series like star trek discovery

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The 25 Best Shows Like 'Star Trek: Discovery', Ranked By Fans

The 25 Best Shows Like 'Star Trek: Discovery', Ranked By Fans

Molly Gander

This curated list of shows will transport you to galaxies far and wide, capturing the essence of exploration and discovery akin to Star Trek: Discovery . These series were handpicked for their shared themes and tones with the beloved sci-fi saga, offering viewers a thrilling ride through the unknown realms of the universe. The shows on this list have been meticulously curated based on votes from Rankers like you, ensuring a collection of top-notch recommendations for fans of interstellar adventures.

Embark on a journey through the stars with these captivating series that echo the spirit of exploration and intrigue found in Star Trek: Discovery . Featuring diverse storylines, compelling characters, and breathtaking visuals, these shows will immerse you in worlds where the boundaries of science and human nature are continually tested. From tales of survival in space to encounters with alien species, each series on this list promises an unforgettable experience for sci-fi enthusiasts. Plus, with convenient “Where to Watch” buttons below each show, streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple+, and more bring these interstellar adventures right to your screen.

After you've delved deep into the mysteries of Star Trek: Discovery , why not continue your voyage with shows like The Mandalorian , Intergalactic , and The Ark ? These series offer a mix of space opera, resilience, and moral complexity that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you explore the uncharted territories of the cosmos. So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to discover new worlds and encounter thrilling adventures across the stars. Don't forget to vote up your favorite shows on the list to share your love for intergalactic storytelling!

The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian is a sci-fi series set in the Star Wars universe, following the adventures of a lone bounty hunter known as Din Djarin as he navigates through a vast galaxy far, far away. Tasked with protecting a mysterious child known as Grogu, the Mandalorian embarks on a journey filled with danger, intrigue, and unexpected alliances. Featuring Pedro Pascal as the titular character and a rich ensemble cast, the series blends elements of space opera, action, and Western vibes in a thrilling exploration of the outer realms of the Star Wars universe.

In a narrative akin to Star Trek: Discovery , The Mandalorian embarks on a quest through the outer reaches of the galaxy, as characters traverse through diverse planets and encounter a myriad of fascinating species and cultures. Both series delve into the complexities of the cosmos as characters navigate through treacherous environments and forge new alliances in the unexplored regions of space. With its blend of space fantasy, interstellar escapades, and character-driven storytelling, The Mandalorian offers a captivating journey into the depths of the Star Wars universe that resonates with fans of galactic exploration.

Is The Mandalorian Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... Which Jedi Are Still Around In The Time Of 'The Mandalorian'?
  • And Deeper... The History Of Mandalore Could Be More Important To 'The Mandalorian' Than You Think
  • # 3 of 682 on The 600+ Best TV Shows Of The Last 5 Years

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series follows the iconic crew of the starship Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk as they voyage through the final frontier. The series explores themes of diversity, morality, and the inherent human curiosity for the unknown. Featuring memorable characters like Spock, McCoy, and Uhura, Star Trek: The Original Series set the standard for the beloved franchise.

Much like Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: The Original Series captures the inherent optimism of humanity's future in the vastness of space. Both series showcase the thrill of discovery, the challenges of venturing into the unknown, and the importance of unity and cooperation in facing the mysteries of the universe. With its distinctive tone of adventure and moral complexity, Star Trek: The Original Series remains a cornerstone of the Star Trek legacy.

Is Star Trek: The Origina... Worth Your Time?

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  • # 7 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek: Picard explores the themes of redemption and self-discovery as it follows retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard on a personal journey. With a talented ensemble cast led by Patrick Stewart, the series delves into emotional depth and character growth. Balancing nostalgia with innovation, Star Trek: Picard skillfully navigates familiar territories while charting new courses in the Star Trek universe.

Both series offer viewers an immersive journey into the complexities of human and alien interactions, blending sci-fi, action, and drama seamlessly. With a diverse cast of characters and compelling narratives, Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery stand as exemplary entries in the Star Trek franchise.

Is Star Trek: Picard Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... Easter Eggs And References From 'Star Trek: Picard' That Are Futile To Resist
  • # 41 of 682 on The 600+ Best TV Shows Of The Last 5 Years
  • # 27 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica

In the realm of science fiction, Battlestar Galactica presents a riveting narrative of humanity's fight for survival amidst a devastating alien attack. The series follows Commander Adama and President Roslin as they navigate political and military challenges while safeguarding the last remnants of civilization. Focusing on themes of identity, loyalty, and hope, Battlestar Galactica offers a gripping and thought-provoking journey through space.

Similar to Star Trek: Discovery , Battlestar Galactica embarks on epic sci-fi adventures that explore the resilience of humanity in the face of overwhelming threats. Both series feature complex characters, intricate storylines, and moral dilemmas set against the backdrop of space exploration. With its blend of drama, action, and intrigue, Battlestar Galactica resonates with viewers seeking immersive and captivating narratives in the science fiction genre.

Is Battlestar Galactica Worth Your Time?

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  • And Deeper... Glen A. Larson Shows and TV Series
  • # 5 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

The Orville

The Orville

The Orville follows the crew of the titular starship as they navigate the challenges of space exploration and interstellar diplomacy in a lighthearted and comedic sci-fi adventure. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the series blends elements of humor, drama, and social commentary within the framework of a spacefaring vessel. With a diverse cast led by MacFarlane as Captain Ed Mercer and Adrianne Palicki as Commander Kelly Grayson, The Orville offers a fresh and playful take on the science fiction genre.

Inspired by the optimistic tone and ensemble-driven storytelling of the original Star Trek series, The Orville presents a whimsical and heartfelt exploration of space exploration, ethical dilemmas, and the complexities of human (and alien) nature. Both series engage viewers through a mix of comedy, drama, and moral lessons, inviting audiences to reflect on the human condition and the possibilities of the cosmos. With its blend of humor, adventure, and commentary, The Orville carves its own niche in the realm of sci-fi TV with a nod to the timeless themes of its iconic predecessor.

Is The Orville Worth Your Time?

  • # 18 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 124 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
  • # 181 of 471 on The 400+ Funniest TV Shows Ever, Ranked

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise on a voyage of exploration and diplomacy. With a mix of science fiction and moral dilemmas, the series delves into social issues and ethical quandaries. Led by Patrick Stewart and a talented ensemble cast, the show captivates audiences with its engaging storytelling and diverse characters.

Like Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: The Next Generation embodies the spirit of adventure, teamwork, and the quest for knowledge in the vast expanse of the universe. Both series offer a rich exploration of alien encounters, moral challenges, and human nature, captivating audiences with their thought-provoking narratives. With their blend of timeless themes and compelling characters, both shows contribute to the enduring legacy of the Star Trek franchise.

Is Star Trek: The Next Ge... Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... The Best Episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • And Deeper... Longest Running Sci-Fi TV Shows
  • # 3 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Doctor Who

Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a ship disguised as a British police box With a mix of wit, charm, and heroism, the Doctor encounters various alien species, historical figures, and complex moral dilemmas. The series explores themes of compassion, bravery, and the infinite possibilities of the universe, captivating audiences with its imaginative storytelling.

In a similar vein to Star Trek: Discovery , Doctor Who embarks on epic sci-fi adventures that span across different time periods and galaxies, showcasing the boundless wonders of the cosmos. Both series highlight exploration, heroism, and the triumph of good over evil as characters face challenges and embark on daring missions to save the universe. With its iconic character and timeless narratives, Doctor Who stands as a beloved and enduring entry in the world of science fiction.

Is Doctor Who Worth Your Time?

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  • # 2 of 253 on The 250+ Best BBC One Shows, Ranked
  • # 15 of 29 on Current British TV Shows You've Been Missing This Whole Time

Intergalactic

Intergalactic

Intergalactic is a sci-fi drama that follows a group of female prisoners who escape captivity on Earth and embark on a perilous journey to a distant prison colony in space. As they navigate through unknown galaxies and encounter various threats, the women must band together to survive and uncover the truth behind their imprisonment. Featuring a diverse ensemble cast led by Savannah Steyn, Parminder Nagra, and Eleanor Tomlinson, Intergalactic explores themes of resilience, liberation, and the quest for justice in a futuristic setting.

Echoing the spirit of exploration and diversity in Star Trek: Discovery , Intergalactic delivers a gripping narrative that revolves around a group of individuals on a daring space adventure to assert their freedom and seek redemption. Both series delve into concepts of social justice, empowerment, and the bonds formed through adversity as characters navigate the challenges of the cosmos. With its focus on strong female leads , high-stakes drama, and interstellar pursuits, Intergalactic offers a compelling space opera that resonates with fans of epic sci-fi.

Is Intergalactic Worth Your Time?

  • # 559 of 1,051 on The 250+ Best Streaming Shows Of The Last Few Years
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  • # 21 of 25 on The Best Current TV Shows About Space

Babylon 5

Babylon 5 is set aboard the titular space station, a hub for various alien species and civilizations seeking peace and diplomacy in a turbulent galaxy. With political intrigue, epic battles, and complex character relationships, the series explores themes of war, redemption, and the struggle for unity in the face of interstellar conflicts. Led by characters like Commander Sheridan and Ambassador Delenn, Babylon 5 weaves a rich tapestry of alliances and betrayals against the backdrop of a universe on the brink of chaos.

In a manner akin to Star Trek: Discovery , Babylon 5 unfolds in a dynamic space station setting that serves as a microcosm of the diverse cultures and tensions present in the galaxy. Both series emphasize diplomacy, teamwork, and the quest for peace in a universe fraught with political intrigue and cosmic threats. With its intricate plotlines, morally gray characters, and epic space battles, Babylon 5 stands as a riveting space opera that immerses viewers in a world of galactic struggles and moral dilemmas.

Is Babylon 5 Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... Why 'Babylon 5' Should Be Your Next HBO Max Binge-Watch
  • And Deeper... Bruce Boxleitner TV Show/Series Credits
  • # 16 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager follows the adventures of the crew of the starship Voyager as they find themselves stranded in the Delta Quadrant, far from home. The series explores teamwork, survival, and the pursuit of a way back to Earth, led by Captain Kathryn Janeway. With a diverse cast of characters including Seven of Nine, the Doctor, and Neelix, Star Trek: Voyager offers a unique blend of science fiction and human drama.

Similar to Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Voyager captures the essence of exploration, teamwork, and the challenges of navigating unknown territories in space. Both series contain motifs of unity, discovery, and overcoming obstacles as the crew faces new civilizations and encounters in the far reaches of the galaxy. With its distinct tone of adventure and resilience, Star Trek: Voyager embraces the spirit of exploration that defines the Star Trek universe.

Is Star Trek: Voyager Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... Longest Running Sci-Fi TV Shows
  • # 12 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 86 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years

seaQuest DSV

seaQuest DSV

seaQuest DSV is a sci-fi series that follows the crew of a high-tech submarine in the future as they embark on underwater missions to explore the depths of the oceans and encounter various challenges and mysteries. Led by Captain Nathan Bridger and a diverse team of scientists and specialists, the crew tackles environmental issues, marine research, and unexpected discoveries beneath the sea.

Reflecting the adventurous spirit of Star Trek: Discovery , seaQuest DSV delves into the exploration of uncharted waters and the wonders of the ocean depths through the lens of futuristic science fiction. Both series showcase a crew of individuals driven by a desire to discover and understand the unknown, whether in the vastness of space or the unexplored realms of the sea. With its focus on marine exploration, environmental issues, and technologically advanced storytelling, seaQuest DSV presents a captivating journey into the mysteries of the ocean that resonates with the spirit of exploration found in iconic space operas.

Is seaQuest DSV Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... David McCallum TV Show/Series Credits
  • And Deeper... TV Shows Produced By Steven Spielberg
  • # 65 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Farscape

Farscape follows astronaut John Crichton who becomes stranded in a distant part of the universe aboard a living spaceship with a motley crew of aliens. The series explores themes of survival, identity, and the complexities of interspecies relationships in a vibrant and unpredictable universe. With its innovative creature design, intergalactic conflicts, and imaginative storytelling, Farscape offers a unique and immersive sci-fi experience.

Like Star Trek: Discovery , Farscape embarks on epic sci-fi adventures that push the boundaries of exploration and encounter in the vastness of space. Both series feature diverse worlds, intricate alien cultures, and character dynamics that add layers of depth to their respective universes. Through its blend of adventure, humor, and drama, Farscape captures the essence of thrilling sci-fi storytelling that resonates with fans of interstellar escapades.

Is Farscape Worth Your Time?

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  • And Deeper... Sci Fi Channel TV Shows/Programs
  • # 15 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Enterprise is set in the 22nd century and follows the crew of Earth's first Warp 5-capable starship, the NX-01 Enterprise, as they embark on pioneering missions of exploration. Led by Captain Jonathan Archer, the team navigates uncharted territories, forges alliances, and uncovers the origins of the United Federation of Planets. With elements of science fiction, adventure, and diplomacy, Star Trek: Enterprise offers a fresh perspective on humanity's interstellar endeavors.

In a manner akin to Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Enterprise embodies the themes of discovery and the quest for knowledge in the unexplored regions of space. Both series showcase the challenges and triumphs of exploration, the complexities of human-alien interactions, and the spirit of discovery that defines the Star Trek franchise. Through its distinct blend of adventure and diplomacy, Star Trek: Enterprise stands as a notable in the Star Trek universe.

Is Star Trek: Enterprise... Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... The Best Star Trek: Enterprise Episodes
  • # 19 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 114 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1 follows a team of military personnel and scientists as they use an ancient alien device to travel to other planets and encounter new civilizations. Led by Colonel Jack O'Neill and archaeologist Daniel Jackson, the team navigates through the Stargate to explore the galaxy, facing enemies and forging alliances along the way. Themes of exploration, teamwork, and diplomacy are interwoven throughout the series, offering a mix of action, adventure, and sci-fi elements.

Much like Star Trek: Discovery , Stargate SG-1 takes viewers on epic sci-fi adventures that delve into the mysteries of space and the complexities of interstellar interactions. Both series capture the essence of exploration, discovery, and the quest for knowledge as characters venture into the unknown to uncover the secrets of the universe. With its entertaining cast of characters and engaging storytelling,iprovides a thrilling and immersive experience in the realm of science fiction.

Is Stargate SG-1 Worth Your Time?

  • # 61 of 144 on The Best Of Premium Cable TV Series
  • # 4 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Dark Matter

Dark Matter

In the realm of science fiction, Dark Matter follows a group of amnesiac individuals who wake up on a derelict spaceship with no memory of their identities. As they piece together their pasts and navigate the dangers of space, they uncover dark secrets and hidden agendas that challenge their trust in each other.

Much like Star Trek: Discovery , Dark Matter unfolds in the vastness of space, where a diverse group of characters must confront their pasts and navigate the complexities of life aboard a spaceship. Both series contain characters grappling with the challenges of their environment and the unknown threats lurking in the cosmos. With its blend of mystery, intrigue, and character development, Dark Matter offers a captivating space opera that captures the essence of exploration and survival.

Is Dark Matter Worth Your Time?

  • # 31 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 97 of 355 on TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time
  • # 89 of 263 on The 195+ Best TV Shows With Female Leads

Falling Skies

Falling Skies

Falling Skies is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi series that follows a group of survivors led by former history professor Tom Mason as they resist alien occupation and seek to reclaim Earth from extraterrestrial invaders. The characters navigate a world devastated by an alien invasion while uncovering the truth behind the alien motives and their own place in the grand scheme of the universe. Starring Noah Wyle as Tom Mason and Moon Bloodgood as Anne Glass, Falling Skies blends elements of action, drama, and sci-fi in a gripping tale of humanity's fight against overwhelming odds.

Drawing parallels to Star Trek: Discovery , Falling Skies embarks on a journey of uncovering the mysteries of the unknown, as characters navigate through a post-apocalyptic landscape rife with alien technology and existential threats. With its focus on survival, camaraderie, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity, Falling Skies offers a compelling narrative that resonates with the spirit of discovery and courage found in iconic sci-fi tales.

Is Falling Skies Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... The Best 'Falling Skies' Seasons, Ranked
  • # 47 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 44 of 56 on The 55+ Best Teen Sci-Fi And Fantasy TV Series

For All Mankind

For All Mankind

For All Mankind is a sci-fi drama series that reimagines an alternate history where the global space race never ended, leading to a continued rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union in the quest for dominance beyond Earth. Set against the backdrop of NASA's efforts to reach the moon and beyond, the series explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the impact of technological advancements on society through the eyes of astronauts and engineers.

Mirroring the exploration themes of Star Trek: Discovery , For All Mankind delves into the interstellar race for dominance and the untapped potential of humanity's quest for the stars. Both series embrace space exploration, scientific innovation, and the human spirit's indomitable drive to conquer the unknown as characters navigate through the challenges of space missions and geopolitical tensions. With its blend of historical speculation, character dynamics, and technological marvels, For All Mankind presents a thought-provoking journey into an alternate reality where space exploration shapes the course of human history.

Is For All Mankind Worth Your Time?

  • # 11 of 38 on The 25+ Best Current Sci-Fi Shows
  • # 4 of 25 on The Best Current TV Shows About Space
  • # 38 of 68 on The Best Shows On Friday Night In 2024

The Expanse

The Expanse

The Expanse is a sci-fi series set in a future where humanity has colonized the system, leading to political tensions and conflicts between Earth, Mars, and the Belt. As tensions escalate and a mysterious alien protomolecule emerges, a disparate group of characters, including Detective Joe Miller and Executive Officer James Holden, find themselves caught in a web of intrigue and interstellar conspiracy. Through its intricate world-building, complex characters, and grand-scale storytelling, The Expanse explores themes of power, survival, and the consequences of human ambition in the vastness of space.

In a manner reminiscent of Star Trek: Discovery , The Expanse follows a diverse ensemble of characters driven by a compelling need to explore the unknown and uncover the secrets of the universe. Both series embrace the complexities of human nature as characters navigate through treacherous space environments and encounter unforeseen threats. With its blend of thrilling space opera, political drama, and moral quandaries, The Expanse captivates viewers with its epic scope and thought-provoking narratives.

Is The Expanse Worth Your Time?

  • # 2 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 168 of 650 on The 500+ Best Drama Shows
  • # 27 of 58 on The Best Science Fiction Franchises Of All Time

Firefly

In the realm of sci-fi westerns, Firefly tells the story of Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his ragtag crew aboard the spaceship Serenity as they navigate a lawless galaxy. Set in a universe where multiple planets have been colonized, the series explores themes of freedom, loyalty, and survival amidst political unrest. With a talented cast that includes Nathan Fillion as Mal, Gina Torres as Zoe, and Alan Tudyk as Wash, Firefly blends elements of space opera, adventure, and humor in a unique and captivating narrative

Drawing inspiration from the original Star Trek series, Firefly embarks on spacefaring adventures that celebrate diversity, exploration, and the spirit of camaraderie among a misfit crew aboard a spaceship. Both series capture the essence of interstellar exploration, moral dilemmas, and the search for belonging in a vast and unpredictable universe. With its blend of genre-bending storytelling and dynamic character interactions, Firefly stands as a beloved sci-fi series that pays homage to the legacy of the pioneering sci-fi franchise.

Is Firefly Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... 14 Fun Facts About Joss Whedon's 'Firefly' Even Diehard Fans Don't Know
  • And Deeper... Morena Baccarin TV Show/Series Credits
  • # 1 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine centers around Commander Benjamin Sisko and the diverse characters aboard the space station of the same name. With a focus on political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and personal growth, the series dives deep into the complexities of its ensemble cast. Through its exploration of new alien species and human perseverance, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine offers a unique perspective within the Star Trek universe.

In the vein of Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine showcases themes of exploration, cooperation, and discovery. Both series feature rich narratives, diverse characters, and engaging plotlines that capture the essence of the Star Trek franchise. With shared focus on adventure, diplomacy, and teamwork, both shows exemplify the enduring appeal of Star Trek storytelling.

Is Star Trek: Deep Space ... Worth Your Time?

  • # 10 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Stargate Atlantis

Stargate Atlantis

Stargate Atlantis follows a team of explorers who travel to the lost city of Atlantis in the Pegasus Galaxy, where they encounter ancient technologies, hostile alien species, and the mysteries of a long-lost civilization. Led by Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Colonel John Sheppard, the team embarks on missions of discovery, defense, and survival as they navigate the challenges of a new galaxy. Themes of exploration, cooperation, and adaptation drive the series, offering thrilling and immersive space adventure.

Like Star Trek: Discovery , Stargate Atlantis transports viewers to the depths of space where a diverse team of characters must navigate unknown territories and confront the dangers lurking in the unexplored regions of the galaxy. Both series capture the spirit of space exploration, teamwork, and the pursuit of knowledge as characters face challenges, form alliances, and uncover the mysteries of the universe. With its blend of adventure, science fiction, and intergalactic conflicts, Stargate Atlantis offers a captivating journey into the wonders and perils of space exploration.

Is Stargate Atlantis Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... The Best Stargate Atlantis Episodes
  • And Deeper... Brad Wright Shows and TV Series
  • # 14 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time

Stargate Universe

Stargate Universe

Stargate Universe is a sci-fi series that follows a group of individuals who find themselves stranded aboard an ancient spaceship called Destiny on the other side of the universe. As they struggle to survive and uncover the mysteries of the ship, the crew encounters new worlds, alien threats, and moral dilemmas. Led by characters like Colonel Everett Young and Dr. Nicholas Rush, the team must band together to navigate the challenges of space exploration and self-discovery.

Echoing the spirit of exploration and curiosity in Star Trek: Discovery , Stargate Universe chronicles the adventures of a group of individuals as they traverse the cosmos aboard a mysterious spacecraft. Both series delve into themes of survival, teamwork, and the quest for knowledge as characters confront the unknown and face personal growth through their interstellar journeys. With its focus on distant galaxies, alien encounters, and the human drive for exploration, Stargate Universe offers a compelling narrative that resonates with the spirit of discovery.

Is Stargate Universe Worth Your Time?

  • # 49 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 105 of 355 on TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time
  • # 161 of 218 on The 220 Best Cult TV Shows

The Outer Limits

The Outer Limits

The Outer Limits is a sci-fi anthology series that explores speculative fiction and moral dilemmas through a range of thought-provoking and eerie scenarios. Each episode presents a standalone story featuring unique characters, settings, and futuristic technologies, challenging viewers to contemplate the boundaries of science and human nature. With a rotating cast of actors and diverse storytelling styles, The Outer Limits offers a diverse and captivating exploration of the unknown and the unexplained.

In a manner reminiscent of Star Trek: Discovery , The Outer Limits delves into the realms of the mysterious and the uncharted, inviting audiences to ponder existential questions and ethical quandaries in the face of the enigmatic. Both series embrace themes of exploration, existentialism, and the quest for understanding as characters navigate through surreal and mind-bending narratives that push the boundaries of imagination. With its anthology format, thematic depth, and thought-provoking storytelling, The Outer Limits presents a captivating journey into the realms of the unknown that challenges perceptions and sparks curiosity.

Is The Outer Limits Worth Your Time?

  • # 56 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 70 of 355 on TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time

The Ark

The Ark is a sci-fi series that follows a group of survivors aboard a massive spaceship, The Ark, as they flee a dying Earth in search of a new home in the distant reaches of the galaxy. Led by Captain Samantha Caldwell and a diverse crew, the inhabitants of The Ark must navigate through unknown territories, encounter alien species, and grapple with internal conflicts as they strive to ensure the survival of humanity.

In a narrative reminiscent of Star Trek: Discovery , The Ark charts a course through uncharted space, as characters embark on a perilous journey to find a new home amidst the unknown vastness of the cosmos. Both series delve into ideas of exploration, unity, and the search for a better future as characters confront the mysteries of the universe and the trials of interspecies diplomacy. With its blend of spacefaring adventure, moral complexity, and character-driven narratives, The Ark offers a compelling odyssey into the uncharted territories of the galaxy that resonates with viewers seeking stories of courage and discovery in the outer galaxies.

Is The Ark Worth Your Time?

  • # 170 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 13 of 25 on The Best Current TV Shows About Space
  • # 17 of 40 on The Best Sci-Fi Shows Of 2024, Ranked

Torchwood

Torchwood is a sci-fi series that follows a covert team led by Captain Jack Harkness, tasked with investigating and combating alien threats in modern-day Cardiff. As they navigate through extraterrestrial encounters and moral dilemmas, the team delves into the mysteries of the universe while dealing with personal struggles and ethical dilemmas. Featuring a diverse cast including John Barrowman as Captain Jack and Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Torchwood blends elements of sci-fi, mystery, and action in a thrilling exploration of the unknown.

Echoing the quest for answers in Star Trek: Discovery , Torchwood showcases a team of operatives who delve into the enigmatic world of alien phenomena and uncover the truths behind the unexplained. Both series delve into themes of discovery, identity, and the pursuit of knowledge as characters confront the mysteries of the universe and grapple with the unknown. With its blend of intrigue, supernatural elements, and character-driven narratives, Torchwood offers a gripping tale of exploration and revelation that resonates with fans of interstellar adventures.

Is Torchwood Worth Your Time?

  • # 14 of 253 on The 250+ Best BBC One Shows, Ranked
  • # 36 of 281 on The 260+ Best SciFi Shows Of All Time
  • # 219 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
  • Star Trek Franchise
  • Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+)
  • Star Trek Universe
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These are the shows that you definitely should be watching, along with a few that you should avoid.

History's Most Overrated TV Shows

10 Shows to Watch After Star Trek Discovery

If you've got an unquenchable thirst for sci-fi action until Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 airs, these 10 series should tide you over.

Credit: John Medland/CBS

Another season of Star Trek: Discovery has come and gone; most fans and critics seemed to like the second installment even better than the first. CBS has already confirmed that the adventures of the U.S.S. Discovery will continue into a third season, but that's at least a year off — and probably longer.

Until then, if you have an unquenchable thirst for thoughtful sci-fi action, these 10 series should tide you over. Whether you want to see other adventures in the Star Trek universe, thoughtful narratives that require you to invest for a whole season, or lighthearted spoofs to help allay some of the seriousness, check out these other sci-fi franchises that are worth your time.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993 - 1999)

Credit: CBS/Getty

This probably goes without saying, but if you like Star Trek: Discovery and haven't worked your way through the other six series, there are more than 700 other episodes – all about the U.S.S. Enterprise, Harry Mudd, the Mirror Universe, Section 31, the Boreth Monastery and tons of other Star Trek mainstays – that have worked their way into Discovery so far. Rather than have six separate entries, though, I'll recommend Deep Space Nine, especially if you haven't seen a lot of other Trek series before.

Like Discovery, Deep Space Nine has one continuous story rather than episodic adventures. The series also deals with a galactic war, a protagonist who makes difficult moral compromises, and the rogue intelligence operatives of Section 31. To say more would spoil a lot of the show's best moments, but Deep Space Nine is easily the closest cousin to Discovery in both story and tone. However, to learn more about Capt. Pike and Mr. Spock, check out Star Trek: The Original Series; to learn more about the U.S.S. Defiant and the Mirror Universe, watch Enterprise.

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Legion (2017 - Present)

Credit: Suzanne Tenner/FX

Just like Star Trek: Discovery put a fresh spin on a very old franchise, Legion does the same for X-Men. Rather than focus on everyone's favorite team of misunderstood mutants, Legion puts David Haller, aka Legion (Dan Stevens), front and center. Instead of an unflappable crimefighter, Haller is a semi-psychotic weirdo, constantly trying to balance his desire to do good against his insurmountable mental health issues.

But fans who know Legion from the comics need not fret; Season 2 hewed a lot closer to the source material, demonstrating how Haller's strange powers are slowly corrupting his mind and blurring the line between good and evil. I won't spoil the twist from the source material, but you'll want to tune into Season 3 to see just who Legion really is.

The Orville (2017 - Present)

Credit: Fox

I'll level with you up front: I'm not an enormous fan of The Orville. I think its flippant attitude is constantly at odds with some of its legitimately good sci-fi ideas. I think its characters are grating, the banter isn't actually that funny, and the traditional jokes are too few and far between. And yet, I'd be foolish to dismiss the series out of hand — and so too, I think, would other Discovery fans.

Even if The Orville is not exactly a space opera to last the ages, it is one of very, very few half-decent space exploration shows that is currently airing. The series has interpersonal drama, futuristic action, an ongoing narrative, weird-looking aliens — in other words, it has  all the same elements that people like about Star Trek, but dialed way back to the most casual interpretation possible. Maybe watch this one late at night .

Black Mirror (2011 - Present)

Credit: Jonathan Prime/Netflix

Black Mirror is the one entry on this list with no ongoing story, which may make it seem like an odd choice. Every episode of Black Mirror is (almost) totally standalone, and most of them take place right here on Earth, in an era that approximates the modern day. But if Control, the villainous rogue AI, was your favorite part of Discovery's second eason, Black Mirror is an easy recommendation.

That's because about half of the show's 20 episodes involve some variation on the "AI gone wrong" theme. From using algorithms to revive the dead in "Be Right Back," to survivors evading murderous, adaptive robots in "Metalhead," the idea that AI can and probably will turn against us is a recurring theme in this dark anthology. In fact, use and misuse of AI is at the center of "U.S.S. Callister," Black Mirror's excellent homage to classic Star Trek.

Star Wars : The Clone Wars (2008 - 2014)

Credit: Lucasfilm

We're probably never going to resolve the eternal debate between Star Trek and Star Wars, but I think we can at least agree that each series has different strengths and weaknesses. One weakness of Star Wars, for example, is that the narrative never spent much time fleshing out Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker's relationship in the prequels, leaving fans to wonder just when, why and how the aloof master and the contentious apprentice got to be so close, anyway.

Enter Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a six-season, animated series that deals with the nitty-gritty of what happened between Episodes II and III. Like Star Trek, The Clone Wars focuses on the character drama among a strong central cast, including Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor), Anakin (Matt Lanter) and Anakin's new apprentice, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein). The tightly constructed, continuous story deals with the moral grayness of war, and introduces a large, affable cast of recurring secondary characters.

Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009)

Credit: Carole Segal/SyFy

The original Battlestar Galactica series was a cult hit back in 1978, but it wasn't until 2004 that the premise got the deep, nuanced treatment that it deserved. This dark reboot follows the adventures of Cmdr. William Adama (Edward James Olmos) and his crew aboard the Battlestar Galactica. This enormous starship must lead a motley fleet to humanity's fabled new home following a devastating attack by the robotic Cylons.

Like Discovery, Battlestar Galactica has a smart, evolving narrative that requires you to pay attention to every episode to get the full story. The series also has evil artificial life forms, shocking plot twists, and plenty of starship combat. If you ever wondered how a Star Trek series would play out if the heroes couldn't always fall back on the United Federation of Planets for assistance, Battlestar Galactica is about as close as you can get.

Firefly (2002)

Credit: Fox

Perhaps the most beloved (or at least the most recognizable) show that should have lasted for more than one season, Firefly still holds up pretty well. This space opera follows Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his ragtag crew of outlaws aboard the starship Serenity as they fend for themselves in a futuristic galaxy that looks and feels an awful lot like the Old West. While the show is more episodic and playful than Discovery, it has the same attention to detail when it comes to world-building, character development and big action-set pieces.

While it's true that the series ran for only 14 episodes, fans did at least get a pretty definitive ending in Serenity, the 2005 feature film based on the series. Beyond that, the show has been dormant since 2005, although it's not all bad news. Fans can follow the Serenity's continuing adventures in comic book, novel and tabletop role-playing game formats.

Futurama (1999 - 2013)

Credit: Futurama TM and 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Futurama is one of those rare shows that has it all. Yes, there's a sense of continuity; characters and story threads evolve over time. Yes, there's a little wry social commentary baked into every episode. And yes, the show is unbelievably funny, whether it's satirizing creationism or portraying Richard Nixon on a robotic rampage , Futurama is equal parts sublime and ridiculous. And if you've been on a season-long binge of dark intrigue and startling reversals, it might be worth reminding yourself that space can be fun, too.

To sum up the story briefly, Philip J. Fry (Billy West) is a late-20th-century loser who gets cryogenically frozen until the year 3000. Thereafter, he takes on a job as an intergalactic delivery boy, teaming up with the one-eyed Capt. Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal) and alcoholic robot Bender (John DiMaggio) aboard the Planet Express Ship. Every delivery is a new opportunity for something to go hilariously wrong, which it usually does.

Babylon 5 (1994 - 1998)

Credit: Everett Collection

Sure, Star Trek also has a series about a space station that winds up at the center of a galactic war, but only Babylon 5 has a plethora of Lord of the Rings references along the way. This show tells the story of Babylon 5, a gigantic space station wherein humans and aliens try to work out their differences peacefully in order to prevent wars from breaking out. That's a noble idea, but when a mysterious race called the Shadows reappears after ravaging the galaxy 1,000 years earlier, peace can only hold for so long.

Like Discovery, almost every episode of Babylon 5 is important, and there are continuous story threads that run from the very first episode all the way through the very last one. While the cast changes frequently, Discovery fans are also sure to enjoy the plucky, outspoken Cmdr. Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian), who may have set the stage for a character like Michael Burnham.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)

Credit: United Archives/Newscom

While I can't speak for everyone in the world, I have personally never met a Star Trek fan who didn't also love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. This BBC adaptation of Douglas Adams' timeless novel stars Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, the hapless, bathrobe-clad Brit who winds up traveling around the universe, learning that life is just as absurd everywhere else as it is on Earth.

Just about everything from the book makes a faithful appearance here, from the two-headed President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox (Mark Wing-Davey), to the starship Heart of Gold, powered by the sheer improbability of quickly crossing intergalactic distances. Star Trek fans can also rest easy, as Hitchhiker's Guide contains plenty of biting social satire, as well as some genuinely clever sci-fi ideas, particularly regarding organic computers. If you haven't seen it yet, Don't Panic – just be sure to bring your towel.

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Marshall Honorof

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi. 

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series like star trek discovery

Pocket-lint

If you love star trek: discovery watch these shows next.

So you've binged your way through Star Trek Discovery and wanting to find a new sci-fi series to jump into next? Well, look no further.

You've binged out on two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery and are now after a new sci-fi series to get your teeth into while you're stuck inside? Well, look no further.

Pocket-lint has brought you a curated list of recommended shows across a range of services from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Rakuten TV and Sky to the most popular free players including BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub.

The below shows should more than satisfy your science fiction yearnings.

  • Where:  Rakuten TV / Sky
  • When:  Available to buy now

Written by Jonathan Nolan (The Prestige, Interstellar), the Westworld reboot series is a complex tale of robots rising to rebel against human rule, having previously only existed as playthings in an "everything goes" theme park. It is clever, poignant and beautifully shot. A third series also landed on Sky Atlantic at the beginning of March 2020, so now's the perfect time to catch up with Season 1 and 2.

Season 1 is available to buy on Rakuten TV, while Season 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky if you have a subscription.

Altered Carbon

  • Where: Netflix
  • When: Available now

Created by Late Kalogridis, Altered Carbon sees a prisoner return to life in a new body after 250 years on ice, with a chance to win his freedom by solving a mind-bending murder. There's two seasons of this excellent series with a cast including Anthony Mackie, Lela Loren and Simone Missick. 

The Expanse

  • Where: Amazon Prime Video
  • When:  Available now

Based on The Expanse novels by James S. A. Corey, this award-winning series was picked up by Amazon after being originally cancelled - a move that has proved a masterstroke by the streaming service and will result in a new fifth season. It is set one hundred years into the future, when mankind has colonised the Solar System and deals with potential hostilities between Earth and Mars.

The War of the Worlds

  • Where:  Sky

Another series to focus on hostilities between our planet and Mars is the BBC adaptation of H. G. Wells 1897 novel. We've seen a few small and big screen versions in the past, including the 2005 Steven Spielberg movie starring Tom Cruise, but this one remains more true to the source material. It is a three-part mini-series set in the Edwardian era and shows the chilling results of a Martian invasion.

Battlestar Galactica

  • Where:  Amazon Prime Video

Possibly our favourite sci-fi reboot of all time, the 2000s Battlestar Galactica started with a mini-series and then stretched out into four additional seasons. We still love its realistic, militaristic take on space battles and the swap to more fatal form factors for the evil Cylons.

  • Where: BBC iPlayer

The BBC has the entirety of post-relaunch Doctor Who available to watch for free, that's every episode of the 11 series released since 2005. Currently, Jodie Whittaker stars as the Thirteenth Doctor in the show that seemingly goes from strength to strength each year.

Star Trek: Picard

  • Where:  Amazon Prime Video

Star Trek: Picard sees Patrick Stewart return to the role he played for more than 170 TV episodes and several movies across the 90s and early 2000s. It is one of the most eagerly anticipated shows around and is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video outside of the US.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian

  • Where: Disney+
  • When: Available from 24 March

Written by Jon Favreau, Star Wars: The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. It follows the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic and the original series is available exclusively through the Disney+ streaming service. Good news too, a second series has already started filming.

Den of Geek

The Best Sci-Fi TV Shows and Movies Inspired by Star Trek

From classic space adventures to parodies to stories about loving Star Trek, these are the best TV series and movies inspired by the Final Frontier.

series like star trek discovery

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Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek is one of best and most well-known science fiction franchises of all time, so it’s no surprise that it’s had a huge influence on the rest of the genre. From other space-faring adventures to distant worlds to straight up parodies of the Enterprise and its crew, there are plenty of shows and movies that owe a bit to Gene Roddenberry ‘s creation.

This is not a list of every single show or film that has been inspired by Star Trek because that list would cover a pretty good proportion of sci-fi on screen since 1966. But if you want to watch something Star Trek -adjacent, we’ve picked out 10 of our favorite shows and movies that were, to a greater or lesser degree, inspired by Star Trek .

Back in 1998, BBC 2 ran a Red Dwarf Night featuring interviews with celebrity fans, one of whom was Patrick Stewart. Stewart talked about how he was channel hopping (remember that, fellow oldies?) one night around 1993 or 1994 and came across something that, to his own “horror and outrage”, appeared to be a “rip-off” of Star Trek: The Next Generation . He was reaching for the phone to call his lawyer, “when something happened that made me laugh – and it was something that certainly would not have happened on The Next Generation .” Stewart realized the show was a comedy, not a cheap rip-off, started laughing, and became a fan.

Red Dwarf actually started around the same time as Next Gen , both being developed from 1986, though Red Dwarf was delayed in getting to air until 1988 due to an electricians’ strike. Following the misadventures of the last human being alive as he embarks on a 3 million year journey to get back to Earth, the series combines elements of a few different space-set shows and films, including Silent Running and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , but there is clearly a hefty dose of Star Trek: The Original Series in there. As time went on, more and more Next Generation crept in as well, especially with the addition of android crewmember Kryten as a full time cast member in Series 3.

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Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1 was spun off from the 1994 Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich film Stargate , and the basic premise comes directly from that film: a US Air Force team go through a mysterious gate found in Egypt to another planet – or, in the case of the TV show, lots of other planets. When the show was adapted for television, although it did not feature many spaceships until later seasons, it did start to draw on the well-established tropes of Planet of the Week style space opera that Star Trek helped to popularize. The tortured military hero gained a wise-cracking style to suit star Richard Dean Anderson that aligned him more with “always a joke at the end of the episode” Kirk, the typical 1990s-nerdy Egyptologist slowly became more of a respected expert who sneezed less often, and more importantly the team gained a woman who was not sold to the Egyptology nerd in marriage (yes that is really the plot of the movie and yes, she calls him out on it) and a stoic alien.

The addition of Teal’c is where we can really see the influence of Star Trek creeping in because Teal’c is basically the love child of Spock and Worf, in the best way. He is extremely calm and composed – he has very deep emotions, but he keeps them under the surface and meditates frequently. He is also quite fond of a raised eyebrow. The “scientist” position on the team was already taken by Carter, so Teal’c fulfills the “warrior” role. Standing out as a warrior in a military setting is quite the task, but like Worf, Teal’c’s “honorable warrior” approach and fondess for his own culture’s weapons marks him out as a warrior among warriors.

Futurama follows Philip J Fry, who accidentally falls into a cryogenic freezer on New Year’s Day in 2000 and wakes up on December 31, 2999 (and leaves his dog behind, in quite possibly the most traumatic episode of television ever made). Fry finds work with his distant nephew (an elderly man) at a delivery company called Planet Express. Being a science fiction comedy set in a future full of spaceships, there are of course references to Star Trek scattered throughout, and the short-skirted, egotistical, womanizing recurring character Captain Zapp Brannigan clearly has more than a bit of Kirk in him.

Futurama also incorporated Star Trek into its stories more directly on occasion. The show’s very first guest star was Leonard Nimoy as his own cryogenically preserved head, welcoming Fry to the Head Museum (a regular feature on the series). And later there was a whole episode dedicated to Star Trek itself, “Where No Fan Has Gone Before.” In this episode, Fry discovers that Star Trek inspired a whole religion, which led to the Star Trek Wars, which led to the show and everything associated with it being banned. But a powerful alien being has watched the whole show, and has given the preserved heads of most of the original actors new bodies so they can participate in an eternal Star Trek convention. It’s a loving, joyous send-up of the show and features all but one of the then-surviving original cast members plus, inevitably, Jonathan Frakes, because every spin-off of Star Trek in any form must feature Jonathan Frakes in some role. This is the Rule.

Battlestar Galactica (reboot)

Battlestar Galactica 2003/4 – 2009 is a reimagining of the original 1979 series Battlestar Galactica , so needless to say its main point of reference is that show (though the original has some connections with Star Trek as well, as we covered here ). But it was also developed, executive produced, and had many episodes written by Ronald D. Moore, who first earned his stripes as a writer on The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , and briefly on Voyager before his working relationship with his writing partner Brannon Braga broke down and he left.

While in many ways Battlestar Galactica was deliberately the anti- Star Trek – featuring a somewhat grimmer world view and an even higher body count – it also had many similarities, inevitably, since they are both set on space ships and led by a ship’s Captain or Commander. But Moore also emphasized some of the most interesting themes of 1990s Star Trek in his noughties version of BSG . Having left Voyager after only a couple of episodes, he obviously felt he had more to say about a spaceship on a long journey to get to Earth. And he had done a lot of work on Deep Space Nine , at the time the grittiest Star Trek series (possibly overtaken by Discovery or Picard since then– argue that out in the comments!). DS9 ’s penchant for morally gray characters and storylines and for stories based around a mysterious alien religion is clearly reflected in the themes emphasized by Moore’s reimagining of Battlestar Galactica .

Firefly/Serenity

Firefly (and its follow-up movie Serenity ) is another show that, on the surface, seems to be deliberately doing something different to Star Trek . Set in the future and following the crew of a spaceship, it has a Western-inspired vibe. The ship has a courtesan and a mercenary on board, and the use of Chinese phrases scattered among the English seems to be a reaction against the perceived tendency of Star Trek and other series to make the future look very American (somewhat unfairly, and Uhura’s native language is very specifically established as Swahili in “The Changeling,” although she is admonished and told to speak English which is especially odd as they all have Universal Translators… but we digress).

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But actually, Firefly is very directly inspired by Star Trek , which was famously conceived by Gene Roddenberry as a “wagon train to the stars.” Its even more famous tag line describes space as “the final frontier,” clearly positioning the show as basically a Western in space. Firefly takes that basic idea but goes in a different direction with it. Instead of focusing on the exploration aspect of the movement of immigrants to America ever further west in the 19th century, Firefly picks up on other elements of Westerns and Western tropes – particularly the lawlessness in a frontier environment with minimal law enforcement. It is the yin to Star Trek ’s yang.

WALL-E ’s most obvious and immediate inspirations are the films Silent Running and 2001: A Space Odyssey , but if you look closely, there is a good bit of Star Trek in there as well. It is, of course, largely set on a spaceship and one of the main characters is the ship’s captain – so far, so superficial.

But there are deeper connections to Star Trek here. One of the things that is notable about WALL-E is just how good and well-intentioned all the future human characters are. The present-day human character played by Fred Willard, and by implication all the other present-day humans, are somewhat terrible, but all of the future humans we meet are good people who are open to new experiences when they are exposed to them. Their sedentary, passive lifestyles are simply what they have been taught and brought up with. The simplest and briefest exposure to the world around them, even just by being accidentally toppled out of their mobile chairs, sets them off on a journey of discovery, and the ship’s captain is thrilled and excited to learn more about Earth and about his own ship’s true mission. That attitude is pure Star Trek – a passion for discovery and exploration, even when it is one that ultimately leads back to Earth again.

The Orville

There was a point, around 2017-2019, when The Orville was famous for being more like Star Trek than Star Trek . This is not meant – by us anyway – as a criticism of Star Trek: Discovery , which is a great show. But in its first two seasons, Discovery deliberately leaned away from some of the Star Trek series that had come before, following a disgraced former mutineer instead of a Captain or Commander, featuring a morally dubious Captain who actually turned out to be “evil,” focusing on war and trauma, and using arc-based instead of episodic storytelling. It was pretty similar to Deep Space Nine in many ways, but for fans of the more upbeat, Planet of the Week, episodic storytelling of the Original Series , The Next Generation , or Voyager , it was a bit of a shock ( Star Trek: Enterprise , like Discovery , re-tooled itself somewhat halfway through).

The Orville , on the other hand, basically is Star Trek in the 1990s mold of Next Gen or Voyager . Seven episodes of the show were actually written by Brannon Braga with his new writing partner, former scientific consultant on Star Trek , André Bormanis. And yes, writers are of course capable of writing different things, but although The Orville started out as a Star Trek spoof, pretty much the only difference between the two by season 3 is that people on the Orville sometimes eat pot brownies.

The show also stars Deep Space Nine ’s Penny Johnson Jerald in a regular role as the ship’s doctor, and has guest-starred Next Gen ’s Marina Sirtis, Voyager’ s Robert Picardo and Tim Russ, and Enterprise ’s John Billingsley, and the show’s directors include Star Trek ’s Brannon Braga, Robert Duncan McNeill and, of course, Jonathan Frakes. So it must be Star Trek .

Avenue 5 is a sadly short-lived science fiction comedy that blends elements of Voyager , Red Dwarf , and WALL-E . It takes from Red Dwarf and Voyager the basic plot that a spaceship has ended up a long way from home, and an essential crew member has been killed and must somehow be replaced. It then adds a well-meaning Captain who was only ever intended to be a figurehead, and not to actually run the ship, from WALL-E . Hilarity – and some surprisingly shocking deaths – ensue.

Although the somewhat less than inspirational characters skew closer to Red Dwarf , Battlestar Galactica , or Firefly , Avenue 5 shows its Star Trek side pretty clearly in the hiring of Voyager ’s Ethan Phillips (Neelix) as former astronaut Spike Martin. It also features an entire plot line built around the ability to split the ship into two, a clear reference to one of the Enterprise -D’s most famous (and least used) features.

Avengers: Endgame

This one is probably the biggest surprise on this list. Granted, it does feature spaceships and space travel, but as a big budget superhero film, it does not obviously have much in common with space opera.

What connects the second-highest grossing film of all time with Star Trek is the importance of the ensemble and the relationship between a group and its leader. Kevin Feige has mentioned a couple of times (both times speaking to Entertainment Weekly ) that he loves The Next Generation and that he had its final episode “All Good Things” in mind when developing Avengers: Endgame . “All Good Things” (written by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore) has some time-hopping going on that is not dissimilar to Endgame , but Feige talked specifically about the very last scene, when Picard finally sits down to play poker with his senior officers. That relationship between the Captain and his crew and them all coming together, just like the shawarma-based post-credits in the first Avengers film, is what Feige really wanted to take from Star Trek and incorporate into the MCU.

The film also takes its title from the final episode of Voyager and directly lifts its closing images featuring the autographs of the actors playing the six main characters from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , the final film focusing on the original Star Trek crew played by their original actors, symbolizing its similar position as a grand ending to the earliest phase of a franchise.

Galaxy Quest

We’re finishing with a film and a show that are not just “inspired by” Star Trek – to all intents and purposes, they are Star Trek , or very nearly. The premise for 1999’s Galaxy Quest is that aliens have been watching a Star Trek -like show and mistaken it for “historical documents,” so when they find themselves facing an enemy they can’t defeat, they crash a convention to ask the “crew” of the NSEA Protector for help. With a cast led by Tim Allen (a perfect Shatner-a-like), Sigourney Weaver (of course), and Alan Rickman (whose sad passing is the reason a proposed TV show never got off the ground), the resulting story is hilarious, heart-warming, and heart-breaking in equal amounts.

Galaxy Quest is perfect. It just is. If you are a Star Trek fan and you haven’t seen it, why not? Go and watch it immediately! You will never be able to watch an episode of Star Trek without quoting a line from Galaxy Quest ever again (especially not the Original Series episode “Arena”). Hear yourself constantly saying, “I’m the guy that dies to show the situation is serious!” “Quick, let’s get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!” “Does the rolling help?” “I see you managed to get your shirt off,” “Whoever wrote this episode should die!” and of course, “That’s not right!” And I know I just spoiled several of the funniest lines, but go and watch it anyway, I promise it’s worth it.

Juliette Harrisson

Juliette Harrisson | @ClassicalJG

Juliette Harrisson is a writer and historian, and a lifelong Trekkie whose childhood heroes were JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. She runs a YouTube channel called…

Shows similar to Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery image

1 . The Orville

Created by Seth MacFarlane, this show serves as both a homage and a light-hearted parody of Star Trek. Viewers of Discovery looking for a blend of science fiction and comedy with serious undertones will find The Orville to be an engaging watch.

The Expanse image

2 . The Expanse

A science fiction series with a complex, politically charged plot that spans the solar system. Those who enjoy the serialized narrative, world-building, and ethical complexities of Discovery are likely to get hooked on The Expanse.

Star Trek: The Next Generation image

3 . Star Trek: The Next Generation

As the successor to the original Star Trek series, The Next Generation continues to explore strange new worlds and new civilizations. Fans of Discovery's narrative complexity and ethical quandaries would enjoy the adventures of Captain Picard and his crew.

Star Trek: Picard image

4 . Star Trek: Picard

This series follows the later years of Jean-Luc Picard, prominently known from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Fans of Star Trek: Discovery's deep character exploration and engagement with Star Trek lore will appreciate the continuing voyage with Picard.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine image

5 . Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Centering on a space station rather than a starship, Deep Space Nine delves into political intrigue and wartime narratives within the Star Trek universe. Similar to Discovery, it pushes the boundaries of traditional Star Trek storytelling.

Star Trek: Voyager image

6 . Star Trek: Voyager

Voyager follows the journey of a starship stranded in a distant part of the galaxy. Discovery fans will appreciate Voyager's character development and its emphasis on exploration and the challenges of returning home.

Stargate SG-1 image

7 . Stargate SG-1

Focusing on a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien devices called Stargates, SG-1 offers a blend of mythology, adventure, and interstellar conflict that fans of Star Trek: Discovery's exploratory and militaristic elements will enjoy.

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Binge Guide

More like this: love star trek: picard here are 5 more series like it, star trek: picard may be over, but more binge options await. if you need more star trek , paramount+ has your fix. or if you just want more space-based drama, we've got a few other recommendations for you..

series like star trek discovery

TAGGED AS: Paramount , Sci-Fi , science fiction , television , TV

Star Trek: Picard is a Certified Fresh hit once again with its third season at 98% on the Tomatometer. And if the series finale has you ready to engage in similar shows, we’ve got five more like this that you should check out next. Along with more Star Trek and other great sci-fi shows, this list will be your “number one” as we boldly go where — not gonna lie — some have probably gone before.

BRAND-NEW PICK:

series like star trek discovery

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ,  a spin-off of the series Star Trek: Discovery , follows Captain Kirk’s predecessor on the Enterprise , Captain Christopher Pike, as he navigates the decade leading up to the original series.

With a 99% Certified Fresh first season under its belt, it’s clear critics are totally on board. And the consensus gives praise for “recapturing the sense of boundless discovery that defined the franchise’s roots.”

A second season of this Emmy-nominated show arrives June 15. In the meantime, you’ll need about 9 hours to check out the first season.

Where to Watch: by subscription on Paramount+ | buy season 1 on Vudu , Prime Video , or Apple TV

THROWBACK PICK:

Our throwback pick takes us back to the ’60s with the super-groovy original Star Trek series.

And sure, it’s a bit obvious but it’s also a must for this list — whether you’ve seen it already or not. Considered ahead of its time on many levels, it ran from ’66 to ’69 and gave us some pretty iconic characters, ultimately creating a franchise that has lived long and — done pretty well.

Star Trek has an overall Fresh score of 80% for the series with a Certified Fresh first season at 92%. And if you’re not sure about heading back this far for a show, the consensus form critics reminds us that it “may look dated, but its gadgetry and solid storytelling solidify its place as one of pop culture’s most enduring franchises.”

You’ll need about 66 hours to watch all three seasons.

Where to Watch: by subscription on Paramount+ | buy seasons 1-3 on Vudu , Prime Video , or Apple TV

AUDIENCE PICK: 

Battlestar Galactica  is a re-imagining of the ’70s show that ran from 2004 to 2009. It was created by Ronald D. Moore who had previously worked on three different Star Trek series and went on to create the Starz fantasy series Outlander — so he knows what’s up, in other words.

This Edward James Olmos–led show earned 19 Emmy nominations and three wins. And not only was it a hit with fans, but critics also loved it, calling it a “captivating combination of riveting political drama and science fiction.”

You can watch all 74 episodes in just over 54 hours.

Where to Watch: by subscription on Peacock | buy seasons 1-4 on Vudu , Prime Video , or Apple TV

EDITORS’ PICK:

This sci-fi dramedy was created by Seth MacFarlane and is set 400 years in the future on an exploratory ship, that is facing both intergalactic and everyday life problems.

The series has a strong cast led by MacFarlane along with Adrianne Palicki and carries Fresh 77% Tomatometer and 89% Audience scores for its three-season run. Critics call The Orville “fun, focused and surprisingly thoughtful.”

You’re looking at about 26 hours of binge time for this series.

Where to Watch: by subscription on Hulu and Disney+ | buy seasons 1-3 on Vudu , Prime Video , or Apple TV

CERTIFIED FRESH PICK:

And finally, our Certified Fresh pick this week is Prime Video’s The Expanse . This one is set in a not-so-distant future where humanity has colonized the solar system. And clearly fans couldn’t get enough, considering they campaigned to save the show after it was canceled by Syfy.

With six very Fresh seasons, critics like The Expanse because it “blends sci-fi elements and detective noir into a visually compelling whole.”

You’re going to need nearly 62 hours to get through this one. But if you take it one hour at a time, it will only take 62 hours. You’re welcome.

Where to Watch: by subscription on Prime Video | buy seasons 1-6 on Vudu or Apple TV

On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.

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Star Trek: Discovery

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12 Sci-Fi Shows That Fans Of The Expanse Should Watch Next

The Expanse officer smiles

"The Expanse" debuted in 2015 on Syfy and was briefly canceled by the network in 2018 before being  revived by Amazon Studios . The dramatic, big-budget sci-fi adventure was met with limited fanfare but received a strong response from critics for its intriguing story and stellar cast. 

Based on the book series by James S. A. Corey, the adaptation stars Thomas Jane and takes place in a future where the entire solar system has been colonized by different political factions who vie for power. Full of outer space action and mystery, the series was seen as a return to classic space opera adventure with a gritty sci-fi twist. Rife with social commentary and a healthy dose of serious character drama, "The Expanse" became a too often overlooked science fiction stalwart that deftly threaded the needle between political drama and action-adventure.

As noted by The New Tork Times , "The Expanse" was often overshadowed by bigger names despite receiving rave reviews. As such, Amazon Studios announced in 2020 that the sixth season of "The Expanse" would be its last . We'll never know if it might have lasted longer if it had received wider recognition, but there's no denying it has earned its place in the pantheon of great sci-fi. With that in mind, here's a list of thirteen sci-fi dramas fans of "The Expanse" should check out if you're looking for something to binge.

The Killjoys

"The Killjoys" stars  Hannah John-Kamen , Aaron Ashmore, and Luke Macfarlane as interstellar bounty hunters and mercenaries for hire working for the Reclamation Apprehension Coalition. The team spends their days chasing down warrants on criminals and stolen property in the planetary system called The Quad. They are told to remain neutral in conflicts, but when this trio of guns-for-hire finds themselves inserted into clashes between opposing groups, that's easier said than done. 

The series provides the kind of escapist sci-fi that veers more towards the breezy adventure series of the '80s and '90s than the dark and brooding dystopian stories often seen today. Beyond that, the show offers tons of action, fun characters, and plenty of humor while still delivering enough drama and intensity to satisfy viewers.

Full of social commentary and political allegory, "The Killjoys" ran for five seasons, airing every summer from 2015 through 2020. The series proved itself an underrated smash hit with critics, receiving consistently high marks on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes . Noted critic Maureen Ryan of Variety called the show "a light, well-made, zippy TV show that knows what it is and delivers solid action, adventure and character development despite its limited budget."

The CBS sci-fi series "Extant" was executive produced by Steven Spielberg and starred Halle Berry and Goran Visnjic, giving it a superstar pedigree. In the high profile, big-budget production, Berry starred as Molly Woods, an astronaut living aboard the space station Seraphim for an extended 13-month tour. However, when she returns home to Earth, Molly makes two shocking discoveries. First, after a lifetime of infertility and more than a year alone in space, she finds herself somehow pregnant. While Molly processes this discovery, her husband reveals he has invented a lifelike robot named Ethan, who he wants to raise as their child.  

Molly must uncover the truth behind her impossible pregnancy while keeping it a secret from the private space firm that sent her to the Seraphim. At the same time, she struggles to navigate the waters of her new unconventional family, which includes contending with the shadowy corporate figures at the firm who were also involved in Ethan's creation. It all adds up to a tense and gripping space thriller with another great mystery at the heart of its story. 

In "Extant," nothing is quite as it seems, as Molly's investigation leads her in directions you might not expect. The two-season series received positive reactions from critics and viewers alike, per Rotten Tomatoes, and the second season added Jeffrey Dean Morgan and David Morrissey — who both played memorable villains on "The Walking Dead" — to the cast. 

Star Trek: Discovery

If you think you know what kind of show you're going to get because it has "Star Trek" in the title, think again. In a series that has more in common with modern sci-fi fare like "The Expanse" and "Dark Matter," the revival series "Star Trek: Discovery" is more serious, intense, and dark than any of its '80s and '90s forebearers. To diehard Trekkies, this has not always been a welcome change, as noted in a review on Fan Film Factor , but for newer viewers who were never enamored by older "Star Trek" adventures, it could be a reason to tune in. 

Season 1 follows the adventures of a highly advanced starship with an experimental warp drive — the U.S.S. Discovery — under the command of Captain Gabriel Lorca, who recruits a disgraced former officer Michael Burnham to be a mission specialist. Hidden secrets and vast conspiracies lie between their attempts to end a war with the Klingons.

The second season sees the introduction of a new captain played by "Hell on Wheels" star Anson Mount, who leads the crew on a new and critical mission, along with the arrival of iconic franchise star Spock. The third season would see the show vastly altered with a new setting and additions to the cast. Annual shakeups have kept the show fresh, which has helped it garner strong reviews from critics, per  Rotten Tomatoes , despite some criticism from longtime Trekkies. 

Dark Matter

A space adventure series that launched the same year as "The Expanse," in 2015, "Dark Matter" ran for three seasons on Syfy. Based on a deep mystery that runs through the series, "Dark Matter" opens with the crew of a starship awakening from stasis with no memory or identities. They are soon joined by an android assistant sent on a mission to discover who they are and how they ended up drifting in space. 

The crew takes on the names of numbers One through Six and sets out on a quest to learn who they are and how they came to be drifting in space. Driven by this objective,"Dark Matter" puts a new twist on the age-old space opera premise of a rag-tag group of renegades. Set in a hostile galaxy and beset by enemies on all sides, the team must navigate the complex landscape, ferret out a possible traitor, and deal with the sinister secrets they uncover about themselves.

Something of a mixture of "The Expanse" and "Firefly," the series was well-received and earned excellent reviews on Rotten Tomatoes . However, the series may frustrate new viewers as it only received a half-hearted ending before its surprise cancellation in 2017 . Though most of the show's most important questions were resolved, there's been constant talk of an attempted revival to round out the series, including a hint from series creator Joseph Mallozzi in 2021 that he was working on a possible miniseries. Unfortunately, nothing has materialized just yet.

Altered Carbon

Premise-wise, the original Netflix series "Altered Carbon" may have a bit more in common with a movie like "Blade Runner" than "The Expanse." However, the series focuses on drama in a future world of political intrigue that should appeal to sci-fi fans across the board. 

Based on the novel by Richard K. Morgan, "Altered Carbon" is set in the futuristic megalopolis of Bay City, where a person's consciousness can be encoded to disc, also called a cortical stack, and implanted in a new body. The series was headlined by "Suicide Squad" star Joel Kinneman as the latest sleeve, or body, of Takeshi Kovacs, a highly trained member of a militant group called The Envoys. The Envoys lost a bitter war more than two centuries earlier in a bid to take down the world government, and Kovacs is curious to find out exactly what happened. 

When his cortical stack is released from prison and put into a new body, Laurens Bancroft — one of the world's wealthiest elites — offers to give him a new life if he'll use his skills to solve his murder. Once out, Kovacs also hopes to track down people from his past, including surviving members of The Envoys. With a premise that allows for body swaps, Season 2 sees the exit of Kinneman and the introduction of Anthony Mackie , who takes over as the lead role as the new sleeve of Kovacs, allowing the story to continue. Though the second season would be its last, it remains a must-watch for sci-fi fans.

Another Life

"Another Life" is a classic high concept sci-fi series set in a near-future where a massive alien artifact arrives on Earth, bringing with it questions about life outside the solar system. Series star Katee Sackhoff, of "Battlestar Galactica" fame, makes her return to the genre as Niko Breckenridge, the astronaut assigned to lead a team to investigate the craft and its mysterious origins. 

Niko, along with the motley crew of the Salvare, embarks on a cosmic adventure to the furthest reaches of space, opening up a universe of interstellar mystery. The series features classic episodic sci-fi adventures, as the ship and crew encounter all manner problems along their journey into deep space. From wormholes and supernovas to mysterious ailments and tensions among the crew, each episode highlights the mission's high stakes, compounded by the search for answers to the alien artifact.

Though the first season of this Netflix original series didn't go over terribly well with critics, audiences seemed to respond favorably to the space adventure series, as the streaming giant greenlit a second season that aired in 2021, which fans seemed to feel improved on the first year of stories, per Rotten Tomatoes. Full of human drama and scientific discovery, "Another Life" is definitely worth checking out if you enjoyed "The Expanse."

Lost in Space

Like "Star Trek: Discovery," the Netflix series "Lost in Space" was the revival of a decades-old sci-fi franchise. It was the third revival of the series after a failed film in 1998 starring Matt LeBlanc  and an unaired pilot directed by John Woo in 2004, via Collider . However, this time Netflix got the reboot right with a ground-up reinvention of the family-friendly series, turning the show into an epic adventure. 

The newest iteration of "Lost in Space" puts a modern twist on the classic premise while still holding to its 1960s origins. Once again, the series follows the Robinson family, outer space colonists on their way to settle a far-off planet. Unfortunately, things go awry when their ship seemingly malfunctions and careens off course, forcing the family and their friends to survive alone in the depths of space. The original series' robot, B-9, is reimagined as an alien artificial intelligence that joins them after their first crash landing, befriending the young Will Robinson.

Each week the family encounters new dangers and cosmic threats as they search for a new home while also contending with a saboteur in their midst. The series has been a hit for Netflix, receiving praise from critics, per Rotten Tomatoes , and completing three strong seasons, with its final episode airing in 2021.

While it may not quite be the sci-fi action series fans are looking for after "The Expanse," the CBS series "Salvation" offers up similar political drama amidst a cosmic threat. In "Salvation," governments, scientific bodies, and ordinary individuals are all coping with an impending cataclysm from a coming asteroid that will wipe out all life on Earth. 

When the asteroid is discovered, it kicks off more than just government action and global panic. The disappearance of one of the MIT graduate students who spotted it, along with the mysterious death of a government aide, hints at a larger conspiracy that proves as frightening as any disaster. While world powers begin to devise new technologies to stop the incoming planet-killer, some have doubts about where the real danger lies.

Executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, "Salvation" stars Santiago Cabrera as a billionaire industrialist whose technology firm works with the Department of Defense to find a solution to the crisis. Part disaster movie and part political thriller, the series is an apocalyptic drama that takes the best of multiple genres and mixes them in a satisfying way. It received mixed reviews from critics, but better scores from audiences, per Metacritic .

Based on the classic sci-fi novels by visionary author Isaac Asimov that BBC  once called "unfilmable," "Foundation" is a thousand-year story of the downfall and evolution of a vast interstellar civilization. 

The series focuses on Hari Seldon, a brilliant and well-respected scientist who has invented a new form of mathematics called psychohistory that he can use to predict the downfall of the vast galactic empire. It's an ambitious series with lavish production values and a dense story. The narrative follows Seldon as he devises a way to save the empire through the Foundations, two objects located on either side of the universe, which are designed to preserve knowledge and history.

Season 1 earned strong marks from critics, per Rotten Tomatoes . Creator and showrunner David S. Goyer revealed in an interview with /Film that if the show continues to prove successful, he has plans for the series that could span seven additional seasons, for a total of eighty episodes. Not surprising, considering the source material consists of 12 novels and dozens of short stories. Fans of "The Expanse" looking for a show that might stick around should give "Foundation" a look.

Battlestar Galactica

The New York Times described "The Expanse" as "the undisputed heir to 'Battlestar Galactica'" in their series catchup in 2020. That's a fair assessment, as much of what is beloved about "The Expanse" carries over from the sci-fi series launched with a TV miniseries in 2003. This modern reboot took a formerly all-ages series and brought it to life as a gritty war drama. It all begins when the colonies of Kobol — a far-off interstellar civilization spread across twelve planets — are decimated by their mortal enemies, the Cylons, a race of sinister robots bent on the colonies' destruction.

The remaining military fleet, led by the titular Battlestar Galactica , rounds up survivors and sets course for what they believe may be their only safe haven: a mythical lost colony called Earth. That mythology is a fascinating starting point to what would become one of the best sci-fi series of the past 30 years. Full of political drama, incredible military action, and war, its biggest appeal was its cast of fully realized, complex characters such as Adama, Starbuck, and Tom Zarek.

It's not an understatement to say that the series — produced by longtime "Star Trek" writer Ron Moore — helped popularize genre television and bring sci-fi back to the mainstream, as discussed by Entertainment Weekly . It ran for five seasons and included a full-length movie, and was even capped off with a prequel series titled "Caprica" that aired after its conclusion.

"Defiance" is a multimedia franchise that includes a popular MMO video game released in conjunction with the first season of the Syfy original TV series, per Kotaku , complete with a complex but fascinating backstory that sees alien refugees arriving on Earth. 

After a series of conflicts, the world has been terraformed into an almost unrecognizable landscape where more than a half dozen alien races struggle to live in peace alongside humans. The planet is ruled by several conflicting nation-states, including the Earth Republic, a human-centric government based in New York City. Out west, in one mixed-race city called Defiance, Joshua Nolan and his alien adopted daughter thwart a plot by a nefarious villain that would have destroyed the town, and suddenly Nolan finds himself in charge of keeping the peace.

Now a sheriff in a town inhabited by alien races who don't get along, North takes on criminal cases in Defiance as depicted in this gritty, post-apocalyptic science fiction police procedural. Well reviewed by critics and audiences alike, the show's massive budget couldn't withstand its dip in the ratings despite its positive reception, per Deadline . However, it still managed to run for three solid seasons and 38 exciting episodes, which starred Grant Bowler and Julie Benz.

Stargate Universe

"Stargate: Universe," like "Star Trek: Voyager," is just one series in a much bigger television and film franchise. The series is the third television spinoff of the original 1995 film and stars Robert Carlyle and Ming-Na Wen. 

Set in the established sci-fi world where groups vie for control of ancient portals that allow travel throughout the galaxy, "Stargate: Universe" begins when an ancient craft becomes the last refuge of a human military team. However, the alien ship seems to have a mission of its own, as it appears to stop at far-off worlds as it travels through space, giving the crew the opportunity to explore the galaxy as they search for a way to return to Earth.

"Stargate: Universe" is a tense military action drama with a premise that evokes shades of "Battlestar Galactica." In each episode, the crew of the Destiny finds themselves in a new world with new problems, facing off against terrifying threats while dealing with everyday issues aboard the ship. Meanwhile, their stop-offs at distant worlds allow for a broad expansion of the Stargate universe and series mythology, just as the title implies, with discoveries and adventures awaiting them at every new destination. 

20 best shows like Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

series like star trek discovery

After crash-landing on an alien planet, the Robinson family fights against all odds to survive and escape. But they're surrounded by hidden dangers.

series like star trek discovery

A thriller set two hundred years in the future following the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship's captain together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history.

series like star trek discovery

The adventures of a present-day, multinational exploration team traveling on the Ancient spaceship Destiny many billions of light years distant from the Milky Way Galaxy. They evacuated there and are now trying to figure out a way to return to Earth, while simultaneously trying to explore and to survive in their unknown area of the universe.

Family TV Series

An action-packed adventure series following a fun-loving, hard living trio of interplanetary bounty hunters (a.k.a. Killjoys) sworn to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants around the Quad, a system of planets on the brink of revolution.

series like star trek discovery

Follows the crew of the not-so-functional exploratory ship in the Earth's interstellar fleet, 400 years in the future.

series like star trek discovery

Set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet, Krypton follows Superman’s grandfather — whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his beloved world from chaos.

Adventure Series

When heroes alone are not enough ... the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat — one in which not only is the planet at stake, but all of time itself. Can this ragtag team defeat an immortal threat unlike anything they have ever known?

series like star trek discovery

A team of young superheroes led by Nightwing (formerly Batman's first Robin) form to combat evil and other perils.

series like star trek discovery

Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist join forces to take on common enemies as a sinister conspiracy threatens New York City.

Action series

Two teenagers from very different backgrounds awaken to newly acquired superpowers which mysteriously link them to one another.

series like star trek discovery

With the Ancients' city of Atlantis discovered in the Pegasus Galaxy by Stargate Command, Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Major Sheppard lead a scientific expedition to the ancient abandoned city. Once there, the team not only find themselves unable to contact Earth, but their explorations unexpectedly reawaken the Ancients' deadly enemies, The Wraith, who hunger for this new prey. Now with the help of newfound local allies like Teyla Emmagan, the Atlantis Team sets about to uncover their new home's secrets even as their war of survival against the Wraith begins.

series like star trek discovery

Andromeda is a Canadian/American science fiction television series, based on unused material by the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett. It starred Kevin Sorbo as High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt. The series premiered on October 2, 2000 and ended on May 13, 2005. Andromeda was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and produced by Tribune Entertainment and Fireworks Entertainment. It was distributed by Global TV in Canada and syndicated in the United States on WGN and other channels. It was picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel in the U.S. halfway through season four. Andromeda is one of two TV series based upon concepts Roddenberry had created as early as the 1960s and 1970s. The name Dylan Hunt had also been used for the hero of two TV movie pilots Roddenberry had produced in the mid-1970s, Genesis II and Planet Earth, which had a similar premise. The other series posthumously created from Roddenberry's notes is Earth: Final Conflict.

TV series about the investigation

After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.

series like star trek discovery

Set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, we follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.

series like star trek discovery

A dysfunctional family of superheroes comes together to solve the mystery of their father's death, the threat of the apocalypse and more.

Series about scientists

Inspired by the Internet’s “404” error code, Dimension 404 aims to evoke that 3 AM feeling of wandering onto the weird side of the web, stumbling upon stories that cannot be explained in the world that we know.

series like star trek discovery

Refugees from a war-torn country start showing up to seek asylum in an American town. Only the country these people are from is America and the war they are fleeing is 250 years in the future. The local sheriff with a past, a federal agent and a mother in search of her missing refugee daughter drive this allegory with a surprising conspiracy at the center.

series like star trek discovery

Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished... He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.

Series about heroes

Ye Xiu is the star player on an esports team that dominates the Chinese leagues of hit multiplayer titled “Glory.” His gaming days appear to have come to an abrupt halt, however, when he is forced out of his team – who are keen to accept a lucrative sponsorship deal he is vehemently opposed to.Dejected, Ye Xiu takes a job at a late-night Internet cafe, and eventually strikes up a friendship with Chen Guo, the cafe’s owner. Eventually, Chen Guo reveals her plan – to launch a new “Glory” team led by Ye Xui. Will Ye Xiu resume his “Glory” days? And can he recruit – and train – enough fellow members to return to the top of the national rankings...and take revenge on his disloyal former teammates?

series like star trek discovery

Revolution focuses on the struggle to survive 15 years after a global blackout.

series like star trek discovery

Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.

Movies about lifeguards

Minority Report follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen. Set in Washington, D.C., it is 10 years after the demise of Precrime, a law enforcement agency tasked with identifying and eliminating criminals... before their crimes were committed. To carry out this brand of justice, the agency used three precogs - "precognitives" Dash, Arthur and Agatha - who were able to see the future. Now, in 2065, crime-solving is different, and justice leans more on sophisticated and trusted technology than on the instincts of the precogs.

series like star trek discovery

An antiquities expert teams up with an art thief to catch a terrorist who funds his attacks using stolen artifacts.

series like star trek discovery

Relic Hunter is an anglophone Canadian television series, starring Tia Carrere and Christien Anholt. Actress Lindy Booth also starred for the first two seasons; Tanja Reichert replaced her for the third. It was inspired by the success of the video game Tomb Raider. It centers around Sydney Fox who is a professor but primarily a globe-trotting "relic hunter", looking for ancient artifacts to return to museums and/or the descendants of the original owner. She is aided by her linguistic assistant Nigel and occasionally by her somewhat air-headed secretary Claudia. She often ends up battling rival hunters seeking out artifacts for the money. The series includes fantasy and science fiction elements, with many of the relics featured having genuine supernatural powers or being pieces of unusually advanced technology. It ran for three seasons in the U.S. between 1999 and 2002 after fulfilling its initial three-season, 66-episode contract, from which it was not renewed. In both Ireland and the United Kingdom, it is aired on Sky1 and subsidiary channels, while in Canada, it is aired on CityTV and Space, CTV's sister network A-Channel and recently Showcase. The series was shot in the Toronto area, explaining Carrere's frequent attendance in courtside seats at Toronto Raptors games during the time.

TV series about time travel

In the year 2199, a young woman who has lost everything finds a new life at Earth's Space Training Academy where she learns to defend the galaxy from intergalactic threats.

series like star trek discovery

Meet the team of the UMP cruiser, a barely-functional starship led by an aggressively cheerful Captain with a with a barely-competent crew, including a clueless navigator, a brain damaged mechanic, a bickering couple,a man with gills raised to be an organ farm for his brother and ART, the billionaire turned robot. When their ship is drawn into a different universe, they must to learn to work together while dealing with space clouds, robot rebellions, and the occasional alien attack.

series like star trek discovery

Driven by revenge, human-turned-vampire Mia sets out to vanquish Dmitry, a ruthless vampire leader who seeks an artifact that grants immortality.

Series about superpowers

Two homicide detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, are assigned to investigate cases involving people with superhuman abilities, referred to as “Powers.” Set amidst today’s paparazzi culture, Powers asks the questions, what if the world was full of superheroes who aren't actually heroic at all? What if all that power was just one more excuse for mischief, mayhem, murder, and endorsement deals?

series like star trek discovery

The series centers on the conflict between a group of rebels from the year 2077 who time-travel to Vancouver, BC, in 2012, and a police officer who accidentally accompanies them. In spite of being many years early, the rebel group decides to continue its violent campaign to stop corporations of the future from replacing governments, while the police officer endeavours to stop them without revealing to anyone that she and the rebels are from the future.

series like star trek discovery

400 years after the extinction of the human race, a small group of humans are revived by an alien civilization. The colony of revived humans encounter struggles with the aliens who extinguished humankind centuries before, while trying to understand and get along with the mysterious aliens who revived them.

series like star trek discovery

Three years after the zombie virus has gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood.

series like star trek discovery

Before there was Batman, there was GOTHAM. Everyone knows the name Commissioner Gordon. He is one of the crime world's greatest foes, a man whose reputation is synonymous with law and order. But what is known of Gordon's story and his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the multiple layers of corruption that secretly ruled Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world's most iconic villains? And what circumstances created them – the larger-than-life personas who would become Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and The Joker?

series like star trek discovery

Earth 2 is an American science fiction television series which aired on NBC from November 6, 1994 to June 4, 1995. The show was canceled after one season of 22 episodes. It follows the journey and settlement of a small expeditionary group called the Eden Project, with the intent to journey to an Earth-like planet called G889 in an attempt to find a cure to an illness called "the syndrome". The series was created by Michael Duggan, Carol Flint, Mark Levin, and Billy Ray, produced by Amblin Entertainment and Universal Television, and filmed primarily in northern New Mexico around the Santa Fe area. The series' music was composed by David Bergeaud, and the executive producers were Michael Duggan, Mark Levin, and Carol Flint.Initially, the show's audience was quite large, reaching eighth place; however, by April 23 of the next year, Nielsen ratings share had dropped from 23% to 9%. During its run, it had been nominated for a Primetime Emmy, Saturn, and other awards. In 2005, the entire series was released on DVD in a 4-disc set.

series like star trek discovery

With the strength of Hercules, the wisdom of Athena, the speed of Mercury and the beauty of Aphrodite, she’s Wonder Woman. Beautiful Amazon princess Wonder Woman travels to 1940s America disguised as Diana Prince, assistant to handsome but trouble-prone Major Steve Trevor. Using her golden belt, which imbues her with astonishing strength, her bullet-deflecting bracelets, a golden lasso that dispels dishonesty and an invisible supersonic plane, Wonder Woman combats evil.

series like star trek discovery

David Haller, AKA Legion, is a troubled young man who may be more than human. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he’s confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real.

series like star trek discovery

The lives of the elite Navy Seals as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask.

series like star trek discovery

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Star Trek: Discovery

Wilson Cruz, Robinne Fanfair, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Mary Wiseman in Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien.

  • Bryan Fuller
  • Alex Kurtzman
  • Sonequa Martin-Green
  • Anthony Rapp
  • 4.5K User reviews
  • 102 Critic reviews
  • 21 wins & 87 nominations total

Episodes 65

Final Season Exclusive Clip (CCXP 2023)

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Doug Jones and Sonequa Martin-Green in Under the Twin Moons (2024)

  • Michael Burnham …

Doug Jones

  • Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stamets …

Mary Wiseman

  • Sylvia Tilly …

Emily Coutts

  • Lt. Keyla Detmer …

Oyin Oladejo

  • Lt. Joann Owosekun …

Patrick Kwok-Choon

  • Lt. Gen Rhys …

Wilson Cruz

  • Dr. Hugh Culber

Ronnie Rowe

  • Lt. R.A. Bryce …

Sara Mitich

  • Lt. Nilsson …

David Ajala

  • Cleveland Booker

Julianne Grossman

  • Discovery Computer …

David Benjamin Tomlinson

  • Lt. J.G. Linus …

Avaah Blackwell

  • Ash Tyler …

Blu del Barrio

  • Admiral Charles Vance
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Nichelle Nichols and Sonequa Martin-Green at an event for Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Did you know

  • Trivia The Starfleet vessels seen in the first season, including the Discovery, the Shenzou and the redesigned Enterprise, were all designed by production artist John Eaves. Eaves' work with Star Trek spans three decades. Probably his most notable contribution was the design of the Enterprise-E for Star Trek: First Contact (1996) .
  • Goofs With Michael being the adoptive sister of Spock, the series has many flashbacks to their childhood and upbringing on Vulcan. Spock's Vulcan half-brother, Sybok, does not appear nor is mention during these scenes. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) , Spock says that he and Sybok grew up together. However, since it's never stated when Sybok joined Sarek's home - only that he did so following his mother's death - or when he was exiled from the family, it's not impossible Sybok moved in after Burnham, and left before she graduated (the two extremes of the flashbacks). Also, since Sybok was never mentioned before Star Trek V, it seems reasonable the family never spoke of him again after his estrangement.
  • Alternate versions The serif-font legends and subtitles in the "broadcast" episodes are absent from the DVD versions, where they are replaced with the standard DVD subtitles.
  • Connections Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Female Lead TV Shows You Should Be Watching in 2017 (2017)

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  • Mar 7, 2022

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  • September 24, 2017 (United States)
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'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5 Review: One Hell of a Final Ride

Michael Burnham takes her crew on one last spectacular adventure in 'Star Trek: Discovery's fifth and final season.

The Big Picture

  • Star Trek: Discovery 's mystery in Season 5 is more lighthearted than Season 4 while still maintaining the series' high stakes.
  • Sonequa Martin-Green shines in her role as Michael Burnham, one of Starfleet's best captains.
  • Season 5 is well-paced and structured, with each episode offering a satisfying piece of the full puzzle.

Let's fly, one last time. The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery is right around the corner , with Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) gearing up to take us on the adventure of a lifetime. Discovery premiered back in 2017 and kicked off the current Star Trek renaissance that has seen six new shows brought to life along with a spin-off movie starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh . While it's bittersweet to see Discovery come to an end, showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise have crafted one hell of a ride for the show's final run.

Where Season 4 saw Michael and the crew of the Discovery stitching the federation back together in the wake of a devastating disaster, Season 5 sets up a more light-hearted adventure in the style of an Indiana Jones movie . Despite not knowing Season 5 would be the show's last, the cast and crew behind the series have set up a story worthy of the legacy of Discovery that stays true to the very best of Star Trek. The mystery laid out in the first four episodes of Season 5 stitches the franchise together in a creation myth that tangles Burnham and her crew with destiny itself.

What Is 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5 About?

One of Discovery 's biggest strengths is telling a captivating season-long, self-contained story, and it looks like the same stands true for Season 5. The premiere episode sends Michael and her crew on a mission that will bring them face-to-face with some of the most powerful forces in the galaxy. In a race against time, the crew of the Discovery enters a veritable treasure hunt for one of the franchise's greatest mysteries. Legendary filmmaker David Cronenberg returns as Doctor Kovich and acts as the architect for the mission that will likely span the entirety of the show's final episodes. Kovich is as enigmatic as always and Cronenberg's chemistry with Martin-Green is filled with the type of starry-eyed wonder that makes Star Trek so compelling.

In addition to the return of Cronenberg, Season 5 also introduces a few enemies and reluctant allies in the form of Eve Harlow ( The 100 ), Elias Toufexis , and Callum Keith Rennie ( Battlestar Galactica ). Harlow and Toufexis play Moll and L'ak, respectively, with the former both hardened and bold, shaped by a hard life in a challenging universe but knowing exactly how to get what she wants. L'ak is almost blindly devoted to her and that devotion makes him extremely dangerous. Not only are they formidable antagonists, but the duo is also set up as an interesting narrative foil to the relationship between Book ( David Ajala ) and Burnham, which is going through a rough patch following their fallout in Season 4.

While Burnham leads her crew on a planet-hopping scavenger hunt that will have audiences eagerly attempting to crack the riddles within each episode, she also has to deal with another rough-around-the-edges Starfleet captain. Rennie plays Captain Rayner, a war-weary leader with a single-minded focus that has Burnham calling upon 900 years' worth of patience. While they share the same goal, their command styles (and their personalities) couldn't be more different. But part of Star Trek's ethos is learning to look beyond those differences and make connections. Connecting with Rayner certainly won't be easy, but if the early episodes are any indication, it will be worth it in the end.

With Episodes 1-4 written by Michelle Paradise , Alan McElroy , Kyle Jarrow & Lauren Wilkinson , and Sean Cochran Season 5 is remarkably structured. Each episode adds another piece of the overarching puzzle while also providing some stellar character work and thematic connections worthy of a final season. While there are a lot of characters to catch up with, and several narrative threads to keep track of, Discovery Season 5 is well-paced. Each storyline gets the breathing room it needs without making the show feel unbalanced or creating any lulls in the less action-packed sequences.

'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5 Keeps the Crew at the Heart of the Story

The driving force behind Discovery — and honestly, every Star Trek series — always comes back to the characters. Season 5 keeps Burnham and her crew at the heart of the story , allowing their complex relationships to move the narrative forward in an easy give-and-take. Martin-Green is phenomenal as always, imbuing Burnham with a level of empathy and grace that makes her one of the franchise's very best captains. Not only does Burnham show that it's possible to lead from the heart, but that's exactly what makes her so good . In the new episodes, we'll find out exactly how far Burnham has come since the show's inception as she comes face to face with some of the skeletons in her closet.

Though Season 4 saw Book and Burnham split up after the events with the DMA and Species 10-C, the spark between them is still there. Ajala and Martin-Green's chemistry is electric , and their characters have the kind of connection reminiscent of TNG 's Will Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) and Deanna Troi ( Marina Sirtis ). Book and Burnham actually working through their issues and digging into the complexities of loving someone who's hurt you feels like a real treat, especially for TNG fans who longed for more depth in that show's episodic narrative.

Book and Burnham aren't the only relationship getting the spotlight in Season 5, either . The romance that sparked between Saru ( Doug Jones ) and T'Rina ( Tara Rosling ) in Season 4 is one of the show's sweet spots and the unconventional alien couple takes some big steps forward in the first four episodes. Meanwhile, love certainly plays a role in the intensity between Moll and L'ak, and Tilly ( Mary Wiseman ) also dabbles slightly in a little rom-com moment with a fellow teacher from Starfleet Academy. If the upcoming Academy-set series is confirmed as a Discovery spin-off, it would be lovely to see this little connection carry over.

The little family unit established between Stamets ( Anthony Rapp ) and Culber ( Wilson Cruz ) and their baby gays, Adira ( Blu del Barrio ) and Grey ( Ian Alexander ), is still present, but time apart has shifted things for the younger couple. While the steps they take make total sense within the narrative of Discovery , it does play into the apparent sanitization of queer relationships within the Star Trek franchise . The latest seasons of Picard and Lower Decks saw previously established queer relationships end, and to see Discovery follow suit (to a degree) is disheartening, as a queer viewer — especially when Star Trek's most comparable counterpart, Doctor Who, is openly embracing the community . We'll have to wait for the full season to play out to know the endgame of these relationships, so hopefully, not all is lost for LGBTQ+ romance in the 32nd century. Tig Notaro 's Jett Reno also makes a return, and Cruz, in particular, gets to flex his acting skills with a very sci-fi twist.

Another drawback of the final season is that it's unlikely we'll ever get the full backstories of the Discovery's bridge crew , like Owo ( Oyin Oladejo ), Rhys ( Patrick Kwok-Choon ), and Detmer ( Emily Coutts ). These characters have been part of the show since it began, but we know little about their lives outside their roles as Starfleet officers. That said, Burnham does connect with these crew members in an episode that is both incredibly Star Trek and one of the series' best.

How Does 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5 Hold Up as the End of a Series?

Despite not being planned as the show's final installment when production began on Season 5, it seems to take up the mantle remarkably well. Discovery took a bold turn within the franchise by introducing a serialized narrative when it first premiered, despite all previous series being episodic. That's worked beautifully in Discovery 's favor, as each season has delivered a satisfying story that keeps audiences consistently engaged across all 10 episodes.

On top of a compelling treasure hunt-style story and its complex characters, Discovery Season 5 also delivers some incredible action sequences and truly breathtaking visuals. The scale of the series feels massive in its final episodes, and viewers will no doubt want to rewatch each episode just to take in the beauty of it all. Without giving anything away, the season's plot is tied to a mystery that bridges multiple parts of the franchise together in a way that will have even the most niche Star Trek fan excited. Season 5 appears to be heading towards a very natural full-circle moment for the series — and if Starfleet Academy is confirmed as a spin-off for Discovery , saying goodbye to this chapter might just get a little bit easier.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 sets up a thrilling adventure while keeping the characters at the heart of the story.

  • The show's mystery, while full of high stakes, is more light-hearted than Season 4.
  • Sonequa Martin-Green proves once again why Michael Burnham is one of the best captains in Starfleet.
  • Season 5 is well-paced and well-structured, with each episode offering a satisfying piece of the puzzle.
  • Season 5 delivers breathtaking visuals and heart-pounding action sequences.
  • The characters and their relationships drive the plot forward naturally.
  • With only 10 episodes remaining, some characters won't get their time in the spotlight.
  • Star Trek as a whole appears to be pulling back on LGBTQ+ relationships.

Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery premieres on April 4, and you can catch up with the first four seasons on Paramount+ right now.

WATCH ON PARAMOUNT+

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Star Trek: Discovery

Where to watch.

Watch Star Trek: Discovery with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Cast & Crew

Bryan Fuller

Alex Kurtzman

Sonequa Martin-Green

Captain Michael Burnham

Anthony Rapp

Paul Stamets

Mary Wiseman

Sylvia Tilly

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Tv news & guides, this show is featured in the following articles., series info.

Why 'Star Trek: Discovery' deserves more credit as a barrier-breaking series

series like star trek discovery

Starship Discovery will soon be ending its mission, and what a journey it's been.

“Star Trek: Discovery,” which premiered in 2017, is entering its fifth and final season Thursday on Paramount+. And you’ll need the Captain’s Log to remember all the twists, turns and transformations the show has gone through since it began.

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the hate the series has received from some Trek fans. (“Discovery” has an overall audience score of 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark difference from the 87% critic rating.)

While the show is far from free of legitimate criticism, many of the complaints seem unfairly – though perhaps tellingly – placed on the show’s focus on a Black woman commander, its LGBTQ+ stars and allies and its inclusive storylines. “Woke agenda” and other dog whistles frequently surface on Reddit and social media posts about the series.

That so much of the negativity is rooted in a backlash against inclusivity raises questions. After all, the "Star Trek" franchise has long emphasized and celebrated culture, diversity and humanity coming together and preserving the integrity of beings they meet across the galaxy.

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"It doesn't make any sense, because (these fans) say they love this franchise," series star Sonequa Martin-Green says in an interview. The show “has always been about breaking those boundaries. It's always been about diversity and equality. And our world has changed since the last iteration of 'Trek.' We have a responsibility to push that needle forward and to stay true to that."

More: Issa Rae says Hollywood needs to be accountable. Here's why diverse shows are so important

The series is originally set before the events of NBC's original “Star Trek: The Original Series” (later jumping to the future) and follows Michael Burnham (Martin-Green), who became the starship’s captain, and the rest of the crew of the USS Discovery: first officer Saru (Doug Jones), chief engineer Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp), lieutenant and now Starfleet Academy teacher Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), medical officer Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), courier and Burnham’s love interest Cleveland “Book” Booker (David Ajala) and ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio).

Many more characters have stood on the bridge, battled with Burnham, or otherwise make up the world of "Discovery." The series had some trouble finding the right footing, but it’s always had heart, especially in its recurring theme of redemption. And it deserves more support for what it has meant for the entire "Star Trek" franchise.

Here’s why “Star Trek: Discovery” deserves more credit:

Prioritizing diversity and inclusivity

A Vulcan philosophy (and one espoused by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry) is IDIC, or “infinite diversity in infinite combinations,” and many of the related series, movies and books underscore this belief. “Discovery” also has diversity at its core: the show focuses on a Black woman who becomes captain. Stamets and Culber are an openly gay couple, and engineer Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) is a lesbian. And the show introduced a few franchise firsts: Adira Tal as the first nonbinary character in "Star Trek ," and their boyfriend, Gray ( Ian Alexander ), is the first transgender character , both introduced in Season 3.

More: 'Star Trek' documentary unveils star Nichelle Nichols' impactful NASA connection

Starting a new age of Star Trek

“Discovery” helped launch the CBS All Access streaming platform, a CBS subscription service that would eventually become Paramount+, as well as a new era of "Star Trek" series including “Lower Decks” and “Picard.” Before “Discovery,” the last Trek series was “Star Trek: Enterprise,” which ended in 2005.

Exploring strange new worlds

The second season of “Discovery” also served as a launching pad for the well-received spinoff, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” which resurfaced popular characters from the original series including Spock (Ethan Peck), Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Number One (Rebecca Romijn).

Finding time for the simple things

In a few scenes scattered throughout "Discovery," we see characters like Culber and Stamets sharing a meal or talking about their day while brushing their teeth. It’s almost mundane, but there’s also something so lovely about watching LGBTQ+ characters who rarely are the focus in movies or television simply living their lives, being their whole selves. Burnham rocking braids at the beginning of Season 3 speaks cultural volumes. The subtle amid the big battles and overarching plots do have meaning, especially for those whose voices often go unheard.

Going boldly

The first season of “Discovery” went out of its way to highlight its connections to the original series: Burnham is Spock’s adopted sister, and there's a brief appearance by Spock’s father, Sarek. But it wasn’t always so neatly woven, sometimes seeming more like it was using franchise lore as a crutch. But “Discovery” wasn’t afraid to try new things, turning itself around after an overcomplicated first season and again after a very “TOS”-inspired second, slowly building up its own universe without relying too heavily on the old. 

The first episodes of Season 5 are a little rocky before it settles into a comfortable speed. 

"This time around, we wanted to bring in some levity," Martin-Green says. "But there's a grand sort of epicness to Season 5, even though we didn't know it was our last season when we were shooting it. I think looking back on it, and when we share it with the world, it'll seem that way because the season is so big. So people can expect a lot of fun. They can expect it to go really fast." 

It will be interesting to see if “Discovery” sticks the landing through the remainder of the season.

“The good outweighs the bad,” Burnham says in an upcoming episode about a mission, and that’s also true of “Discovery."

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" (two episodes now streaming, then weekly on Thursdays) streams on Paramount+.

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Published Mar 2, 2023

Star Trek: Discovery to Conclude with Fifth and Final Season in Early 2024

Celebrate one of Paramount+'s longest-running original dramas globally with events around the world leading up to the series' finale!

Crew of U.S.S. Discovery - Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

StarTrek.com

The final epic season of Star Trek: Discovery will conclude in early 2024.

The series first premiered in 2017 and heralded the return of scripted Star Trek television series. Leading up to the final season, Paramount+ will honor Star Trek: Discovery ’s legacy and groundbreaking storytelling over its last four seasons with year-long celebrations and appearances at events around the world.

“ Star Trek: Discovery is a perennial favorite on the service, near and dear to the hearts of legions of Star Trek fans as well as all of us here at Paramount+,” said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer at Paramount Streaming. “The series and its incredible cast and creatives ushered in a new era for Star Trek when it debuted over six years ago, embracing the future of streaming with serialized storytelling, bringing to life deep and complex characters that honor Gene Roddenberry’s legacy of representing diversity and inclusion, and pushing the envelope with award-winning world-building. This final season will see our beloved crew take on a new adventure and we can’t wait to celebrate the series’ impact on the franchise leading up to its final season early next year.”

Executive producers and co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise shared: “As lifelong fans of Star Trek , it has been an immense honor and privilege to help bring Star Trek: Discovery to the world. The Trek universe means so much to so many – including us – and we couldn’t be prouder of everything Discovery has contributed to its legacy, particularly with representation. If just one person sees themselves, or the possibilities for their future, in a new way because of Discovery , then we think we’d have made Gene Roddenberry very proud.

“Of course, there would be no Discovery without Sonequa Martin-Green and the extraordinary team of artists, both in front of and behind the camera, who have brought this show to life. Their passion and determination to make every episode special has been deeply inspiring; so too has their love and support for one another and their genuine love for Star Trek . Discovery has truly become a family over the years – and we couldn’t be more grateful to be part of it.”

“To the fans around the world, thank you for joining us on this incredible journey. Your love for these characters and your excitement for every episode, every season, has meant the world to us. We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on for this final season; we appreciate your patience in the meantime and trust us when we say it’ll be worth the wait. We love you all! LLAP”

“I can hardly believe that this mind-blowing journey with Star Trek: Discovery is ending,” said series star and producer Sonequa Martin-Green. “I’m astoundingly blessed by God to have played Captain Michael Burnham and to have taken part in a legacy alongside an extraordinary cast, phenomenal crew and remarkable writing team. To our most supportive partners at CBS Studios and Paramount+, who insisted on making television history, I’m deeply grateful. I’m also deeply grateful for the creative collaboration with our showrunners Michelle Paradise and Alex Kurtzman, as well as Olatunde Osunsanmi and the incomparable team of executive producers. I will never forget how it felt to stand together as a show family, cradling the heirloom of Trek with all those from the franchise at large and with the fans. The fans welcomed us into their hearts as we launched a new iteration of Trek and an entire entertainment platform, and we’ll never forget it. 65 episodes later, here’s to the entire company of Star Trek: Discovery , to the show and its fifth and final season, to its beloved fans and to all those who envision a better future. Let’s fly… ”

“When we first started talking about the return of Star Trek eight years ago, we never could have imagined the indelible impact Star Trek: Discovery would have,” said David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “The series brought back a beloved global franchise, and just like its predecessors, Discovery honored Star Trek ’s legacy of ‘infinite diversity in infinite combinations,’ representing the best of what we could be as humans when we celebrate our differences. I’d like to thank Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise, who have led this show with heart, passion, and as fans themselves with vivid storytelling – always ready to push boundaries like those before them. And finally, I’d like to thank this talented cast, led by the brilliant Sonequa Martin-Green, whose leadership both onscreen and off has helped guide the way from day one.”

The fifth and final season will find Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 cast members include Sonequa Martin-Green (Captain Michael Burnham), Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), David Ajala (Cleveland “Book” Booker), Blu del Barrio (Adira) and Callum Keith Rennie (Rayner).

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are currently streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 are also available on the Pluto TV Star Trek channel in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave. Star Trek: Discovery is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

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'Star Trek: Discovery' season 5 episode 6 goes old school and benefits because of it

Why do unevolved, pre-warp civilizations always have such strange and often lethal customs?

a group of people in very plain, grey clothing stand outside under trees

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5, episode 6

Here we are then, the other side of the halfway mark of the very last season of " Star Trek: Discovery ." Will the plot actually advance any further? Or does the chase across the galaxy for the Progenitors MacGuffin continue, offering another chance to insert a stand-alone, episode-length adventure along the way? Interestingly, a look at the IMDb top 10 rated episodes of "Discovery" there isn't one single entry beyond the second season. 

This week's curiously named installment is entitled "Whistlespeak" and it's almost a throwback to old school-style of sci-fi storytelling, more typically found in something like "Stargate SG1." And a 10 episode-long chase for an alien artifact would be just fine in that show, because each season was typically 22 episodes long. Sadly, that's one reason why "Discovery" has been deteriorating, rather than improving, because each season — and it's far more obvious in seasons 3, 4 and 5 — seems to follow a very cookie-cutter formulaic approach. 

Related: Star Trek streaming guide: Where to watch the Star Trek movies and TV shows online

Watch Star Trek on Paramount Plus: Get a one month free trial 

Watch Star Trek on Paramount Plus: Get a one month free trial  

Get all the Star Trek content you can possibly handle with this free trial of Paramount Plus. Watch new shows like Star Trek: Discovery and all the classic Trek movies and TV shows too. Plans start from $4.99/month after the trial ends.

There's always a threat facing all life in the universe (killer AI, exploding dilithium, gravity waves, Progenitor tech), there's always a series of clues-of-sorts that have to followed and that usually entails a set of standalone adventures before finally everything concludes in a disappointing payoff. Tragically, "Discovery" never really found its identity and it struggled from the outset when the original concept was not to focus on the captain of a particular starship, but rather the first officer. 

two characters in dingy brown clothing sit and have a conversation among stone walls

That combined with the fact that big-budget TV sci-fi has shifted to shorter seasons with more expensive episodes over longer seasons and more expansive storylines. Just remind yourself what other sci-fi shows have managed to achieve in five seasons; "Stargate: Atlantis" and " Babylon 5 " both had five seasons, "Battlestar Galactica" only had four and "Stargate: SG1" had 10. (Although the less said about the whole Ori storyline, the better.)

All that aside, this particular episode was a quirky little number that was actually quite enjoyable. So, that's nice. Yes, there are one or two enormous small plot holes and the super-convenient tech has somewhat taken a turn for the ridiculous. This is not swallowing a pill to genetically alter you temporarily, these are easy-install "optical tricorders" — yes, indeed, you need never have the burden of having to actually carry a tricorder anymore, because now they can be worn like contact lenses.

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This week, Capt. Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) beam incognito down to the surface of a pre-warp, pre-industrial world much like the Planet Vancouver that we often saw in just about every incarnation of "Stargate." And why-oh-why do these primitive, unevolved civilizations always have traditions that seem harmless at first, but upon further examination almost certainly seem to involve decapitation, disembowelment or any one of a hundred different, excruciating ways of dying, all in the name of glorious sacrifice to some god or another. Was the human race ever like tha...oh wait, hang on. Damn .

Mmm, fire indeed hot. These primitive folk do know that fire needs air to burn, right? Just checkin' like.

In this particular instance it's simply suffocating. Of course if you blew the fires out that also happen to be burning in the room, you know, using up all the precious air that's left, you might last a teeny-tiny bit longer. But that's probably not covered in standard Starfleet training, rather undergraduates are instead taught how to rebuild an illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator using only a discarded toothbrush, a clothes peg, an empty washing up liquid bottle and sticky-back plastic. 

You also have to wonder how the local population had such an in-depth knowledge of the sacrificial chamber if no one ever survived, but we'll look past that, just like the writers did. And boy-oh-boy, there's along time to kill before you get killed. On the up side, the dialogue is pretty sharp this week and despite all its flaws, this is a well-paced installment. Still, a cliffhanger might be nice at some point before the show wraps permanently. All things considered though, given the low bar "Discovery" has sadly set itself, this one isn't terrible. 

In other, somewhat related news, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has stepped down and it's rumored that the entertainment giant is going to create an "office of the CEO" and have a team making the important decisions rather than a rich, white man who doesn't seem to have much of a clue. Sounds like a plan, right? Well, wait for it... Instead, three rich, white men will be making all the important decisions. George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS; Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks and Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures.

Lt. Tilly in engineering.

Needless to say, Paramount's share value has taken a nosedive this week. Now while most of this is related to Paramount Global, it will of course affect the future of Paramount Plus, including programming choices, budget and just about everything else that determines whether or not we'll get to see any "Star Trek" going forward, let alone quality "Star Trek." Let's face facts, the only reason we're getting a Section 31 TV series TV movie is because of contractual obligations. 

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery," and every other episode of every "Star Trek" show — with the exception of "Star Trek: Prodigy" — currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US, while "Prodigy" has found a new home  on Netflix.  

Internationally, the shows are available on  Paramount Plus  in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream on  Paramount Plus  in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Scott Snowden

When Scott's application to the NASA astronaut training program was turned down, he was naturally upset...as any 6-year-old boy would be. He chose instead to write as much as he possibly could about science, technology and space exploration. He graduated from The University of Coventry and received his training on Fleet Street in London. He still hopes to be the first journalist in space.

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Star trek: discovery’s 6 best friendships.

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The 10 Best Friendships In Star Trek

Star trek: discovery writer teases “ramifications” for dr. culber’s season 5 trill takeover, i've been missing detmer & owosekun in star trek: discovery season 5.

  • Star Trek: Discovery showcases authentic friendships like Lt. Keyla Detmer & Lt. Joann Owosekun, echoing iconic duos from past series.
  • Michael Burnham's dynamic relationships, especially with Philippa Georgiou and Cleveland Booker, add depth to Star Trek: Discovery.
  • The evolving bond between Burnham and Sylvia Tilly highlights the show's focus on meaningful friendships and character growth.

Star Trek: Discovery has some of Star Trek's best friendships. Since the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) on Star Trek: The Original Series , friendship has been a big part of Star Trek . Along with Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Kirk and Spock formed an iconic trio, whose friendship came to define the dynamic of their characters. From Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) on Star Trek: The Next Generation to Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meany) on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , every Star Trek series has had at least one iconic friendship.

Star Trek: Discovery has worn a lot of different hats since its beginnings, going from a dark revenge-focused story in its first seasin to an intergalactic adventure story in its final season. But through all of Discovery's ups and downs, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) has been at the center of the story, and her relationships and the relationships of those around her form the heart of the show. Star Trek: Discovery has allowed its characters to show more emotion than any previous Star Trek show, making the friendships among the crew of the USS Discovery feel all the more authentic.

From Kirk and Spock to Burnham and Tilly, Star Trek has been home to some of the most enduring, fulfilling friendships in all of science fiction.

6 Keyla Detmer & Joann Owosekun

Uss discovery's pilot and the operations officer..

Although Lt. Commander Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Lt. Commander Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) have been largely absent from Star Trek: Discovery season 5, their friendship has been a subtle throughline since the show's first season. Detmer serves as Discovery's helmsman, while Owosekun (or Owo) serves as an operations officer. Much like Lt. Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) and Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) in Star Trek: The Original Series, Detmer and Owo sit next to each other on the bridge and often trade looks and remarks.

In the latter half of Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Owosekun and Detmer finally began helping more on missions and getting more to do.

Throughout Star Trek: Discovery, Detmer and Owosekun have been seen spending time off duty with one another and other members of the crew. As Discovery progressed, it became obvious Keyla and Joann had a well-established rapport, and they have both proven to be invaluable members of the USS Discovery's crew. In the latter half of Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Owosekun and Detmer finally began joining away missions and getting more to do, so hopefully they will ​​​return for the last few episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

5 Michael Burnham & Philippa Georgiou

A surprising connection that spans universes..

When Star Trek: Discovery first began, Commander Michael Burnham was the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). When Burnham's actions inadvertently led to Georgiou's death, Michael was devastated. After Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) took the USS Discovery to the Mirror Universe, Burnham had to pretend to be her evil counterpart. While undercover, Burnham encountered the Mirror Universe Emperor Georgiou , who was much more ruthless than her Prime Universe counterpart.

In the Mirror Universe, Michael Burnham was Emperor Georgiou's adopted daughter.

Emperor Georgiou traveled back to the Prime Universe with the USS Discovery's crew, and she became less of a villain and more of an anti-hero and sometimes reluctant ally. Burnham had looked up to Captain Georgiou, and Emperor Georgiou took on the role of a mother-like figure for Burnham. After Discovery traveled to the 32nd century, Emperor Georgiou began experiencing negative side effects as a result of being displaced in both time and universes. With help from the Guardian of Forever, Georgiou traveled back to "a time when the Mirror Universe and the Prime Universe were still aligned," leaving a tearful Burnham behind.

Michelle Yeoh will reprise the role of Emperor Georgiou as the star of the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 made-for-streaming film.

4 Michael Burnham & Cleveland Booker

From friends to lovers to friends to... lovers, again.

When Commander Michael Burnham wore the Red Angel suit and led the USS Discovery into the 32nd century, she arrived one year ahead of the ship. Upon exiting the wormhole, Burnham collided with the ship of Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), beginning what would become one of Michael's most important relationships. Burnham looked for signs of Discovery, while she and Book worked together as couriers. After Discovery finally arrived in the future and made contact with Starfleet and the Federation, Book continued to help however he could.

Regardless of their romantic status, Burnham and Book make a phenomenal team.

Burnham and Booker's relationship became romantic during their year together, but they separated after Book went on a mission of vengeance after the Dark Matter Anomaly destroyed his homeworld of Kwejian in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. In Discovery's fifth and final season, Booker has rejoined the titular ship, and he and Burnham continue to work together as friends. Regardless of their romantic status, Burnham and Book make a phenomenal team and work together seamlessly.

3 Hugh Culber & Sylvia Tilly

Sometimes counselors need counseling, too..

As a cadet, Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) wanted to be a starship Captain one day, but she began questioning her path in Star Trek : Discovery season 4. As Chief Medical Officer and counselor aboard the USS Discovery, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) advised Tilly to begin trying new things. Tilly can become friends with almost anyone, and she and Culber quickly developed a rapport. Hugh suggested Tilly for a position training a group of Starfleet Academy cadets.

Lieutenant Tilly later accepted a teaching position at Starfleet Academy helping to oversee the first new class of cadets in a century. Culber and Tilly have continued to talk outside of their more structured therapy appointments , and their positions have somewhat reversed. When Culber began experiencing what he calls a possible "spiritual awakening" in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Tilly provided a listening ear and helped the doctor reframe some of the big ideas he had been grappling with.

Dr. Hugh Culber was taken over by a Trill named Jinaal Bix, and his experience will resonate further in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

2 Michael Burnham & Saru

Starfleet's first mutineer and starfleet's first kelpian officer..

As Science Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Captain Georgiou, Saru (Doug Jones) is one of the few characters who knew Michael Burnham before she committed mutiny. While serving on the Shenzhou, they often disagreed as they had very different command styles. As Star Trek: Discovery's later seasons have shown, however, Saru and Burnham complement one another well and have become one of the show's best pairings.

Saru has had one of the most compelling journeys of Star Trek: Discovery' s characters and he grew into a confident and assured starship Captain. Michael Burnham was one of Saru's closest friends and allies throughout this journey, and the two developed an undying respect for one another. Saru's more reserved nature helps temper Burnham's impulsiveness, making the duo an excellent command team.

As seen in Star Trek: Discovery s eason 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons," Burnham and Saru also work well together on away missions, where their trust and confidence in one another makes them a force to be reckoned with.

1 Michael Burnham & Sylvia Tilly

Star trek: discovery's most surprising pair of bffs..

One of Star Trek: Discovery's longest friendships is also its best. When Michael was first assigned to the USS Discovery after her imprisonment, Cadet Tilly was assigned as her roommate. At first, Tilly was nervous about living with the infamous mutineer Michael Burnham, but the two eventually warmed up to one another despite their contrasting personalities. When the two first met, Tilly wanted to be a starship Captain, and Burnham began mentoring her. As Tilly's confidence grew, she helped Burnham open up more and move on from her complicated past.

The relationships on Star Trek: Discovery are one of the best parts of the show, and Michael Burnham and Sylvia Tilly have become Star Trek's best female friendship.

Throughout Star Trek: Discovery's five seasons, Tilly and Burnham have only grown closer and their friendship has helped both characters grow and evolve. In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6 , "Whistlespeak," Burnham and Tilly embarked on an away mission that reiterated how well the two work together. Tilly's ability to help others open up and become friends with almost anyone proved to be just as useful as Burnham's ability to think on her feet and get things done. The relationships on Star Trek: Discovery are one of the best parts of the show, and Michael Burnham and Sylvia Tilly have become arguably Star Trek's best female friendship.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery stream Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

  • Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

Giant Freakin Robot

Giant Freakin Robot

Star Trek: Discovery Casting Choice Makes Series Problem Even Worse

Posted: May 1, 2024 | Last updated: May 1, 2024

<p>It’s true that we never saw Captain Picard riding a cool Star Wars speeder bike in “The Chase” (although that stupid dune buggy in the Nemesis film comes close). </p><p>That episode boiled down to the Enterprise crew working with a surprising group of allies and trying to find the right planet to solve Professor Galen’s mystery. </p><p>In Discovery, Burnham already knows about the existence of the Progenitors, but she must work with a surprising group of allies (including former bad boy Book, former Disco crewman Tilly, and even the by-the-book Admiral Vance) to find where these aliens are. </p>

David Ajala plays Cleveland Booker in Star Trek: Discovery, and he instantly became one of the franchise’s most memorable characters thanks to everything from his shady background to his adorable cat. In a recent interview, the actor admitted that his character “was only meant to be on the show for two seasons, Seasons 3 and 4.” He was understandably delighted to come back for the fifth and final season of the show, but this casting choice makes the show’s biggest problem even worse: namely, that we still spend hardly any time with the majority of Discovery’s crew.

<p>From what we know so far, Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery will follow Captain Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery on their epic adventures throughout the galaxy in search of an extremely powerful but ancient and mysterious power whose very existence has been hidden for centuries. </p><p>Of course, the season will introduce more dangerous foes in search of the very same thing. No other details about the upcoming season are available, but we hope to see more of the Species 10-C in the future.</p>

Too Little Focus On The Rest Of The Crew

Before I go any further and everyone tries to sic a giant tardigrade on me, I want to emphasize that I think David Ajala has been a great addition to Star Trek: Discovery. I love his character in the earlier seasons, and in the most recent season, his developing relationship with the criminal Moll has been a real highlight. Every moment he is onscreen, however, is a reminder that Discovery is an ensemble show that cares very little about most of the ensemble.

What does that mean? Simple: There are more Discovery fans than Paramount would care to admit, but they still can’t name most of the characters who have been on the show from the beginning. Even if you can remember their names, it’s mostly because they were explicitly mentioned by one of the characters the show always focuses on (usually Michael Burnham).

<p>Long before David Ajala came to the show, part of what made Star Trek: Discovery feel so significant was that it would be our first new episodic Trek series since Enterprise aired its final season in 2005. Enterprise, like Voyager before it, had an ensemble cast in which everyone got their moment to shine. Captain Archer might have gotten a little more screentime, but after that fifth season wrapped up, there was nobody on the bridge crew that fans couldn’t name.</p><p>Now, in a weird bit of cosmic irony, Discovery is also wrapping up after five seasons. Unlike the previous show, however, Discovery gets only about half as many episodes per season. There are many advantages to that approach, but the shortened seasons kicked off a continuing problem that the return of David Ajala to Star Trek: Discovery has only made worse.</p>

Discovery Missed The Chance To Bring Back An Ensemble Feel

Long before David Ajala came to the show, part of what made Star Trek: Discovery feel so significant was that it would be our first new episodic Trek series since Enterprise aired its final season in 2005. Enterprise, like Voyager before it, had an ensemble cast in which everyone got their moment to shine. Captain Archer might have gotten a little more screentime, but after that fifth season wrapped up, there was nobody on the bridge crew that fans couldn’t name.

Now, in a weird bit of cosmic irony, Discovery is also wrapping up after five seasons. Unlike the previous show, however, Discovery gets only about half as many episodes per season. There are many advantages to that approach, but the shortened seasons kicked off a continuing problem that the return of David Ajala to Star Trek: Discovery has only made worse.

star trek pets

Cleveland Booker Wasn’t Supposed To Come Back

Originally, his Cleveland Booker character was seemingly written off the show at the end of season four. His relationship with Michael was over, and he was stuck doing penance for his crimes against the Federation. According to David Ajala, “the producers and powers that be wanted to flesh out Cleveland Booker’s story a little more,” which is why he came back to Star Trek: Discovery. But when the seasons for this show are half as long as the seasons for shows like The Next Generation, there isn’t enough time for all of the great characters to get their own episodes or specific storylines to flesh them out.

For example, Jett Reno pops up for a hilarious scene every few episodes and then disappears back into the deep background. Detmer was passionate about flying one time, but fans mostly know her as “the lady with the metal in her head” (not to be confused with “the lady who is metal,” the late officer Airiam). Oh, and Gen Ryhs is a tactical officer, but you might not know that because he almost never goes on Away Teams like Worf or Tuvok would.

<p>The most recent season of Star Trek: Discovery has been a real blast from the past, with the latest episode (“Jinaal”) showing us a Trill ritual we haven’t seen since Deep Space Nine. This ritual put the mind of a Trill from the 24th century into the body of willing 32nd-century resident Dr. Culber. The ancient alien’s primary function was to reveal details about the research he once conducted into Progenitor technology. The episode found time for comedy, though, when the possessed Culber said, “wow, this guy really works out,” which is an homage to fans’ reaction to Wilson Cruz with his shirt off.</p>

Too Much Focus On Booker In The Final Episodes

Nominally, a tactical officer would help protect the Captain on dangerous missions, but you’ll never see Rhys beam down…this season, that honor exclusively belongs to David Ajala’s Cleveland Booker, who is back to being Burnham’s constant partner in crime. Again, he’s great in the role, and I’d love to get a Booker spinoff show instead of something as inevitably boring as the Starfleet Academy show. But focusing so much on his character in the final season of Star Trek: Discovery has ensured that we’ll never get to know our supporting crew any better.

<p>We don’t know exactly when Starfleet made the change, but it could be relatively recent because Discovery traveled to a time when the Burn had diminished Starfleet and severely dwindled its resources. Either way, as funny as it was to see Osyrra’s reaction to what Vance said, it would have been funnier to see more of this Star Trek show’s regular crew get used to this aspect of 32nd-century life. How would someone as bright as bubbly as Tilly, for example, react to the fact that her replicator burritos now have a very different protein inside of them?</p>

Show The Supporting Cast Some Love

This criticism comes from a place of love…I’ve personally never missed an episode of Discovery and am excited to see how this whole Progenitor mystery wraps up. But as a longtime franchise fan, I can’t help but think how boring The Next Generation would have been if we never spent any time with Worf or how (ahem) flavorless Voyager would have been without ever focusing on Neelix. Disco is a show that nominally embraces the IDIC philosophy, but it’s clear that “infinite diversity” translates to spending as little time with our killer supporting cast as humanly possible.

Source: CinemaBlend

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Michael Burnham's Biggest Offense Mirrors Another Popular Star Trek Hero But With a Twist

Star Trek: Discovery began with a mutiny by Michael Burnham, but she did far less than what another Star Trek hero did during The Original Series.

  • Michael Burnham's mutiny in Star Trek: Discovery mirrors Spock's rebellious acts in previous series, showing they both act against orders for the greater good.
  • Burnham's journey to captaincy in the series broke the mold by focusing on a first officer's arc rather than the traditional captain's leadership role.
  • While some fans criticized Burnham's mutiny, it exemplifies her commitment to Starfleet ideals, similar to other iconic Star Trek heroes like Spock.

When Star Trek: Discovery first debuted in 2017, it ended a 12-year drought for Gene Roddenberry's franchise on television. Fans hoping to see a modern take on the hopeful, aspirational world of the second-wave Star Trek series were disappointed at first. Discovery protagonist Michael Burnham committed a massive crime against Starfleet, but what she did to protect her ship and captain is what another popular Star Trek hero would've done if he was human.

There were many ways that Discovery was different from previous Star Trek installments, but Michael Burnham broke a franchise mold . Until her series, the Star Trek shows typically set up the ship's captain as the series' lead character. Burnham, however, started out as the first officer of the USS Shenzhou under the command of Captain Philippa Georgiou. Her path to the captain's chair was the overall arc of the series. Yet, when she committed mutiny in the pilot episode, some stringent fans felt this was an unforgivable sin. However, what she did was something Spock had done in the past, just with a very human twist.

How Star Trek: Discovery Stood Apart From Previous Series

Star trek: discovery's callum keith rennie shows a new side of starfleet.

When Gene Roddenberry was tapped by Paramount to create a new series in the Star Trek universe, he took an approach mirrored by Discovery . Simply put, Roddenberry wanted The Next Generation to be as different from The Original Series as possible. While it was visually distinct, the new series mirrored the previous one in a number of ways. However, Captain Picard didn't break Starfleet rules as often as Captain Kirk did, even though the USS Enterprise leader was always right to do so. In fact, when any of the series' lead captains disobeys Starfleet orders, it almost always ends up working out.

Discovery avoided Star Trek staples in design and other areas, providing viewers with an almost too distinct looking world. From ship nacelles to the uniforms worn by the central characters, it didn't look like the Starfleet of the past it was supposed to be. The biggest point of contention with fans when it came to design was the new look of the Klingons. While they spoke the language created by Marc Okrand for the 1980s films with extreme accuracy, the new look was a massive departure. Even their vessels, from the Birds of Prey to the massive Sarcophagus Ship, were unfamiliar. Still, like any good Klingon, these characters were hungry for war.

The war between the Federation and Klingons, while canonical, darkened the tone of the series. Also, Discovery's Season 1 twist with Captain Lorca being from the Mirror Universe, also showed audiences a very different kind of Starfleet. This actually allowed Burnham to be a representative of Starfleet's ideals, up to and including ending the war in a more peaceful way than Starfleet intended. Still, because Michael Burnham committed mutiny, some uncharitable fans blame everything on her. But, it's just what Spock might have done.

Michael Burnham's Mutiny Was What Spock Would've Done If He Was Human

Star trek: discovery's alex kurtzman & michelle paradise talk final season.

The first episode of Star Trek: Discovery is called "The Vulcan Hello," and that title is important. The episode introduced Georgiou, Saru, Burnham and her relationship to Sarek and Spock. In fact, Burnham seems more Vulcan than human in those early episodes, which is a Star Trek commentary on nature versus nurture. While Spock has his Vulcan physiology to help him control his emotions, for the fully human Burnham she's simply suppressing her emotions . Thus, when faced with the Klingons lying in wait, she approached the problem while denying her fear and panic.

Right before the fateful act of mutiny, Burnham turned to the only father available to her: Sarek. He's the one who told her about Vulcans' early contact with Klingons. Despite being almost a captain herself by this point, Georgiou gets angry when Michael contradicts her on the bridge. Still, Burnham was, ostensibly, right; the Klingons saw Starfleet as weak. Her suggestion to open diplomatic relations by firing first on the ship would've at least undermined T'Kuvma's argument about Starfleet and their commitment to peace. When Georgiou, also rightly, calls Burnham out for being emotional, her Number One incapacitates her with a Vulcan nerve pinch .

While Burnham was correct about the approach towards the Klingons and that this was a trap to start a war, she did make one mistake. The plan to capture T'Kuvma and weaken his standing with the Great Houses failed because of her. After T'Kuvma killed Georgiou, Burnham killed him in anger. She was so used to suppressing her emotions that the rage she felt at that moment overcame her logical judgment. Yet, her mutiny and even killing T'Kuvma could not have prevented the war. Rather than an example of how she's a terrible Starfleet officer, this showed just how very similar she actually was to her foster-brother Spock

Spock Committed Mutiny In One of Star Trek: TOS's Most Famous Episodes

Star trek: discovery actors doug jones & david ajala prepare for their last adventure.

While some fans lambast Michael Burnham for disobeying orders, it's a long-held Starfleet tradition, and it's not just the captains. On series like Star Trek: The Next Generation or Star Trek: Voyager , crew members disobey orders all the time. The only difference between them and Burnham, however, is it usually works out for the best. However, in one of the most famous episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series , Spock also commits mutiny and is far more successful than his sister . The first two-part episode, "The Menagerie" was a way for producers to reuse the failed first Star Trek pilot in the series. It introduced the injured Captain Pike and established that Spock was his loyal science officer and friend.

Spock created a false message to get the USS Enterprise to Pike's location. He then uses a Vulcan nerve pinch to incapacitate Chief Humbolt in order to ensure no one can stop the ship from reaching Talos IV. He takes command of the bridge and tells the crew that he's under secret orders to take the wheelchair-bound Captain Pike to the planet. Eventually Kirk and supposedly Commodore Mendez arrive at the ship, and Spock turns himself in just as Burnham does when Georgiou recovers. When Mendez is revealed to be a psychic projection from the Talosians, only Kirk is left to render a verdict. He lets Spock off-the-hook.

This wasn't the only time Spock disobeyed orders . He nerve-pinches a crewmate in Star Trek: The Motion Picture before his unauthorized mind-meld with V'Ger. In Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country , he repeatedly defies Starfleet orders in order to conduct his investigation and rescue Kirk. Yet, while he has the power of cool Vulcan logic on his side, Burnham was a mess of human emotions. She was desperate and acted rashly, assaulting Georgiou in a munity plan destined to fail. In fact, it's a lot like how Spock stole the Enterprise in Strange New Worlds' Season 2 premiere .

Michael Burnham's Mutiny Was Discovery's Way of Showing She's Just Like Spock

Star trek: discovery's sonequa martin-green embarks on one final voyage.

In Season 1, Michael Burnham carried herself like a Vulcan, which makes sense given how she was raised. Yet, she wasn't just like any Vulcan, but rather she was like Spock in a lot of ways. He was often depicted as a Vulcan who was resentful of his human half, slowly embracing it through his friendship with Kirk and McCoy. The first time he smiled, after all, was when he discovered he hadn't killed Kirk in "Amok Time." Burnham, on the other hand, almost denies her human side.

Both Burnham and Spock are incredibly smart and capable officers, and they know they are smarter than the others around them . This is why both characters will sometimes take action that may not be regulation or protocol. Spock and Burnham are deeply committed to Starfleet's larger ideals and know that sometimes doing something "wrong" is the right way to uphold them. Burnham disobeys orders again in the Season 1 finale, giving L'Rell control of the hydrobomb Starfleet wanted to deploy to destroy Qo'noS.

While some fans may think Michael Burnham's mutiny is unforgivable, it's precisely what Spock would've done, especially if he were fully human . Throughout Season 1 she is committed to Starfleet's ideals to preserve life, from Ripper the "Tardigrade" to her desire to help Saru protect the Pahvans from the war. While her mutiny and assault against Captain Georgiou was the wrong thing to do, like every Star Trek hero before her, she did it for the right reasons.

Star Trek: Discovery debuts new episodes of its final season Thursdays on Paramount+ .

Star Trek: Discovery

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Blue Peter star, 66, stuns The One Show viewers with ‘amazing’ ageless appearance

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Blue Peter with Sarah Greene and Peter Duncan.

The One Show viewers praised Sarah Greene ’s ‘amazing’ appearance on the chat show.

The 66-year-old wore a brightly coloured dress and styled her short blonde hair in curls for the interview with Roman Kemp , and Alex Jones on the BBC programme.

After originally finding fame on Blue Peter between 1980 and 1983, she’s currently hosting the game show The Finish Line with Roman, and was invited onto the sofa to chat about the upcoming series.

While the trio discussed the upcoming new episodes, some viewers took to social media to compliment the star.

‘Does Sarah Greene actually age?!’ asked account Mostly Stupid on X.

Bobby, who admitted having an old school crush on the presenter said: ‘Sarah Greene is on telly & still looks amazing at 66. You’re welcome.’

Sarah Greene

‘Sarah Greene was my favourite on Blue Peter. How have I aged and she hasn’t?’ asked Philip Davis.

Does Sarah Greene actually age?! #TheOneShow — Mostly Stupid (@mostlystupid) May 3, 2024
Sarah Greene is on telly & still looks amazing at 66 😍You’re welcome. #OldSkoolCrush — Bobby | DJ BobaFatt (@BobaFatt) May 3, 2024
Sarah Greene was my favourite on Blue Peter. How have I aged and she hsn’t ? — Philip Davis (@GrandadPhil12) May 3, 2024
Lovely to see Sarah back on tv. More please she’s fab. — Daz Scott (@dazfromsomerset) May 3, 2024

Daz was happy to see the star on the small screen: ‘Lovely to see Sarah back on TV. More please she’s fab.’

Sarah made her return to TV in 2023 after nine years away . Previously a regular fixture on TV, she worked on Saturday Superstore and Going Live! but when her husband Mike Smith died aged 59 in 2014, she understandably decided to take a break from the spotlight.

The Radio 1 DJ and Top of the Pops host suffered heart surgery complications, and Sarah chose to concentrate on taking over his business – an aerial filming firm, Flying TV.

Sarah Greene

If there was a celebrity version of #TheFinishLine , who would be @RealSarahGreene ’s dream guests? 🤔 Watch #TheOneShow live now 👉 https://t.co/F0vTec1BLE pic.twitter.com/fRrtmZZiZX — BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) May 3, 2024

She described the decision to take on the business as a ‘big task’ that took up ‘a lot of my headspace’.

‘Offers of TV came in but for a long time I was trying to learn this new business but also feeling too raw,’ she explained.

She continued to  The Mirror:  ‘Only time can help that, you know when you feel ready, when you have that energy.’

Mike Smith and Sarah Greene

Sarah eventually did say yes to The Finish Line – a show that tests contestants on their general knowledge. Speed is also important as the five competitors battle it out to get around a ‘race course’ fastest and take home the prize fund of £5,000.

The first series was a success and Sarah, and Roman, 31, will be returning for a second series later this month.

Roman Kemp, Sarah Greene on The Finish Line

If the BBC show is given a celebrity special Sarah already has a list of dream guests.

‘We’d start with Hannah Waddingham, and then we’d have Peter Kay. I’d like to see him,’ she revealed on The One Show.

She added Miriam Margolyes, Bradley Walsh, and Shirley Kemp are also high on her agenda.

‘Then I’d like the Drag Race version, and I’ve got all my drag queens lined up for it. Any casting you need doing come to me,’ she joked. She is a woman who can do it all!

Elsewhere on the episode, Graham Norton announced who will be the UK Jury spokesperson at Eurovision 2024 .

The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One.

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