Star Trek: The Next Generationmay be more popular, but there’s one specific way thatStar Trek: Discoveryhas toppedTNG. Star Trek: The Original Series' enduring popularity in syndication created a franchise that has lasted nearly 60 years. The originalStar Treklaunched a successful string of movies, and, in 1987, a newStar Trekwas created for a new era,Star Trek: The Next Generation, which became a wellspring for a revolutionary expansion of theStar Trekuniverseon network TV and syndication.
LikeStar Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Discoveryalso kicked off a new era. With its 2017 premiere,Star Trek: Discoveryended a 12-year drought ofStar TrekTV showsafter the 2005cancelation ofStar Trek: Enterprise. Discoveryalso broughtStar Trekinto the streaming era, where newStar Trekis now found exclusively on Paramount+ (and Netflix in the case ofStar Trek: Prodigy). LikeStar Trek: The Next Generation,Discoverywas the flashpoint of another expansion of theStar Trekuniverse that could become even biggerthan whatTNGbuilt.
Star Trek: Discovery Created More Spinoffs Than TNG
More Discovery Spinoffs May Still Be On The Way
Star Trek: The Next Generationcontinues to be more beloved by legions ofStar Trekfans, butStar Trek: Discoveryhas created more spinoffs thanTNG.Discovery’s successful 5 seasons on Paramount+ led to the advent ofStar Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Section 31,and soon,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Star Trek’s Next 2 Shows Have Nothing To Do With Section 31
Star Trek: Section 31 doesn’t factor into the next two Star Trek shows scheduled on Paramount+, which are set in different Star Trek eras.
In addition, Star Trek on Paramount+ also producedStar Trek: Short Treksand the animatedStar Trek: very Short Treks. Although onlyStrange New Worlds, Lower Decks,andSection 31are directly tied toDiscovery,it’s an impressive count of eight spinoffs in a variety of formats, with more potentially on the way.
In development is a live-actionStar Trekcomedy fromStar Trek: Lower Decks' Tawny Newsome and Justin Simien.
In contrast,Star Trek: The Next Generationspawned three spinoffs,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, andStar Trek: Enterprise. DS9andVoyagerwere set concurrently withTNG, andtogether they opened up the breadth ofStar Trek’s 24th century universe.Star Trek: Enterprisewas the franchise’s first prequel set 200 years beforeTNGthat helped build the foundation of Starfleet’s history of exploration.
TNG Has Discovery Beat With Star Trek Movie Spinoffs
However,Star Trek: Discovery’s streaming era is far behindStar Trek: The Next Generationwhen it comes toStar Trekmovie spinoffs.TNGmade the leap to feature films in 1994 withStar Trek Generations.Three more followed: 1996’sStar Trek: First Contact, 1998’sStar Trek: Insurrection, and 2002’sStar Trek: Nemesis. WhileTNG’s movies vary in quality and audience affection,Star Trek: First Contactis generally regarded as a classic and one of the best overallStar Trekmovies.
I’m Afraid Section 31 Just Killed Star Trek Streaming Movies
Star Trek: Section 31 is the first Star Trek streaming movie on Paramount+, and it could also be the last after its critical and audience reception.
Thus far,Star Trek: Discoveryhas led to oneStar Trekmovie made for streaming on Paramount+:Star Trek: Section 31.Star Trekmovies stalled afterStar Trek Beyondin 2016, and there has not been a newStar Trektheatrical movie release in almost a decade.Star Trek: Section 31is hopeful to spawn a sequeland moreStar Trekstreaming movies, but that future is in doubt after the poor receptionSection 31received from critics andStar Trekfans.
TNG’s Star Trek Era Is Something Discovery’s Spinoffs Can’t Match
Streaming Star Trek Can’t Compete With Network & Sydincation Era Volume
Star Trek: Discovery’s total spinoffs may outnumberStar Trek: The Next Generation’s, butStar Trek’s streaming era can’t match the franchise’s network TV and syndication era.Star TrekTV showsfromTNG’s time period typically produced 22-26 episodes a year, with onlyStar Trek: Enterpriseairing for four seasons instead of seven.TNG’s Star Trek shows produced hundreds of episodes which streaming simply can’t equal.
LongtimeStar Trekfans also lament the lack of"filler episodes,“low-stakes stories that focus on minor characters.
Star Trek: Discovery’s 5 seasons totaled 65 episodes, butStar Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, andStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' seasons only consist of 10 episodes each.Star Trek: Prodigy’s 2 seasons also delivered 20 episodes. It would take many more years and moreStar TrekTV shows forStar Trek: Discovery’s era to equal the total output ofStar Trek: The Next Generationand its spinoffs.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Cast
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
