12 years old. Matters are complicated when the Ferengi seize the Enterprise.

A Fistful of Datas

Stardate: 46271.5. Worf and his son, Alexander, become trapped in the holodeck when their Wild West program malfunctions. However, they must find a way to defeat the holographic bandits who have Data's appearance and abilities.

The Quality of Life

Stardate: 46315.2. Data discovers that the maintenance robots built by Dr. Farallon may have become sentient.

Chain of Command (1)

Stardate: 46357.4. Picard resigns as Captain of the Enterprise to lead a top-secret espionage mission into Cardassia with Worf and Dr. Crusher.

Chain of Command (2)

Stardate: 46360.8. Picard is captured and tortured by the Cardassians, while Riker tries to prevent a Federation attack on Cardassia.

Ship in a Bottle

Stardate: 46424.1. While performing holodeck maintenance, Barclay accesses the stored hologram of Professor Moriarty, who wreaks havoc on board the Enterprise.

Stardate: 46461.3. Geordie falls in love with a lieutenant who is the prime suspect in a murder case.

Face of the Enemy

Stardate: 46519.1. Troi is abducted and surgically altered by the Romulans as part of a ploy to smuggle intelligence operatives into the Federation.

Stardate: Unknown. A mortally wounded Picard is forced into re-living a time of his life when he was back in Starfleet Academy, with the intervention of Q.

Birthright (1)

Stardate: 46578.4. While visiting Deep Space Nine, Worf learns that his father is still alive and being held captive in a secret Romulan prison camp.

Birthright (2)

Stardate: 46759.2. Worf is captured by the Romulans where he learns why the other captives did not attempt an escape years before.

Starship Mine

Stardate: 46682.4. The crew evacuates the Enterprise when the ship needs to be cleaned of particles that have built up over the ship's hull. However, Picard accidentally stumbles over a terrorist group who plan on destroying the ship. He only has a short time to stop their attempts before the ship is swept by a beam of radiation to remove the particles that is lethal to all forms of life.

Stardate: 46693.1. Picard must choose between love and command when he must make a decision that could place the woman he loves in a potentially deadly and high-risk mission.

Stardate: 46731.5. Picard's old archaeology professor is found murdered, the crew try to complete his research. Soon, the crew must compete with Romulans and Klingons and Cardassians to uncover the truth behind his discoveries.

Frame of Mind

Stardate: 46778.1. Riker questions his sanity when his reality seems to shift between an alien psychiatric hospital and a play he is performing with other members of the crew.

Stardate: 46830.1. Dr. Crusher puts her career on the line when she tries to clear the name of a murdered scientist whose invention could allow starships to pass through a sun's corona.

Rightful Heir

Stardate: 46852.2. While on a quest to summon a vision of Kahless, Worf questions his faith when the real Kahless rises from the dead to lead the Empire.

Second Chances

Stardate: 46915.2. Riker discovers that eight years ago, an exact clone of him was created when he beamed through a planet's surface while returning to his starship. This clone, named Thomas Riker, has secretly remained on the planet for the past eight years, and still has romantic feelings for Troi.

Stardate: 46944.2. Picard, Geordi, Troi and Data return from a Federation conference to find the Enterprise frozen in time and under attack from a frozen Romulan Warbird.

Descent (1)

Stardate: 46982.1. The Borg return to threaten the Federation under the new leadership of Lore. Data experiences a disturbing facet of human emotions - he feels pleasure after killing a Borg drone.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6 (1992)

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26 Episodes

S6 e1 - time's arrow (2), s6 e2 - realm of fear, s6 e3 - man of the people, s6 e4 - relics, s6 e5 - schisms, s6 e6 - true q, s6 e7 - rascals, s6 e8 - a fistful of datas, s6 e9 - the quality of life, s6 e10 - chain of command (1), s6 e11 - chain of command (2), s6 e12 - ship in a bottle, s6 e13 - aquiel, s6 e14 - face of the enemy, s6 e15 - tapestry, s6 e16 - birthright (1), s6 e17 - birthright (2), s6 e18 - starship mine, s6 e19 - lessons, s6 e20 - the chase, streaming, rent, or buy star trek: the next generation – season 6:.

Currently you are able to watch "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6" streaming on Paramount Plus, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel or buy it as download on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store.

In season six, the crew is faced with a familiar face from the past who insists that machines cannot replace human experience. This causes conflict in Data who questions his affiliation with the Enterprise vs. joining a powerful enemy in order to feel his first emotion. Worf begins a quest to find his father as a means to finally accept his Klingon heritage and to restore honor upon his family. As the journey continues through the galaxy, Picard is kidnapped by a rebel alien command and Riker takes on the role of Captain to free Picard and restore the Enterprise. To Riker’s surprise, an old enemy returns and offers assistance with Picard’s rescue. All finishing with the Enterprise facing its most shocking surprise.

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The 10 Best Captain Picard Episodes in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' Ranked

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Star Trek: The Next Generation isn’t just one of the best installments in the Star Trek franchise, but one of the greatest drama shows of all time . While the original Star Trek series was sadly canceled after the end of its third season, Star Trek: The Next Generation was given the chance to keep pushing the story forward for over seven years.

Although there are many beloved characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned him into the greatest hero in the history of the Star Trek saga . Stewart crafted a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his dedication, principles, and willingness to hear both sides of any given dispute; he’s simply a character that everyone should aspire to be like. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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10 “The Measure of a Man”

Season 2, episode 9 (1989).

There are few relationships in the Star Trek franchise that are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data ( Brett Spiner ), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The Measure of a Man” featured Picard serving as Data’s defender in a legal case in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the merits of artificial intelligence is just as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired in 1989.

“Measure of a Man” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those that were mistreated , as Star Trek has always been an incredibly progressive franchise when compared to other science fiction properties. This episode solidified the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever placed in danger.

9 “The Best of Both Worlds”

Season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1 (1990).

“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most important episodes of any Star Trek series, as the first installment of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming at their televisions. The episode featured Picard being captured by the Borg, with his replacement Captain William T. Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) put in a position that could end his life.

“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first instance in which Picard felt completely vulnerable , as it was feasible that he could get killed off and replaced by Riker for the rest of the show. Although Picard ended up surviving the incident, his feud with the Borg as a result of his torture left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder that he continued to deal with for the rest of the series.

8 “Family”

Season 4, episode 2 (1990).

“Family” was a critical episode that helped to humanize Picard and showed what his family life looked like for the first time. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the first three seasons of the show, “Family” saw him returning to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”

“Family” was an important shift in tone for Star Trek: The Next Generation that helped follow up the action of “The Best of Both Worlds,” and did a great job at showing how Picard was dealing with his personal mental health in the series after such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips away all the duties of command from Picard and examines what it is like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.

7 “The Drumhead”

Season 4, episode 21 (1991).

Star Trek has always been a very political franchise that touches on hot-button issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a scary situation about the denial of truth that has proven to be just as relevant today in an era of political divisiveness and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of being a traitor, Picard is forced to prevent a representative of Starfleet from badgering everyone under his command and impeding their civil liberties.

“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller, and feels just as exciting as the courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s . While it is relatively light on action compared to some of the more intense episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future would look like under Gene Roddenberry ’s vision.

6 “Darmok”

Season 5, episode 2 (1991).

“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it sees Picard being trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using rudimentary language. The episode shows just how effective of a hero Picard can be, even if he seems to enjoy being in the company of a crew that supports him.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is well known for making interesting genre deviations, and “Darmok” feels like the closest that the series ever got to a Western adventure story . Although some viewers may have felt the same exact confusion and frustration that Picard did when the premise was first established, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about the ability that Picard has to inspire others in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

5 “Conundrum”

Season 5, episode 14 (1992).

“Conundrum” is one of the most imaginative episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories, leaving them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how the Enterprise crew could be built again from the ground up, as Picard is the first one to assess the parameters of the mystery and start developing a solution to keep everyone safe.

“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actor , as even though it is Picard’s moment to shine as a leader, every single member of the cast is given a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best that Star Trek: The Next Generation ever aired.

4 “Cause and Effect”

Season 5, episode 18 (1992).

Time travel is notoriously a concept that is very difficult to capture on screen in a compelling way, as it is very easy to get so confusing that viewers struggle to understand what the stakes are supposed to be. However, “Cause and Effect” presented a brilliant time travel storyline in which Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are trapped in a recurring loop that could doom them for eternity.

“Cause and Effect” was a great example of Star Trek: The Next Generation showing Picard’s abilities as a strategist . While many of the captains established in other shows and films in the Star Trek franchise earned their rank through military conquest, it's Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions while under pressure that make him such an all-time great character. “Cause and Effect” succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.

3 “The Inner Light”

Season 5, episode 25 (1992).

“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entire Star Trek franchise, and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s mind, as he begins to live out different fantasies about what an alternate life could look like when he is unconscious.

“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a character , showing how his unflinching willingness to perform his duty against mitigating circumstances put a severe detriment on his ability to start a family. There isn’t another episode more tear-jerking as “The Inner Light,” as Stewart reveals how Picard is dealing with the burdens of his sacrifices, and how it has been taken for granted by those who serve under him.

2 “Tapestry”

Season 6, episode 15 (1993).

“Tapestry” was an integral episode that revealed that Picard himself was flawed , as his encounter with Q ( John de Lancie ) allows him to travel back to moments from his past and reflect on the mistakes that he made as a young man. Essentially serving as a coming-of-age story about Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” showed that even someone that noble had elements of their past that they had buried deep within their minds.

The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the show’s most interesting, as the two have completely different outlooks on humanity and its potential. While Q uses the mistakes that humanity has made as evidence that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans are capable of being empathetic, compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s faith in others and general optimism about the future that makes him such an inspiring character.

1 “All Good Things…”

Season 7, episode 25 (1994).

There aren’t many shows that end on a perfect note, as many acclaimed programs like Game of Thrones , House of Cards , Killing Eve , and Battlestar Galactica had such underwhelming series finales that fans questioned why they were ever loyal to the shows in the first place. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation ended on a perfect note with “All Good Things…,” an episode that featured a profound moment where Picard was able to thank every member of the crew for their dedication to the Enterprise .

“All Good Things…” showed that Star Trek: The Next Generation was more interested in developing great characters than overwhelming the viewers with action, as it takes a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to wrap up the show.

NEXT: Every 'Star Trek' TV Show (So Far), Ranked

• Cast & crew
• User reviews
• Episode aired Feb 13, 1993

When Captain Picard's artificial heart fails, he is offered the rare opportunity to go back in time and set right the mistake that led to his demise. When Captain Picard's artificial heart fails, he is offered the rare opportunity to go back in time and set right the mistake that led to his demise. When Captain Picard's artificial heart fails, he is offered the rare opportunity to go back in time and set right the mistake that led to his demise.

• Gene Roddenberry
• Ronald D. Moore
• Brannon Braga
• Patrick Stewart
• Jonathan Frakes
• LeVar Burton
• 35 User reviews
• 8 Critic reviews

Top cast 30

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Worf

• Doctor Beverly Crusher

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Ensign Cortan 'Corey' Zweller

• Ensign Marta Batanides

• Nausicaan #1

• Penny Muroc
• (as Rae Norman)

• Maurice Picard
• Young Jean-Luc Picard

• Enterprise Computer

• Ensign Gates
• (uncredited)

• Ensign Armstrong
• Crewman Martinez
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia Portraying the afterlife caused some technical problems. With John de Lancie in a white robe on a white background, the production crew were concerned that Q would appear as a floating head. Both actors were aware of the difficulties in the shot, and even de Lancie felt it made his performance in some scenes more subdued than usual. The staff thought this was perfect for a more serious Q episode.
• Goofs As Picard chats with Q in the "afterlife", they pause their conversation and watch a visual recreation of the "young" Picard fighting with a bunch of Nausicaans. After the young Picard hits the first Nausicaan, he (the Nausicaan) falls backward and, as he hits the ground, his long black wig comes off. The Nausicaan then quickly rolls out of the camera shot, leaving the wig behind. (This all happens very quickly and is easier to see in slow motion.)

Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard : You having a good laugh now, Q? Does it amuse you to think of me living out the rest of my life as a dreary man in a tedious job?

[turbolift doors open, and Picard finds himself back in the otherwordly realm with Q]

Q : I gave you something most mortals never experience: a second chance at life. And now all you can do is complain?

Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard : I can't live out my days as that person. That man is bereft of passion... and imagination! That is not who I am!

Q : Au contraire. He's the person you wanted to be, one who was less arrogant and undisciplined in his youth, one who was less like me. The Jean-Luc Picard you wanted to be, the one who did *not* fight the Nausicaan, had quite a different career from the one you remember. That Picard never had a brush with death, never came face to face with his own mortality, never realized how fragile life is or how important each moment must be. So his life never came into focus. He drifted through much of his career, with no plan or agenda, going from one assignment to the next, never seizing the opportunities that presented themselves. He never led the away team on Milika III to save the ambassador, or took charge of the Stargazer's bridge when its captain was killed. And no one ever offered him a command. He learned to play it safe. And he never, ever, got noticed by anyone.

[turns to walk away]

Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard : You're right, Q. You gave me the chance to change, and I took the opportunity. But I admit now, it was a mistake.

[Q stops walking, looks back over his shoulder]

Q : Are you asking me for something, Jean-Luc?

Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard : Give me a chance to put things back the way they were before.

Q : Before, you died in sickbay. Is that what you want?

Lt. J.G. Jean-Luc Picard : I would rather die as the man I was... than live the life I just saw.

• Connections Featured in Star Trek: Nemesis Review (2009)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 35

• Aug 2, 2017
• February 13, 1993 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 45 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Star Trek: Picard's Borg Queen Is Still Confusing Over 1 Year After Season 3

Star Trek: Picard season 3 eventually revealed the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) to be the main orchestrator behind the Frontier Day attack, but some fans remain confused about her involvement with the Changeling Vadic (Amanda Plummer). Picard season 3 reunited Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) with his Star Trek: The Next Generation crew aboard the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D for one final galaxy-saving adventure. After receiving a distress call from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Picard recruited his friend and former First Officer, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), for an impromptu rescue mission.

Picard and Riker then commandeered the USS Titan-A — much to the annoyance of the Titan's current captain, Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick). After rescuing Dr. Crusher and her son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), the Titan had a run-in with Vadic and her warship, the Shrike. Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 4, "No Win Scenario," revealed Vadic to be a Changeling, as she received orders from a mysterious entity initially billed as The Face. As the rest of the season unfolds, The Face is revealed to have been the Borg Queen all along, as she had allied with the Changelings to take down the Federation.

Why Star Trek: Picard Fans Are Still Confused About Vadic & The Borg Queen

The face vadic spoke to was always the borg queen.

As the Titan sinks further into the gravity well in "No Win Scenario," Vadic temporarily breaks off her pursuit. She contacts her "boss," the Borg Queen, who appears as a grotesque face made from some of Vadic's Changeling goo. The Borg Queen orders Vadic to pursue the Titan into the gravity well, despite Vadic's insistence that the mission would be suicide. The Borg Queen replies that "it is suicide to refuse," claiming that Vadic, as well as her ship and everyone on it, are expendable. The Borg Queen's only concern is "the asset" (aka Jack Crusher).

Every Borg Queen In Star Trek

The Borg Queen stands apart from the rest of the Collective, and there have been many incarnations since her Star Trek: First Contact introduction.

After revealing the Borg/Changeling alliance, Star Trek: Picard never explicitly states that the Borg Queen was The Face communicating with Vadic. While elements of the Changeling infiltration of Starfleet are sprinkled throughout Picard season 3, the revelation that the Borg are involved does not come until the penultimate episode, "Vox." As Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) helps Jack dissect the visions he has been having, they discover that the Borg (specifically the Borg Queen) have been reaching out to him. From that point on, the story moves quickly, with one revelation after another, making it easy to miss some of the details.

The Borg Queens Alliance With Changelings In Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Explained

The borg queen & the changelings were out for revenge against the federation.

After being nearly destroyed by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) in Star Trek: Voyager's finale, the Borg Queen retreated to lick her wounds. To survive, the Queen cannibalized parts from the remaining Borg drones, eventually finding herself alone. The Borg Queen then heard the voice of Jack Crusher and began developing a plan to create a new evolution of Borg drones . She allied herself with a group of rogue Changelings, led by Vadic. The Borg and Changelings then stole Picard's original organic body from Daystrom Station and used the Borg DNA in his brain to infect young Starfleet officers via the transporters.

During the Dominion War, Vadic had been taken prisoner and experimented on by the Federation, making her mission for revenge personal.

When Jack sought out the Borg Queen intending to kill her, he was assimilated. The Queen then used him like a transmitter to broadcast the signal that triggered assimilation in every Starfleet officer under the age of 25. Picard managed to reach his son, Jack, convincing him to reject the Borg, while the Enterprise-D attacked the Borg cube. With the Borg mostly destroyed and the remaining Changeling infiltrators uncovered, Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended on a high note, as Jack Crusher joined the crew of the USS Enterprise-G for more galactic adventures.

Star Trek: Picard

Cast Orla Brady, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Jeri Ryan, Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Evan Evagora, Marina Sirtis, Amanda Plummer, Whoopi Goldberg, Gates McFadden, Todd Stashwick, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, John de Lancie, Ed Speleers

Release Date January 23, 2020

Showrunner Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Michael Chabon

Every Star Trek Actor Who Guest Starred On Columbo

For some of us, there are few things in this world more comforting than classic television. Back before "prestige TV" was really a thing and getting people to tune in was sometimes just a matter of hiring the biggest guest stars possible, things were a little different. (Sure, one could argue that "Columbo" was the precursor to prestige TV , but it's also pretty darn traditional in its format.) There's just something about turning on the TV and settling in for a an episode of "Star Trek: The Original Series" or "Columbo" and knowing that matters will be resolved by the end of the show's runtime and that Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk) and Captain Kirk (William Shatner) always get the bad guy. Both are also pretty progressive;  Columbo (an idealized lawman) routinely takes down the rich and powerful of Los Angeles, while "Star Trek" has always been socially conscious, aiming for a utopian society.

Columbo ran for a long time and then extended its life through a series of TV movies, meaning it filmed throughout the 1970s, '80s, and early '90s. It's really no surprise, then, that a whole mess of "Star Trek" actors ended up on "Columbo" and vice-versa, ranging from the Captains to the lowliest redshirts. In total, we found a whole lot of actors who had a confirmed role on both a "Star Trek" series and "Columbo," and we've collected them all here for your perusal. We'll start with the most famous "Star Trek" star to end up on Columbo — Shatner himself.

William Shatner starred not just once — but twice!

William Shatner, who played Captain James Tiberius Kirk in "Star Trek: The Original Series," appears in two different "Columbo" episodes, and he plays two distinctly different killers. In an interview with The Columbophile , Shatner looked back fondly on his time on the series, saying that he "felt honored to be asked to be on" the show. He also said, correctly, that the reason the show had succeeded for so long was because of star Peter Falk, who played the titular detective. Shatner described Falk as "a terrifically nice guy and a joy to work with," which may have something to do with why Shatner ended up pulling bad guy double-duty.

Shatner first appeared in the 1976 episode "Fade In to Murder," in which Shatner played an actor who was a television detective on a famous show. He killed a woman who was blackmailing him and then used his knowledge of murder from the show to try and outfox Columbo, who nevertheless caught the charismatic criminal. It's kind of a silly episode, but it's clear that both Shatner and Falk are having a blast with the meta aspect of everything and their back-and-forth alone is pure joy.

The second time Shatner appeared was in the 1994 Columbo TV movie "Butterfly in Shades of Grey," where he had a pencil-thin, prosthetic, John Waters-esque mustache as he portrayed a slimy radio host who kills one of his employees. "Butterfly" is significantly more serious than "Fade In," but the mustach is really, really distracting. It's distracting enough that even Shatner called it out in his interview with The Columbophile, saying: "Go back and look at the episode and tell me you're not distracted by that thing!" Oh well, at least we'll always have "Fade In to Murder."

Leonard Nimoy played a felonious physician

Kirk wasn't the only "TOS" star getting in on the "Columbo" action. In fact, Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock on "Star Trek," starred as a killer a few seasons earlier than Shatner, in the season 2 episode "A Stitch in Crime." In the episode, Nimoy played Dr. Barry Mayfield, an elite surgeon working on a new heart drug with an older colleague, Dr. Heiderman (Will Geer). Mayfield comes up with a scheme to kill Heiderman using faulty stitches in his heart surgery, but a nurse figures it out and Mayfield has to kill her, too. It's not the best "Columbo" episode by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a lot of fun watching Nimoy play such a devious scumbag. 

Walter Koenig portrayed a fed-up sergeant

Another "Original Series" alum to make an appearance was Walter Koenig, who played navigator and pilot Chekov. He appeared in Shatner's first episode, "Fade In to Murder," albeit in a smaller role than his captain. Instead of playing a villain, Koenig played a police sergeant who was getting fed up with the case and Columbo, who never really seemed to get along all that great with his more by-the-book fellow officers. He only gets one scene, but it's a lot of fun.

Ricardo Montalban starred as a murderous matador

Khan Noonien Singh is, arguably, the most influential villain in the entire "Star Trek" franchise, played to perfection by actor Ricardo Montalban. Montalban is one of the only people on the planet that can act as "big" as Shatner, so the two of them bouncing off of one another is pure joy. However, the energy is a bit different on the 1976 episode of "Columbo" called "A Matter of Honor," which sees Montalban as a legendary bullfighter suspected of murder in Mexico. Montalban's intensity works surprisingly well opposite Falk's much more mellow performance, but there are some pretty rough stereotypes in the episode that make it a little tough to watch.

Arlene Martell played a ditzy dame and a jewelry store saleswoman

While she was only in one episode of "Star Trek: The Original Series," "The Glass Cage," Arlene Martel got a real hold on fans of the franchise as the original T'Pring, the betrothed of Spock . She appeared at least twice on "Columbo" (some stars would do uncredited background roles and she is among those believed to show up despite not being credited), first in the 1972 episode "The Greenhouse Jungle," and then again in the 1973 episode "A Friend in Deed." She's a lot of fun in "Greenhouse Jungle," where she plays the ditzy friend of a murdered man. Unfortunately, she has less to work with in "A Friend in Deed," where she plays a salesperson at a jewelry store who helps Columbo solve a mystery with information about watch bands.

Laurence Luckinbill portrayed a sleazy TV exec

Another "Star Trek" movie vet, Laurence Luckinbill from "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," made his "Columbo" appearance in the 1978 episode "Make Me a Perfect Murder," although he didn't get to play a big-time baddie like Montalban. Instead, he played the episode's murder victim, a high-ranking TV producer named Mark McAndrews who gets a new gig across the country but fails to name his replacement, Kay Freestone (Trish Van Devere), because they're sleeping together. Instead of the job she rightfully earned, he gives her a new Mercedes, which ends with Kay shooting him dead and Columbo ending up on the case.

Luckinbill doesn't get as much screen time as Montalban or some of the other big Columbo villains (which makes sense;  the killers were the special guests of each episode), but he still gets a chance to show off his skills in playing a real jerk.

Penny Johnson Jerald played a crime show producer

The "Star Trek" crossovers aren't limited to actors from "The Original Series" and movies featuring the "Original Series" cast. In fact, Penny Johnson Jerald, who portrayed Captain Sisko's love interest and freighter captain Kasidy Yates on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," appears in one of the later "Columbo" TV movies, "Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health." In the episode, she portrays Maxine Jarrett, the producer of a show called "Crime Alert." It's a small role but she's one of the best parts of the episode, in which the host of "Crime Alert" murders a man blackmailing him because of his seedy past in the adult film industry. The episode stinks outside of the always magnificent Falk and an appearance by Columbo's dog, Dog, but Jerald is great (as always). 

Fionnula Flanagan starred as a fatally fed-up ex-wife

Actor Fionnula Flanagan didn't play a major recurring character on "Star Trek," but she did appear in three different "Trek" shows. She appeared as human geologist Juliana Tainer in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Inheritance," a Klaestron who had an affair with Curzon Dax in the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" episode "Dax," and Vulcan diplomat V'lar in the "Star Trek: Enterprise" episode "Fallen Hero." 

She also starred in the 1989 Columbo episode "Murder, A Self Portrait," playing the ex-wife of a polyamorous artist (Patrick Bauchau) who finally grows tired of his machinations and unfortunately ends up as the episode's murder victim. The barbs she and Bauchau share back and forth are quite fun, though it's a shame that her screen time is cut short. 

Jon Lormer portrayed a hostile hearing officer

Another actor who showed up repeatedly on "Star Trek" without playing the same character was Jon Lormer, who appeared in the "Original Series" episodes "The Cage," "The Menagerie, Part 1," "The Return of the Archons," and "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky." He also appeared in the season 1 "Columbo" episode "Lady in Waiting" as a hearing officer who finds the entire hearing rather distasteful. (The episode follows an heiress who murders her brother when he won't let her get married ... it's kind of a doozy!)

Kate Mulgrew played Mrs. Columbo ...sorta

Before you make  me a murder victim, "Columbo" purists, know that I am not comparing the short-lived spin-off series "Mrs. Columbo" to the greatness of the original show or counting it as a part of the "Columbo" canon. I would be remiss, however, to ignore the fact that Kate Mulgrew, who played Captain Janeway on "Star Trek: Voyager," also starred as the titular character in the ill-fated "Mrs. Columbo" series. The show followed the young Mrs. Columbo, who was an investigative reporter solving crimes in a way rather differently than her detective husband. In an interview with /Film , Mulgrew revealed that she wished the show had gone on longer and that she really appreciated the character, because "she had a sort of her own curious eccentricity, her own odd approach, which I thought was quite novel."

The show only ran for 13 episodes and would disappear in the shadow of its predecessor, but Mulgrew herself was a delight as the smart, curious journalist.

And that's not all...

There is a ridiculous amount of "Star Trek" and "Columbo" crossover, so here is a detailed list (but not necessarily an exhaustive one — remember those uncredited roles!):

• Julie Newmar starred in the "TOS" episode "Friday's Child" and the "Columbo" episode "Double Shock."
• William Windom starred in the "TOS" episode "The Doomsday Machine" and the "Columbo" episode "Short Fuse." 
• Joanne Lineville starred in the "TOS" episode "The Enterprise Incident" and the "Columbo" episode "Candidate for Crime." 
• Antoinette Bower starred in the "TOS" episode "The Catspaw" and the "Columbo" episode "Negative Reaction." 
• Sandra Smith Janice starred in the "TOS" episode "Turnabout Intruder" and the "Columbo" episode "The Greenhouse Jungle." 
• John Fielder starred in the "TOS" episode "Wolf in the Fold" and the "Columbo" episode "Blueprint for Murder."
• James Gregory starred in the "TOS" episode "Dagger of the Mind" and the "Columbo" episode "Short Fuse." 
• Vic Tayback starred in the "TOS" episode "A Piece of the Action" and the "Columbo" episode "Suitable for Framing." 
• Susan Howard starred in the "TOS" episode "Day of the Dove" and the "Columbo" episode "The Most Crucial Game." 
• Brioni Farrell (sometimes known as Xenia Gratsos) starred as Tula in the "TOS" episode "Revenge of the Archons" and in the "Columbo" episode "A Case of Immunity." 
• Robert Brown starred in the "TOS" episode "The Alternative Factor" and in the "Columbo" episode "Playback." 
• Don Keefer starred in the "TOS" episode "Assignment: Earth" and in the "Columbo" episode "Death Lends a Hand."
• Garry Walberg starred in the "TOS" episode "Balance of Terror" and in the "Columbo" episode "Lady in Waiting."
• Arthur Batarides starred in the "TOS" episode "That Which Survives" and in the "Columbo" episode "Mind Over Mayhem."
• Jason Wingreen starred in the "TOS" episode "The Empath" and in the "Columbo" episode "Short Fuse." 
• Bill Zuckert starred in the "TOS" episode "Spectre of the Gun" and in the "Columbo" episodes "Negative Reaction," "A Case of Immunity," and "Columbo: Murder in Malibu." 
• Byron Morrow starred in the "TOS" episodes "Amok Time" and "For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky" and in the "Columbo" episode "A Friend in Deed." 
• Davis Roberts starred in the "TOS" episode "The Empath" and in the "Columbo" episode "Publish or Perish."
• Steven Marlo starred in the "TOS" episode "A Piece of the Action" and in the "Columbo" episode "Playback." 
• Barbara Baldarin starred in the "TOS" episodes "Shore Leave," "Balance of Terror," and "Turnabout Intruder!" and in the "Columbo" episode "Death Lends a Hand."
• Samantha Eggar starred in the "TNG" episode "Family" and in the "Columbo" episode "The Bye Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case."
• Tricia O'Neil starred in the "TNG" episodes "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Suspicions," the "DS9" episode "Defiant," and in the "Columbo" episode "How to Dial a Murder." 
• Tim O'Connor starred in the "TNG" episode "The Perfect Mate" and in the "Columbo" episodes "Double Shock" and "Old Fashioned Murder." 
• Nehemiah Persoff starred in the "TNG" episode "The Most Toys" and in the "Columbo" episode "Now You See Him." 
• Clive Revill starred in the "TNG" episode "Qpid" and in the "Columbo" episode "The Conspirators." 
• Theodore Bikel starred in the "TNG" episode "Family" and in the "Columbo" episode "The Bye Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder."
• Lou Wagner starred in the "TNG" episode "The Chain of Command Part 1" and in the "Columbo" episode "Mind over Mayhem." 
• Robert Ellenstein starred in the "TNG" episode "Haven" and in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and in the "Columbo" episode "Any Old Port in a Storm." 
• Marshall R. Teague starred in the "DS9" episode "Hippocratic Oath" and in the "Columbo" episode "Uneasy Lies the Crown." 
• Kenneth Mars starred in the "DS9" episode "Shadowplay" and in the "Columbo" episode "The Bye Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder." 
• Susan Gibney starred in the "TNG" episode "Booby Trap" and in the "Columbo" episode "Sex and the Married Detective."
• Gregory Sierra starred in the "DS9" episode "Second Skin" and in the "Columbo" episode "Publish or Perish."
• John Davis Chandler starred in the "DS9" episode "Honor Among Thieves" and in the "Columbo" episode "Publish or Perish."
• Kenneth Tobey starred in the "DS9" episode "Shadowplay" and in the "Columbo" episode "A Case of Immunity." 
• Richard Kiley starred in the "DS9" episode "Second Sight" and in the "Columbo" episode "A Friend in Deed." 
• Ed Begley Jr. starred in the "Voyager" episodes "Future's End" and "Future's End: Part II" and in the "Columbo" episode "How to Dial a Murder." 
• Michael Horton starred in the "Voyager" episode "Retrospect," in "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek: Insurrection," and in the "Columbo" episode "The Conspirators."

The only uncredited but reported connection worth mentioning is that Majel Barrett, who was "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's wife and starred in "TOS," "TNG," "DS9," and even "The Animated Series," was allegedly the voice of the hospital announcer in "A Stitch in Crime," the episode with Nimoy. There are other crossovers as well, like Booker Bradshaw, who played Dr. M'Benga on "TOS," writing the "Columbo" episode "Playback"! Is there any end to the connections between "Star Trek" and "Columbo?" That's a mystery only our favorite shuffling detective could solve.

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Set Phasers to Stream: Here’s Every ‘Star Trek’ Show and Movie You Can Watch on Paramount+

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

From low-budget romps to high-energy blockbuster films,  Star Trek  has become one of the most influential sci-fi franchises of all time. While  Trek  has decades worth of TV, film, and animated iterations that might rival  Star Wars , it also has its own unique legacy and long-time, passionate cult following (and merch ).

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In the past few years, the Trek television universe has become one of the highlights of original programming on Paramount+ . Helmed by Alex Kurtzman, series like  Star Trek: Lower Decks  and  Picard  have pushed the boundaries of what can be done with the universe’s canon in their first seasons so far.

This year for Star Trek Day, with the premiere episodes of several Trek series and “Short Treks” will be available to view for free from Sept. 7-13. The episodes can be watched from Paramount+’s partner platforms Amazon, Apple and Roku, their official YouTube page, Pluto TV and the Paramount+ free content hub (U.S. only).

From the new releases like the second season of Strange New Worlds , to the old adventures of the Enterprise ,  Deep Space 9 ,  Voyager , and more, here’s how to watch Star Trek in order online.

How Can I Watch Paramount+ Free Online?

When you sign up for a Paramount+ subscription , you can actually choose between two plans to watch Paramount+ online. Pricing for Paramount+ plans include Essential (with limited commercials) for $7.99/month, or ad-free with Showtime for $12.99/month. But if you’re still not sure about committing to a full subscription, you can always stream Paramount+ for free with a 7-day free trial .

For a limited time, the streamer is also slashing the price on its annual plan by 50%, bringing the cost down to just $29.99 a year . Normally $59.99, the new Paramount+ deal gets you access to its full library of content  for just $2.50 a month . Check out the latest Paramount+ deals here .

Paramount+ Free Trial

Paramount+ is the home for ViacomCBS’s massive existing library of content, as well as continuing to host critically-acclaimed original Trek series like  Star Trek: Picard ,  Star Trek: Discovery and the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31. New exclusive shows and movies are sure to appear on the service over the next few months, all of which you can stream on your TV, laptop, phone, or gaming console.

What  Star Trek TV Shows Are Available on Paramount+?

Premiering on September 8, 1966 on NBC-TV,  Star Trek  brought in a new era of programming for the science fiction genre. Though it wasn’t a critical success at the time it aired, with all 79 episodes of the original series running in syndication, a devoted fan base grew. Decades later, there are eight TV series with hundreds of episodes, all currently streaming now on Paramount+ .

Here’s an updated list of all the  Star Trek shows on Paramount+. Note that this isn’t the official timeline for when these shows take place in canon — Enterprise  is actually the “earliest” Trek series—but we’ll cover that below.

Star Trek: The Original Series  (1966-1969)

Star Trek: The Animated Series  (1973-1974)

Star Trek: The Next Generation  (1987-1994)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine  (1993-1999)

Star Trek: Voyager  (1995-2001)

Star Trek: Enterprise  (2001-2005)

Star Trek: Discovery  (2017-Present)

Star Trek:  Short Treks  (2018-Present)

Star Trek: Picard  (2020-Present)

Star Trek: Lower Decks  (2020-Present)

Star Trek: Prodigy  (2021-Present)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-Present)

Star Trek: Section 31  (TBA)

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy  (TBA)

What  Star Trek Movies Are Streaming on Paramount+?

Paramount+ is the home to all the films featuring the cast of the Original Series, while many other Trek films are also hosted on other streaming services. Here are the  Star Trek movies streaming on Paramount+ right now.

Star Trek: 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)

Star Trek: Generations (1994)

Star Trek: First Contact  (1996)

Star Trek: Insurrection  (1998)

Star Trek: Nemesis  (2002)

Star Trek  (2009)

Star Trek Into Darkness  (2013)

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Building Star Trek  (2016)  —  Documentary

Woman In Motion  (2021) — Documentary

Trekkies 2  (2004) — Documentary

For Star Trek Day, here’s the complete lineup of free episodes available from Sept. 7-13:

Star Trek: The Original Series: “The Cage”

Star Trek: The Next Generation: “Encounter at Farpoint, Part I & II”

Star Trek: Voyager: “Caretaker, Part I & II”

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: “The Emissary, Part I & II”

Star Trek: Enterprise: “Broken Bow Part I & II”

Star Trek: The Animated Series: “Beyond the Farthest Star”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Strange New Worlds”

Star Trek: Lower Decks: “Second Contact”

Star Trek: Discovery: “The Vulcan Hello”

Star Trek: Picard: “Remembrance”

Star Trek: Short Treks: “The Girl Who Made the Stars,” “The Trouble with Edward,” “Ask Not,” “Runaway,” and “Ephraim and Dot”

How to Watch Every Star Trek Movie and Show In Timeline Order

Figuring out chronological timeline of  Star Trek  over can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned of Trekkies. With over 50 years of mirrorverses, time traveling back and forth, alternate timelines and spin-offs, we’ve created a guide for how to watch every  Star Trek  series and film in order. We’ve organized it by Stardate instead of year of release for optimal accuracy, but note that some series like  TNG  and  DS9  run concurrently.

Star Trek: Enterprise  (2151-2161)

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1 and 2  (2255-)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2255-)

Star Trek: The Original Series  (2265-2269)

Star Trek: The Animated Series  (2269-2270)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture  (2273)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan  (2285)

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock  (2285)

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home  (2286/1986)

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ( 2287)

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country  (2293)

Star Trek: The Next Generation  (2364-2370)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine  (2369-2375)

Star Trek Generations  (2371)

Star Trek: Voyager  (2371-2378)

Star Trek: First Contact  (2373/2063)

Star Trek: Insurrection  (2375)

Star Trek: Nemesis  (2379)

Star Trek: Lower Decks  (2380)

Star Trek: Picard  (2399-)

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3  (3155?)

Star Trek: Short Treks  (2239-3300 Prime Timeline)

The “Kelvin Timeline” refers to the newest Trek movies directed by  J.J. Abrams  and Justin Lin. The timeline of these films exist in a parallel universe created in 2233, so we’ve included them separately.

Star Trek  (2258 Kelvin Timeline)

Star Trek Into Darkness  (2259 Kelvin Timeline)

Star Trek Beyond  (2263 Kelvin Timeline)

Every Star Trek Series Coming To Paramount+ This Year (And Beyond)

We rounded up Paramount+’s whole new slate of Trek seasons and shows beaming up soon to the platform. Set your phasers to stream—here’s all the new Star Tre k content coming your way.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 (2024)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 (2024)

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 (2024)

Star Trek: Lower Decks  Season 5 (October 2024)

Star Trek: Section 31  (TBA)

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This 36-Year-Old Sci-Fi Sitcom Is Perfect for Star Trek Fans

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When it comes to profound comedy, very few sitcoms can match up with the success of Red Dwarf . After becoming one of the best sitcoms in the late 1980s, the show has gone on to release multiple movies, books, and a spectacular reboot. Admittedly, the show is not to everybody's taste and tends to mix high-end sci-fi terms with a good dosing of toilet humor. Yet, it's hard to ignore the show's cult following.

Though Red Dwarf has collected a wealth of success in its own right, many fans were initially drawn to the show because it reminded them so much of Star Trek . The sitcom may not have the same American charm as the long-running sci-fi show, but it still explores what life is like in space. So, what's Red Dwarf about, and why is it so enticing to Star Trek fans?

Red Dwarf Feels Like the Ultimate Buddy Comedy

• When filming the first season, the producers were forced to go into the local pubs and convince the patrons to fill the seats in the live studio audience.
• Alan Rickman was considered for the role of Rimmer before Chris Barrie secured the part.
• Despite being born in Northampton, England, Robert Llewellyn decided to use a Canadian accent for Kryten.
• A lot of the cast didn't have a lot of acting experience, so many of the characters are based on their actual personalities.
• Season 1 was filmed in 1986 but wasn't aired until 1988.

24 Years Ago, This Dark British Sitcom Completely Deconstructed the Genre

Black Books was a breakout piece for a number of British comedy stars, allowing the show to completely overwrite the typical nature of sitcoms.

First airing in February 1988, Red Dwarf follows Dave Lister, a mechanic who is stuck on the Red Dwarf after a radiation leak wipes out the rest of his teammates. Thus, he's forced to spend the rest of his days floating around space with his new crew, Rimmer, Cat, Holly, and Kryten. Not only must Lister confront that the world as he knew it is completely gone, but he must also realize that mutant diseases, aliens, and time distortions are all part of his new reality.

Many sitcoms are centered around friendships, as they are regarded as a very central and formative part of life. But Red Dwarf takes this common theme and gives it a striking sci-fi overlay. For example, in Season 2, Episode 1, "Kryten," the crew receives an SOS call from a nearby American ship. From here, they take Kryten, an ever-awkward and aloof mechanoid, under their wing. Immediately, Lister shows a great interest in this odd character and is determined to break his polite exterior and tempt him to do something naughty. Thus, even as a brand-new addition to the ship, he fits in perfectly and quickly becomes one of the lads. This is a great example of how Red Dwarf imitates everyday bonds in an unusual setting, making sure it's careful to make the show relatable to mass audiences.

Another great example of how friendship is used in Red Dwarf is showcased in Season 3, Episode 4, "Bodyswap." Here, Rimmer swaps bodies with Lister and refuses to give it up, creating a lot of hilarious disputes between the two men. The conflict between Rimmer and Lister is an integral part of the show's lore and highlights that even in complete isolation, friends will always find something to squabble about. On the surface, Red Dwarf seems very bizarre, but it holds on to a lot of the same values as Star Trek . Both shows display the theme of loyalty, and even in times of complete turmoil, the crew on the Enterprise are forced to stick together because they're more useful as a team than as individuals. So, it could be argued that Red Dwarf follows a similar motif but decided to turn it up a notch purely for comedic effect.

The Show Also Knows How to Keep Things Fresh

• In the title sequence for the first two seasons, Craig Charles is the same man who is painting the letters in the space suit.
• According to Sophie Aldred, the budget for one episode of Red Dwarf was the same for a whole season of Doctor Who back in 1988.
• In the failed US version of the show, Jane Leeves from Frasier was set to play Holly.
• Craig Charles and Danny John-Jules are the two characters to appear in every single episode.
• Lister announced that he was left in a box as a baby in The Aigburth Arms, which is a real pub that the writers used to visit while at university.

This 15-Year-Old Sitcom Took One of Its Biggest Risks in Its Third-Ever Episode

Community is known for its inventive and bizarre stories, but it took one of its biggest risk in a more mundane but emotional early episode.

Although Red Dwarf doesn't have the same extensive history as Star Trek , there's a lot of evidence to suggest that the sitcom knows how to keep things new and exciting so that audiences do not get bored. In Season 7, Episode 3, "Ouroboros," the crew finally found a new home. After many years on the Red Dwarf, the crew gets stranded on a new ship called Starbug. The latter is just as depressing and places the men in a deeper state of poverty and isolation than before. Although many fans saw this change as a bit confusing, it is a prime example of how the sitcom mirrors the conventions of Star Trek . Just as the Federation has a ton of starships, each with its own purpose and design, it seems that the Red Dwarf isn't the only hunk of junk floating around the galaxy. Although it would be incorrect to suggest that Red Dwarf is a direct parody of Star Trek , it's fair to say that the '80s sitcom took a lot of inspiration from vintage sci-fi shows and was determined to make a pastiche of them.

After losing comedy legend Chris Barrie halfway through Season 7 due to work commitments, the writers had to think fast about how to replace the show's main character. As such, the show welcomed Kristine Kochanski in Season 7, Episode 5, "Blue." Many fans like Kochanski's presence, especially how she slowly became a key love interest for Lister. But, over time, many fans got tired of the same old sexist gags and believed that the sitcom didn't really feel the same anymore. On the show, the crew initially pushed Kochanski out of the group, believing that she was just a female version of the overbearing Rimmer. Therefore, it could be said that Kochanski mirrors the lack of female representation in shows like Star Trek . Moreover, Kochanski's personality is quite persnickety and could be seen as a replica of the women found on Angel One in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Again, this suggests that Red Dwarf was always looking toward Star Trek for its next nugget of inspiration.

Red Dwarf Was a Fan Favorite for Over 30 Years

Top 5 most popular episodes of red dwarf.

• Season 3, Episode 2, "Marooned"
• Season 10, Episode 1, "Trojan"
• Season 6, Episode 2, "Legion"
• Season 2, Episode 5, "Queeg"
• Season 2, Episode 6, "Parallel Universe"

10 Modern Sitcom Characters Who Have Gotten Better With Age

Sitcoms have had many beloved characters over the years, but only a handful of modern icons have aged like fine wine.

Star Trek will always be one of the world's most prominent sci-fi franchises and will be subject to parodying and mimicking for years to come. Although shows like The Orville and The Muppet Show have pleased fans with their blatant comparisons, Red Dwarf isn't afraid to do its own thing. Complete with its own slang terms, music videos, and spin-off content, Red Dwarf may be a parody of its hit sci-fi counterpart, but it still manages to create an avid fandom of its own. Although the original series concluded in 1999, Dave, a British broadcaster, aired three exclusive episodes to celebrate the show's 21st birthday. From there, the broadcaster helped to reboot the show, which ran for a further three seasons. Red Dwarf also released two feature-length films, in 2009 and 2020, respectively , allowing fans to appreciate more of what this odd-ball crew has to offer.

Even some of Star Trek's biggest names struggle to ignore the similarities between Red Dwarf and the iconic sci-fi franchise. Allegedly, Patrick Stewart stumbled across an episode of Red Dwarf while staying in a hotel room and was convinced that another network had simply ripped off an episode of Star Trek . Just as he was about to notify his legal team, he realized that it was a satirical representation of the original show. Although the show struggled to break into America and was tarnished by its failed US pilot, Red Dwarf still holds up all these years later. It's quick-witted humor and unusual character arcs make it a perfect binge-watch for those who enjoy a touch of British comedy to their sci-fi shows.

The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.

What Happened To Denise Crosby After Star Trek: The Next Generation

Of all of the tough women to wear a Starfleet badge, few in the "Star Trek" franchise got a worse deal than "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Chief of Security Lieutenant Tasha Yar, played by Denise Crosby. After a little less than one season of frustration over her poorly-handled character, Crosby left "The Next Generation." "I was just stage dressing," she would later tell StarTrek.com, adding, "I chose to leave instead of just being satisfied with that." Fortunately for "Star Trek" fans, Crosby would eventually return to the series as a guest star, appearing in several episodes both as Tasha Yar and her half-Romulan daughter, Sela.

After leaving "Star Trek," Crosby would have a steady career as a character actor. Shortly after her first exit from the series, she appeared as Rachel Creed in the Stephen King film "Pet Sematary." One of her more memorable roles was a two-episode appearance on "The X-Files" as Dana Scully's replacement obstetrician after her first doctor turns out to be involved in alien fetus cloning experimentation ("Essence," "Empedocles"). She played an angel of death nurse on the first season of "Dexter," and she had a recurring role on "Ray Donovan" that lasted 15 episodes. Crosby also appeared on "The Walking Dead" as a cook in the cannibalistic community of Terminus.

She has also continued to be involved in the "Star Trek" universe, much to the delight of fans. In 2009, she appeared in the fan-created Trek project "Star Trek: New Voyages," which also featured appearances from Trek alumni Walter Koenig (Chekov), Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand), and George Takei (Hikaru Sulu). Crosby co-produced the documentaries "Trekkies" and "Trekkies 2," and she voice acted for the video games "Star Trek: Armada" and "Star Trek Online."

Crosby is grateful for Tasha Yar

Denise Crosby didn't know much about "Star Trek" before taking on the role of Tasha Yar — and she certainly didn't know how beloved the franchise was. But she did feel from the beginning that the character — partly inspired by the tough-as-nails Private Vasquez from "Aliens" — deserved better writing than the series gave her. As Crosby told StarTrek.com, Tasha's complexity appealed to her. "She was really, deeply insecure and had this wonderful paradox going on," Crosby explained. "She was so physically capable and had this very strong persona, but inside was just this little girl that felt very much out of her depth." But although the role had loads of potential, the nuanced writing Crosby felt Yar deserved simply never came to pass, with the writers instead sticking Tasha with some of the most poorly-aging stories in "The Next Generation." As the actor told IGN , "It was all these old white dudes in the room until, God love them, until Gene passed."

Even so, Crosby truly valued the writing her characters received in later "Star Trek" episodes and is especially appreciative of how well-received Tasha Yar has been despite her early death. She also loves being part of the "Star Trek" family and connected to the community of fans that inspired her to produce the "Trekkies" documentaries. 

As the actor told TrekMovie.com, she had been attending Trek conventions for a little under a decade when she began to reflect on how deeply the fandom ran for so many Trekkies, building relationships and inspiring them to create good in the world. "And that was all gleaned from this kind of inherent utopian vision of the future."

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 6, Episode 9

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Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 6, Episode 9 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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