Man--- as simple as it always sounds, this is never an easy question. Star Trek is my favorite franchise. There's no television or movie franchise that even comes close. So...for me to do this isn't very easy.
TOS- This is the original, and the template that everything that came after was based upon. It not only is my favorite Star Trek series, it is far-and-away my favorite television series of all time (and may objectively be the BEST television series of all time).
As for the rest...
I love TNG for many reasons. It's like a warm blanket. Patrick Stewart is the best actor that the franchise has ever had. Although unrealistic and somewhat undramatic as a result, it is a wonderful "aspirational" viewpoint on where spacefaring humanity could be one day. This show set the tone for everything else that followed.
DS9 is probably my second-favorite series because I love the characters and richness of the story once it became an arc. Characters have always been my #1 draw with Star Trek, and this is what DS9 (after TOS) did best. All of the characters are compelling, interesting and dynamic. They don't need to be "likable" to be engaging...and DS9's characters are all engaging.
VOY is my least-favorite series, but there's a lot to love there. I really enjoy the "pioneering" aspect that admittedly was hit-or-miss with this series (but when it hit it was very good). I also like how the relationships formed on this show. Some of the romantic notes fell awkwardly flat, but the friendships / mentorships that developed were great. Also, very nice production design and music.
ENT is a series that was my least-favorite, until I recently did a re-watch. Given the benefit of a more distant separation from the rest of the franchise (meaning, judging it NOW as opposed to judging it back in 2001), this is a pretty entertaining little series, and I have now elevated it above VOY. It is definitely hit-or-miss, but I find some of the chemistry to be very fun, and the story arcs can be engaging. Unlike most, I find Archer to be a good character because he's not the same Picard / Janeway / Sisko 24th Century mold. He's very much finding his way...and I think that's far more entertaining than someone hitting every ball out of the park.
DSC has been very good thus far, and probably comes in third after TOS and DS9...but it's still far too early to judge. What I can say (and have said repeatedly) is that it is certainly head-and-shoulders above the 4 spin-off series in terms of relative quality and entertainment value through the first 9-10 episodes. I really struggled with DS9 and VOY through the first half of their first seasons. TNG was hit-or-miss...but I was in 7th grade so was far more forgiving. DSC has grabbed me from the get-go, despite it not being perfect. Time will tell. If it grows and develops like the other series did...it could be very special. As a fan of the franchise, I sincerely hope so and will continue to support it as it grows and matures.
So...if forced to do it:
TOS
DS9
DSC (* early to tell)
TNG
ENT
VOY
TOS- This is the original, and the template that everything that came after was based upon. It not only is my favorite Star Trek series, it is far-and-away my favorite television series of all time (and may objectively be the BEST television series of all time).
As for the rest...
I love TNG for many reasons. It's like a warm blanket. Patrick Stewart is the best actor that the franchise has ever had. Although unrealistic and somewhat undramatic as a result, it is a wonderful "aspirational" viewpoint on where spacefaring humanity could be one day. This show set the tone for everything else that followed.
DS9 is probably my second-favorite series because I love the characters and richness of the story once it became an arc. Characters have always been my #1 draw with Star Trek, and this is what DS9 (after TOS) did best. All of the characters are compelling, interesting and dynamic. They don't need to be "likable" to be engaging...and DS9's characters are all engaging.
VOY is my least-favorite series, but there's a lot to love there. I really enjoy the "pioneering" aspect that admittedly was hit-or-miss with this series (but when it hit it was very good). I also like how the relationships formed on this show. Some of the romantic notes fell awkwardly flat, but the friendships / mentorships that developed were great. Also, very nice production design and music.
ENT is a series that was my least-favorite, until I recently did a re-watch. Given the benefit of a more distant separation from the rest of the franchise (meaning, judging it NOW as opposed to judging it back in 2001), this is a pretty entertaining little series, and I have now elevated it above VOY. It is definitely hit-or-miss, but I find some of the chemistry to be very fun, and the story arcs can be engaging. Unlike most, I find Archer to be a good character because he's not the same Picard / Janeway / Sisko 24th Century mold. He's very much finding his way...and I think that's far more entertaining than someone hitting every ball out of the park.
DSC has been very good thus far, and probably comes in third after TOS and DS9...but it's still far too early to judge. What I can say (and have said repeatedly) is that it is certainly head-and-shoulders above the 4 spin-off series in terms of relative quality and entertainment value through the first 9-10 episodes. I really struggled with DS9 and VOY through the first half of their first seasons. TNG was hit-or-miss...but I was in 7th grade so was far more forgiving. DSC has grabbed me from the get-go, despite it not being perfect. Time will tell. If it grows and develops like the other series did...it could be very special. As a fan of the franchise, I sincerely hope so and will continue to support it as it grows and matures.
So...if forced to do it:
TOS
DS9
DSC (* early to tell)
TNG
ENT
VOY
