Rank My Ride: TOS vs. TMP vs. Kelverse vs. SNW!

[Mark_Nguyen]

We've now had a full season (and change) of the latest version of the "original" USS Enterprise, meaning we should be able to make a more informed decision on how awesome each version is compared to each other. Each ship brought something new to the franchise, but how do they stack up against each other? So as a thought experiment, I'd like you all to rank each of the four Enterprises in several categories. For the purposes of this exercise, use the following assumptions:

- The TOS Enterprise is more or less as she appeared in all three seasons and TAS, acknowledging small differences between the seasons (and the original pilot). If there are noted differences in technology (say for example the faux-holodeck of TAS), note them.
- The TMP Enterprise is as she appeared in the first three movies; the Enterprise-A, aside from being a whole other ship, is different in many ways owing to the repurposing of the original TMP sets into the TNG versions.
- The Kelvin Timeline Enterprise IS different in all three movies to some extent, but I'd suggest leaning into the original Church design from the first two movies. Again, if there are differences (like the changes in the third movie), note them.
- The SNW Enterprise is the one from SNW, obviously. Her bridge changed between this and Discovery, and her sets on Discovery were redressed from that ship as well.

So, with those in mind, here are the categories I'd like to see you rank them:

1) Exterior Aesthetics - the general "look" of the ship from the outside.

2) Interior Aesthetics - the general "look" of the sets from the inside, except for the..

3) Bridge aesthetics - the cool factor of the bridge specifically, as this is arguably the most important set of the ship for crew and fans alike.

4) Technological advancement - which of the Enterprises looks most "advanced" to the viewing public of 2022? Or alternatively, to the viewers of the time it was on the air, or in the theatres?

5) How well it fits in with its respective Starfleet - every Enterprise is an example of one of many classes of ships in the fleet. Is it congruent with her sisters and cousins, and by how much?

Justify your rankings as you see fit. Also, if you have any other categories you'd want to rank these four Enterprises, add 'em too!

Mark

 

[blssdwlf]

Alright, I'll play and all IMHO

1) Exterior Aesthetics - the general "look" of the ship from the outside.
1. TOS - Smooth hull surface, "impossible" design, with features both hidden and adjustable.
2. SNW - A wider-stance version of TOS with more detailing but the darker hull and visible plating and gaps takes away the uniqueness of the TOS version and makes her close to common scifi detailing.
3. TMP - Excellent shape and more detailing than TOS but the visible plating and gaps and RCS systems brings the ship too close to something that can be dated.
4. Kelverse - Nacelles look muscular and has adjustable parts but also has visible plating and gaps and RCS systems bringing the close to common scifi detailing.

2) Interior Aesthetics - the general "look" of the sets from the inside, except for the..
1. SNW - Bright, roomy and comfortable looking but with functionality
2. TMP - Some great sets and sets the look for many other series to follow
3. TOS - Simple but functional with lots of mood lighting
4. Kelverse - The round corridor walls feel way too much like a certain Star Wars ship and the first engineering set looked like a 20th century facility.

3) Bridge aesthetics - the cool factor of the bridge specifically, as this is arguably the most important set of the ship for crew and fans alike.
1. SNW - Lots of useful screens and mix of physical and glass controls. A physical shutter for the glass viewer is a big plus.
2. TOS - Lots of useful screens with mystery physical controls. Characters are somehow able to stare at their instruments and get information from them. No glass viewer. Panels easy to access and repair.
3. Kelverse - Too many lensflares Glass viewer with no physical shutter. Side stations too far away from Captain to be practical to be seen or heard.
4. TMP - Round screens limit size of information that can be seen from Captain's chair. The custom shapes of each station limit the information available and serviceability of stations when damaged.

4) Technological advancement - which of the Enterprises looks most "advanced" to the viewing public of 2022? Or alternatively, to the viewers of the time it was on the air, or in the theatres?
In 2022:
1. SNW - Looks like a modern scifi ship with lights and panel lines and other detailing.
2. Kelverse - Looks like a moden scifi ship with lights and panel lines and other detailing. RCS thrusters and other low-tech features knock it down a notch.
3. TMP - Looks like a moden scifi ship with lights and panels and other detailing. RCS thrusters and other low-tech features knock it down a notch.
4. TOS - Looks like a 60's scifi model but hard to show off with 60's technology.

Actual advancement:
1. TOS - Has fought at warp speed. Mystery buttons and functions make it harder to date.
2. SNW - Advanced transporters, communications and many quality of life improvements over TOS
3. Kelverse - It's a Star Wars cruiser with Star Trek shapes. No practical FTL sensing capability.
4. TMP - Can also fight at warp speed. But RCS thrusters and other functions to flesh out the ship dates it too.

5) How well it fits in with its respective Starfleet - every Enterprise is an example of one of many classes of ships in the fleet. Is it congruent with her sisters and cousins, and by how much?

Hard to tell as TOS only showed other starships that look like the Enterprise. SNW has the most diversity and ship design and details. Kelverse has very similar looks but varies the number of nacelles and arrangement. TMP has only the Miranda as a sister ship design while others Oberth, Excelsior look very different.

Of course YMMV

 

[Sgt_G]

The TOS ship was, is, and forever shall be the best starship ever to grace the screen.

Mystery buttons and functions make it harder to date.

Sounds like my ex-girlfriend.

 

[kirk55555]

The TMP Refit Enterprise is my favorite design, followed by TOS, SNW then Kelvinverse. As for the categories:

1) Exterior Aesthetics - TMP, no contest. Actually, my order for this matches my favorite list exactly, TMP, TOS, SNW, Kelvinverse. I think that SNW would have been a perfect Alternate Timeline Enterprise instead of the Kelvinverse one we got, which looks like someone who didn't like Star Trek begrudgingly made a ship that was similar to the old Enterprise. I've grown fond of the Kelvinverse Enterprise exterior designs over time, but it is still last place compared to the others. SNW is basically the perfect "What if the TOS Enterprise was made in the modern day" design, which would have been perfect for Star Trek 2009 but is unforgivable for a supposed "Prime" timeline ship. TOS is the canon design (and size) of Kirk's Enterprise during TOS and before, period.

2) Interior Aesthetics - TOS probably wins, all the interiors are instantly iconic. TMP has some great sets, especially Engineering, although its Captain's Quarters are weird. SNW's sets are stupidly big, the Captain of a Starship shouldn't have quarters bigger then the average person's house. Kelvinverse interiors are too shiny white iPod with everything, it gets boring.

3) Bridge aesthetics - The TMP bridge, specifically the Wrath of Khan version, is a classic. The controls are a bit less random looking then the TOS ones, and the seats have at least some form of restraint. It has form and function, without having a bunch of unneeded space.

4) Technological advancement - The TMP version looks advanced, things don't have to look like an iPod to be "advanced". I also still buy TOS as the bridge of an advanced space ship. The whole "bridge the size of a tennis court" combined with the iPod aesthetic puts SNW and Kelvinverse below TMP and TOS, with SNW being slightly better then Kelvin because at least it takes a bit of the TOS color scheme. Plus the Kelvinverse bridge just blinds everyone, which is definitely not a good feature. SNW and Kelvin are great examples of people who don't know what they're doing going "bigger" and shinier because they think its better, and they're wrong.

5) How well it fits in with its respective Starfleet - The TOS and TMP bridges are 100% canon to TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9 and Enterprise (VOY only showed the excelsior bridge, but its close enough to almost count), and proves that they are the real predecessors to TNG and beyond era ships. SNW's bridge doesn't fit with any Star Trek outside of DSC and maybe the Kelvinverse, so its the worst example of fitting in. Kelvinverse is its own thing, and fits its universe's style.

As a note, I want to say that I did enjoy Starange New Worlds a lot, so don't take my criticisms of the ship to mean I dislike the show. Like I said, if the SNW Enterprise had been revealed as the ST 2009 Enterprise i'd have been in love with the design, exterior and interior. I just refuse to let it overwrite TOS/TNG/DS9/ENT when it comes to the Prime Timeline design of the TOS era Enterprise.

 

[Nerroth]

In terms of answering question 5: is this limited to on-screen Franchise ships only, or can ships from officially licenced products count also?

For my part, I find the DSC/SNW design to make for a viable alternate "refit" to the TOS-era Constitution-class to that seen in the TMP era. (Or perhaps as an intermediate refit design between the TOS and TMP eras.) But I don't particularly care for the idea of it over-writing - or would that be re-constituting? - the TOS-era ship itself.

At this point, I feel that the original ship perhaps fits more comfortably with its stablemates over in the Star Fleet Universe than it does with many of its post-1979 Franchise counterparts. Of course, part of this is due to the presence of the "Franz Joseph" ships from the Star Fleet Technical Manual. But part is also due to "SFU-native" designs such as the new light cruiser or heavy war destroyer, as well as later evolutions such as the Vincennes-class advanced technology command cruiser.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

I'd say that, along with literally everything else in the franchise, it's up for interpretation. Justify your answers and I think you're good.

Mark

 

[Admiral Archer]

1) Exterior Aesthetics - the general "look" of the ship from the outside.
1. TMP
2. TOS
3. SNW
4. Kelvinverse

2) Interior Aesthetics - the general "look" of the sets from the inside, except for the..
1. TMP
2. SNW
3. Kelvinverse
4. TOS

3) Bridge aesthetics - the cool factor of the bridge specifically, as this is arguably the most important set of the ship for crew and fans alike.
1. SNW
2. TMP
3. TOS
4. Kelvinverse

4) Technological advancement - which of the Enterprises looks most "advanced" to the viewing public of 2022? Or alternatively, to the viewers of the time it was on the air, or in the theatres?
1. SNW
2. Kelvinverse
3. TMP
4. TOS

5) How well it fits in with its respective Starfleet - every Enterprise is an example of one of many classes of ships in the fleet. Is it congruent with her sisters and cousins, and by how much?
1. TMP
2. TOS
3. SNW
4. Kelvinverse

So I'm guessing this means my rating of the various Enterprise 1701's is:
1ST PLACE: TMP
2ND PLACE: SNW
3RD PLACE: TOS
4TH PLACE: Kelvinverse

 

[Galileo7]

Exteriors:
1 - TMP
2 - SNW
3 - TOS
4 - Kelvin

Interiors (Engineering, Sickbay, Transporter Room):
1 - TMP
2 - SNW
3 - TOS
4 - Kelvin

Interior Bridge (specific):
1 - SNW
2 - TMP
3 - TOS
4 - Kelvin