Which series/movies should I continue?

[nqca]

Hi!

I've just finished TOS and The Motion Picture. I started to really like Star Trek,because of what it is - a series based on exploring strange new worlds. My question is,where should I continue?

A friend of mine suggested that I should start watch DS9,but I don't think I could like it (they are staying at that base all the time,I think thats not too interesting....)

So what do you recommend,should I start watching TNG,DS9,Voyager,Enterprise or should I start watching the movies I-VI?


P.S.: Sorry if you find any grammar errors, I'm not a native speaker of English.

 

[Kor]

If you have already seen The Motion Picture, then I would suggest watching movies II through IV next. Those three form a story arc.

DS9 requires some patience, as things don't really ramp up until a few seasons into the series.

However, to really understand the 24th-century context, you should watch a few seasons of TNG before starting DS9. The premier episode of DS9 shows a defining event in Benjamin Sisko (the station commander)'s life, which occured in the TNG season 3/4 two-parter "Best of Both Worlds." So you definitely need to see that before DS9.

Kor

 

[Zek]

I suppose this is quite biased but I first got into Trek because of TNG reruns so I'd say go with that. It is pretty easy to get into, keeping in mind that some basic knowledge of the UFP and the show in franchise in general, would be helpful.

As this show is set roughly 100 years after the original Star Trek series from the 60's, which was roughly the 2250's. The Next Generation brings you into a whole new century of this fictional universe and introduces many fascinating story lines regarding politics, philosophy, race relations, ethics, and outstanding character development.

Moreover, TNG has some of the best acting and directing in the entire history of Star Trek. This includes the brilliant artistry of players such as Sir Patrick Stewart (Capt. Picard), LeVar Burton (Lt. LaForge), Brent Spiner (Data and...), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan the bartender) and Jonathan Frakes (Cmdr. Riker). To even try and list all of the amazing writers, directors, set designers, and guest actors would simply be ridiculously long but I encourage you to check some of them out.

tldr: Start with The Next Generation. I truly don't think you will be disappointed

 

[Terok Nor]

Watch the rest of the Original Trek movies and then move onto TNG. If you like that the chances are you'll like DS9 and Voyager and will want to see them. I didn't personally enjoy Enterprise or the Abrams movies but they're also an option for you to explore. Don't forget to check out the animated Star Trek series too. It's pretty much Season 4 of The Original Series.

 

[nqca]

Well,I watched Wrath of Khan yesterday,and I was fascinated. I think its one of the best movies ever. Altough there are some details in the plot that I can't really understand (I mean,if Ceti Alpha 6 exploded, the crew of the Reliant didn't noticed it? Its a bit strange...)

Watch the rest of the Original Trek movies

Should I watch the Final Frontier,too? I mean,reading most of the IMDB reviews makes me think that this movie is something that I don't see.

DS9 requires some patience, as things don't really ramp up until a few seasons into the series.

Maybe skipping a few seasons and starting when its interesting will help?

Oh,and I forgot to mention that I saw one DS9 episode,the
Trials and Tribble-ations. But I only remember a few things about it,there was a bomb in one of the tribbles and someone wanted to kill Kirk. Correct me if I'm wrong

 

[JesterFace]

For a Star Trek newcomer, I'd say move ahead in the order everything was done and/or released, no point jumping ahead in time...

 

[BillJ]

Enterprise.

It hits all the highlights from other series and has the best production values.

 

[Terok Nor]

I love The Final Frontier. It's not perfect but it's not like the series never had any mediocre episodes. There are a lot of good scenes in that movie. I'd sooner watch The Final Frontier than some of the movies that came after it personally.

If you just want to see the best episodes (IMO) of each series and don't care about continuity or spoilers then watch "The Best Of Both Worlds" 2 parter from TNG, "The Visitor" from DS9, "Scorpion" from Voyager and "In A Mirror Darkly" from Enterprise. If you like those episodes you'll probably like many of the other episodes. If you don't then there's no point watching any further because it will not get much better than those episodes (again IMO).

 

[MacLeod]

Well,I watched Wrath of Khan yesterday,and I was fascinated. I think its one of the best movies ever. Altough there are some details in the plot that I can't really understand (I mean,if Ceti Alpha 6 exploded, the crew of the Reliant didn't noticed it? Its a bit strange...)

Watch the rest of the Original Trek movies

Should I watch the Final Frontier,too? I mean,reading most of the IMDB reviews makes me think that this movie is something that I don't see.

DS9 requires some patience, as things don't really ramp up until a few seasons into the series.

Maybe skipping a few seasons and starting when its interesting will help?

Oh,and I forgot to mention that I saw one DS9 episode,the
Trials and Tribble-ations. But I only remember a few things about it,there was a bomb in one of the tribbles and someone wanted to kill Kirk. Correct me if I'm wrong

The best place to ask about DSN is the DSN thread, as for skipping the first couple of seasons, sure you could start with season three, but you would miss out on episodes like Season ones "Duet". But broadly speaking you could pare down S1-2 of DSN to about a dozen or so episodes that introduce characters/elements that the show builds upon.

But you might as well go with TNG next, the first two seasons unlike TOS are weaker than it's later seasons.

 

[nqca]

I watched the first episode of TNG while being transfered from the hospital,and I think its not worse than the 3rd season of TOS, but I really liked it (but I hope that "Q" won't appear very often).

I hope that the other episodes of the first and second seasons of TNG are not that bad,I think I will watch it first,and I will only then proceed to DS9.

 

[JesterFace]

I watched the first episode of TNG while being transfered from the hospital,and I think its not worse than the 3rd season of TOS, but I really liked it (but I hope that "Q" won't appear very often).

I hope that the other episodes of the first and second seasons of TNG are not that bad,I think I will watch it first,and I will only then proceed to DS9.

It takes some time for TNG to find its form, it really finds its form on season 3, almost everything before that is somehow different...

 

[Melakon]

For a Star Trek newcomer, I'd say move ahead in the order everything was done and/or released, no point jumping ahead in time...

I tend to side with this. Those of us who started with Star Trek in 1966 or early '70s didn't have the luxury of choosing where to start first. We took whatever they threw at us, watching how the entire universe grew.

 

[MacLeod]

There are a few gems within the first and second seasons of TNG, however as others have said it's not really until S3 that TNG finds it form. So you might find the first couple of seasons of variable quality.

As for Q, he only appears in one more episode of S1 and from then on it's about 1 story per season.

 

[Isolinear]

Yes, continue watching the first six movies and TNG. TNG gets really good after season 1. Definitely watch every episode AND movie in the order they were released. It's ok to mix DS9 and Voyager. That way you don't get spoiled on certain story developments that appear in multiple series.

 

[borgboy]

I'd think you should watch the first six movies - the Original series movies (but it's ok if you skip V, as it's pretty bad) then go on to TNG. At that point you're either a huge Trek fan and nothing can stop you from watching DS9, Voyager and Enterprise, and the TNG movies and if you're not a fan at that point, why are you still here?
DS9 is really great. They do leave the station periodically and regular aliens and guests come to them. Over time it does have a more serialized storytelling format that really helps to tell a bigger overall story.

 

[eyeresist]

You should watch the TOS movies. After that, watch the pilot episodes for all the series and see which one takes your fancy. Watching in order is not that important. You could also watch the four TNG movies, which are shorter than series (of course) and mostly good.

Watch the rest of the Original Trek movies

Should I watch the Final Frontier,too? I mean,reading most of the IMDB reviews makes me think that this movie is something that I don't see.

Sure, watch TFF. Just don't take it too seriously. It's an attempt to combine the comedy of TVH with the spirit of TOS. It doesn't quite work, but there are many fun things in it.

 

[nqca]

I already watched the rest of the original series's movies and I don't know why does alot of people say its awful. Its not as good as The Home Voyage or the Wrath of Khan,but for me,everything except the fight with God was fine.

After that, watch the pilot episodes for all the series and see which one takes your fancy.

I think I will go with that. The TNG's first episode was fine,but those jelly fish like creatures....are a bad joke for me.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I'd say move on to TNG. I wouldn't discourage you from exploring DS9, but you'll get a lot more out of it if you've seen TNG up to the point that DS9 started airing.

If you don't think you've got it in you to sit through all of TNG, then I might recommend skipping to Season 3 and at least going through Season 5.

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

My recommendation is to not get into DS9 next.

DS9 is a more acceptable offshoot once/if you've acquired a taste for TNG-Era, 24th Century "Star Trek". If ugly sets, embarassing over- acting by the 2 leads, characters of varying likeability, but the most consistently strong scripts are cool with you, you'll enjoy this well-produced series.

TNG is really dated in its first 2 seasons- enough to very possibly be a turnoff. Pretty much to the point of not recommending it next. Later- it's "highs" are higher than any of the other series, bar TOS. Patrick Stewart is the greatest casting in the history of Trek. But it's last season is weak too--hard to recommend TNG since it has 3 weak seasons. Wait on TNG!

I would start with "Star Trek:Voyager". It's has aged the best of all the "modern" series. (Can we still call them "modern"??)

"Voyager" still looks good thanks to its cinematography, lighting, sets, acting & consistently solid stories. Don't listen to the complainers who got spoiled on Berman-Era Trek and got overly-critical, and forgot this is just escapism & fun TV. "Voyager" is compelling.

I would leave the 6 TOS movies until later. They're little 80's bonus stories with TOS actors & they're all good! I would take TOS movie Series over the Star Wars series any day!

 

[Galileo7]

Since you have watched TOS, you should watch TAS [Animated Series 1973-74] which concludes the original series five year mission. You watched TMP , so you should watch the films II to VI , then VII to XII.

 

[eyeresist]

I would start with "Star Trek:Voyager". It's has aged the best of all the "modern" series.

Seriously? The least "dated" Trek series would be ENT.