Weekly Poll Results: Best Star Trek Series
I was watching the Captain’s Summit bonus disc that came with the Star Trek Motion Picture Collection last night, and it occurred to me how amazing it is that Star Trek: The Next Generation managed to overcome the odds and step out of the shadow of The Original Series to prove itself as a great show in its own right. Nowadays whenever people talk about a “Next Generation” movie or TV show continuation (ie. Ghostbusters), people freak out and whine and complain about how it will never top the original.
Well, Star Trek: TNG is proof that it can be done, and Film Junk readers seem to agree. The Next Generation topped our poll by a long shot, and surprisingly, The Original Series just barely edged out Deep Space Nine for the #2 position. Voyager was fourth and Enterprise was relegated to the basement, even though it also has plenty of supporters. Do you agree with these results?
1. The Next Generation — 46.4%
2. The Original Series — 19.4%
3. Deep Space Nine — 19%
4. Voyager — 8.4%
5. Enterprise — 6.8%
Comments (15)
I do not agree. TNG could have done something interesting but everytime they started to go to a place where morality and vices of a character might be in play they stepped back it wasn’t challenging the audience and it really wasted lots of time with innane and tedious pseudo-techno speak.
A full 1/3rd of the episodes followed this plot: “A diplomat is being escorted by the Enterprise to an important meeting with a new race or an old former enemey. The diplomat has a shameful secret. There is intrigue and some innane b story where Data tries even more to figure out what it is to be Hu’man. Things get tense and it seems like there might actually be some action then … the diplomat’s secret is revealed he is judged by the self righteous Captain and other innocent leaders, etc. and they go have Earl Grey tea, hot.” Good? … I think not.
Posted by Ian on May 13th, 2009I’m on record with anyone that will listen that DS9 is the best. Exploring all the dark themes while never losing grasp on the idealism that made Star Trek great.
Posted by Wes Stover on May 13th, 2009What the hell? Henrik must have voted a multiple number of times.
If Abrams, Orci and Kurtzman are looking at these results, then it should be clear that the next Star Trek movie should be a reboot of Star Trek: The Next Generation! Now who would they get to play a young Picard?
Posted by Reed Farrington on May 13th, 2009They’d probably just get Charle Francis Xaiver from X-men Origins: Wolverine.
Posted by Ian on May 14th, 2009Naaa man it’s voyager. That show had the lessons, the actions, and the emotion. you could feel thier yerning to get home. and it had 7 of 9.
Posted by Rick on May 14th, 2009TNG has professor X, so clearly it’s the best.
Posted by Kasper F. Nielsen on May 14th, 2009TNG is over-rated. Hell, the first few seasons of TNG are damn near unwatchable, they’re so bad.
Posted by Slushie Man on May 16th, 2009@Ian
You sir … Did not watch TNG
Posted by Sekai on July 17th, 2009Voyager is the best
I haven’t seen the TNG, but I heard you have to stick with it for it to get interesting.
Posted by Anna on October 10th, 2009Voyager by far the best out of them all. I watched the entire 7 seasons of Voyager, every episode, multiple times — doesn’t get old. TNG is great but it’s overrated because it’s the most popular in people’s memory due to its fresh engagement after decades from the original. DS9 although great, however, I personally liked Voyager much better — FAR more humorous and entertaining! That Hologram DR is my favorite!
Posted by John on October 22nd, 2009DS9 by a longshot was the best series. I suspect that those who would put TNG above DS9 haven’t rewatched both. DS9 manages to keep their storylines fresh and their characters interesting after several years on the SAME SPACE STATION. They couldn’t just get end the season by meeting some new badass race. The character development we see in DS9 is only matched with much newer programs like Battle Star Galactica. DS9’s dark nature, excellent writing, character development and individuality are what made it a great show. I hope the next series for TV builds off of its formula and doesn’t just throw us on another ship and recycles the storylines.
Posted by Joseph on October 27th, 2009Agreed, DS9 is by far the best series, judging by storyline, character development, pace etc. And another part adding to the great formula is the story arc. Actually, you have the great Dominion War story arc yet many episodes can be equally enjoyable on its own.
Part of the problem with TNG (and the other series too) is that you have to find your way home at the end of the 1 hour show, no matter how ridiculous you have to make the Enterprise/Voyager home safe with all its main characters alive and the villains either dead or go away.
Of course dark theme is always more interesting than idealistic utopian preaching, no matter how charismatic an actor Patrick Stewart is. And audience always love complex characters, characters that are not just good or bad, black or white.
Besides, the character development on TNG sucks, with the notable exceptions of Picard and Data (hence, TNG crowned the “Picard and Data show”). Ask Denise Crosby she’d tell you this is exactly why she left the series.
On DS9 every character has at least a few episodes to explore their backstory. You’d never think of liking a Ferengi or Cardassian from watching TNG. Heck DS9 even explores the different sides of the Jem’Hadars.
TOS has great character interaction, unfortunately we only see the interactions between the 3 main characters. It would perhaps be interesting for the next Trek film to explore some of the other characters, e.g. Chekov, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura for a change – heck you don’t even have to go to such lengths to create an alternate time line. You can do whatever you want with these characters’ back story and none of it would have contradicted canon in any way.
Posted by tiny on October 29th, 2009They’re all great, but you all are generalizing way too much. TNG was the best all around I think. Why? Granted, the first season was a bit weak, the second wasn’t the greatest either, but had some great ones thrown in there. From season three through six, they could do no wrong. Season seven was really good, but it was more hit and miss. DS9 and Voyager were good right from the start because the writers, make-up artists, and special effects crew had the hang of it already. But the best of TNG (The Inner Light – Best of Both Worlds – Yesterday’s Enterprise) were far better than the best of Voyager or DS9 (objectively speaking). However, I really don’t have a favorite. Right now I’m going through a Voyager phase; a few months ago; it was DS9. But if I wanted to turn someone on to Star Trek who knew little about it; I would choose TNG hands down; mainly because the cast and acting was far superior. DS9 had better acting than Voyager, but Voyager was more exciting than DS9; so those two are equal for different reasons. The writing in my opinion is equally good for all three shows. TOS doesn’t really count IMO, because it’s more of novelty; even though it was fun to watch and the writing was fabulous at times.
Posted by Pete on October 31st, 2009I just re-watched the entire 7 seasons of Voyager… I am a -HUGE- TNG fan… I have to say I love them both equally.
DS9 never did it for me … but judging by a few of the people on here, perhaps I will give it another shot.
To the guy who said he loved the Holographic Doctor… kudos to you. That has to be one of the best characters ever created in Star Trek. Hilarious.
Posted by Danny on November 4th, 2009Just to post a follow-up to my last post. I did say TOS was more of a novelty, but I was talking about the “series” itself. The movies are far beyond a novelty. As far as TV “series”, TNG, DS9, and Voyager are far superior than TOS; however Kirk, Spock and crew clean house as far as the big screen is concerned. “The Wrath of Khan”, and “The Voyage Home” will never be topped. “First Contact” and even “Generations” were fantastic flicks, but they pale in comparison to the two aforementioned TOS movies.
Posted by Pete on November 6th, 2009Leave a Reply