Our Heist Guides introduce new fans to something we think is seriously cool, and they may even provide some behind-the-scenes knowledge to longtime diehards. It's everything you need to know to plan your own heist.
Welcome aboard, cadet! Whether you've accidentally warped into the Star Trek universe or are finally answering the call of Starfleet, you've arrived at the perfect docking station. Since its debut in the late 1960s, Star Trek has been a cultural cornerstone, blending epic adventures with philosophical debates and more technobabble than a malfunctioning processor. But with such a vast galaxy of lore, where do you even begin?
Fear not! This Heist Guide will navigate you through the essential questions designed to beam you up (to speed) with the Star Trek universe. Think of it as your own personal Starfleet orientation — minus the awkward icebreakers and mandatory safety videos.
From understanding the plots of the franchise to delving into the background of one of its most famous characters, these questions will help you become better acquainted with the basics of the final frontier — allowing you to impress your friends and hold your own on sci-fi trivia night.
So grab that communicator, set phasers to "fun," and get ready to boldly go where no beginner's guide has gone before!
What is Star Trek?
Star Trek is a massively popular science fiction franchise that boldly goes where no man has gone before. Debuting as a television show in September, 1966, the series is set in a utopian future where diverse individuals work together for the common good — surveying humanity, aiming for a better tomorrow, and blowing up the occasional enemy ship along the way.
Star Trek follows the intrepid members of Starfleet, notably the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they seek out new life and new civilizations against the backdrop of outer space. However, more than just phaser blasts and funky alien prosthetics, this pop culture phenomenon (currently estimated to be worth over $11 billion) also looks to serve as a mirror reflecting humanity's hopes, struggles, and aspirations. Here, diversity thrives, conflicts are resolved with reason (and the occasional photon torpedo), and even androids ponder existential questions.
In six decades balancing action with philosophical musings and countless cultural references, Star Trek has transcended entertainment to become a symbol of progress, unity, and the occasional awkward transporter mishap. In short, it's a world where sci-fi meets heart — and that's something worth going after.
Cool! Who created Star Trek?
Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry, a former World War II fighter pilot, Los Angeles police officer, and visionary screenwriter who held an optimistic view of humanity's future. In the mid-1960s, when television was filled with Westerns and spy dramas, Roddenberry pitched Star Trek: The Original Series as a "Wagon Train to the stars," blending space exploration with thought-provoking social commentary — a bold move for its time.
Roddenberry imagined a future where mankind had overcome petty differences to replace war and greed with diplomacy, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for stylish starship interiors. He filled the USS Enterprise with a diverse crew, including an alien first officer (Spock), a Black communications officer (Uhura), an Asian helmsmen (Sulu), and a Russian navigator (Chekov). It was a groundbreaking move in representation at the height of both the Cold War and Civil Rights Movement.
Though initially facing cancellation threats and budget struggles, Roddenberry's creation endured, evolving into a multimedia empire spanning TV shows, films, books, and beyond. Today, he's fondly remembered as "The Great Bird Of The Galaxy," a visionary responsible not only for creating one of the most beloved sci-fi series and franchises in history, but for inspiring generations of fans to shoot for the stars.
That's awesome! How did this all get started?
Interesting question! Star Trek: The Original Series truly began with its original, unaired pilot, entitled "The Cage." Filmed in 1964, it introduced the crew of the USS Enterprise, but with notable differences. Jeffrey Hunter sat in the center seat as Captain Christopher Pike, with Laurel Goodwin as Colt, Susan Oliver as Vina, and John Hoyt as Dr. Boyce. The episode also featured Majel Barrett as Number One and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, an alien science officer with some seriously overworked eyebrows.
In "The Cage," Captain Pike and his crew encounter a mysterious alien race known as the Talosians, aliens with oversized brains who enjoy creating reality-bending illusions. Think of them as the galaxy's most manipulative VR gamers. The story explored themes of captivity and free will, setting the thoughtful tone that Star Trek television shows would become known for in the years to come.
The network executives at NBC were intrigued, but felt the show was far too slow. However, instead of jettisoning it all out the airlock, and thanks to the unwavering support of Desilu Studios' Lucille Ball, Roddenberry was given a second chance, something that was pretty much unheard of at the time.
Though shelved, "The Cage" eventually did become a pivotal part of Star Trek history, with footage cleverly used in the iconic two-part episode "The Menagerie." In true Trek fashion, it proved that, sometimes, even rejected pilots can live long and prosper.
Nice! Who is ths Captain Kirk I keep hearing about?
James Tiberius Kirk is captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series — he's also one of pop culture's most iconic characters. Portrayed by Canadian actor William Shatner (and later Chris Pine and Paul Wesley), Kirk replaced Christopher Pike following poor response to Roddenberry's unaired pilot. Known for his bravado, charm, and inability to go at least one episode without ripping his shirt, Kirk quickly became the quintessential Starfleet captain — equal parts explorer, diplomat and intergalactic trouble magnet.
Born in Riverside, Iowa, Kirk is a prodigy who quickly rose through the ranks thanks to his tactical brilliance, unconventional thinking, and tendency to rewrite the rules — most famously by cheating his way to victory over the Kobayashi Maru, Starfleet's famed "no win" training exercise.
Known for a leadership style that is equal parts daring and dramatic, Kirk is as likely to negotiate peace with a hostile alien race as he is to karate chop his way out of captivity. His legendary friendships with Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy help balance his headstrong nature with logic and heart.
Though he's faced off with everything from omnipotent space gods to Orion slave girls, James Kirk's greatest skill is his unshakable belief in humanity's potential. Whether inspiring his crew in the face of insurmountable odds or charming the clothes off an alien queen, Captain Kirk remains a timeless symbol of courage, adventure, and unapologetic swagger.
Wait, you keep saying "first" and "original." How many different Star Trek television series are there?
When it comes to the live-action side of things, there are currently eight Star Trek series.
These include Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. There are also a number of live-action Star Trek movies and even an animated series or two.
Hold on. Star Trek cartoons?!
That's affirmative! It all began with Star Trek: The Animated Series in 1973. Produced by Filmation (the same studio behind BraveStarr and the Masters of the Universe franchise), this Emmy-winning show featured several of the original cast voicing their iconic roles as well as stories crafted by Trek veterans like D.C. Fontana and Walter Koenig. Though limited by a modest animation budget, it expanded the Star Trek universe in ways that live action just couldn't.
Decades later, in 2020, Star Trek: Lower Decks crash-landed.
Created by Mike McMahan and featuring the voice talents of Jack Quaid, Tawny Newsome, Eugene Cordero, and Noël Wells, this slightly more adult series brilliantly parodies Trek lore while celebrating its rich history. The crew of the USS Cerritos may not be the most competent bunch, but their hilarious misadventures are pure gold for fans both old and new!
In 2021, Star Trek: Prodigy launched a new frontier for younger viewers. Blending stunning CGI with compelling stories, the show follows a ragtag crew of alien teens piloting a lost Federation ship through the cosmos. Oh — and Kate Mulgrew returns to play a holographic version of Captain Janeway, her character from Star Trek: Voyager!
Just a few years later, in 2023, we got a season of Star Trek: Very Short Treks. This fun series of animated shorts featured a number of classic characters and had a neat 1970s Filmation feel.
Whether you're looking for something quirky or a little more modern, these Star Trek cartoons are sure to scratch that itch. The final frontier is anything but two-dimensional!
You also said something about Star Trek movies.
Oh, Star Trek is no stranger to the big screen! Since 1979, there have been no fewer than 13 Star Trek movies. These include:
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture from Robert Wise
- Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan from Nicholas Meyer
- Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home from Leonard Nimoy
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier from William Shatner
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country from Nicholas Myers
Then, after a three-year break, we got Star Trek Generations from David Carson, the excellent Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection from Jonathan Frakes, and Star Trek: Nemesis from Stuart Baird.
Eight years later, the Kelvin Timeline kicked off with 2009's Star Trek and 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness from J. J. Abrams. The most recent Star Trek movie to grace the big screen was 2016's Star Trek Beyond from Justin Lin.
If rumors are to be believed, the folks at Paramount are quite eager to get a new Star Trek movie released in theaters at some point in the very near future.
While there haven't been any new Star Trek movies recently, there is a new one slated to arrive on the Paramount+ streaming service next year. Titled Star Trek: Section 31, this "streaming event film" would serve as a spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery and follow Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou as she joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the Federation from extermination. It is scheduled to arrive on January 24, 2025.
Wait, Kelvin Timeline?
Oh yeah, that's the trilogy of movies beginning with 2009's Star Trek and ending with Star Trek Beyond. These three films take place within an alternate timeline separate from the main Star Trek continuity. I promise it's far less complicated than it sounds — just think of it as an in-canon mini-reboot.
Is there an official order I should watch Star Trek in?
Sort of, but it's not really written in stone. Honestly, I jump in and out of the different series all the time. That said, some of the stories will make more sense if you watch the shows chronologically by the year in which they were released. The movies can also be enjoyed on their own, or as part of larger lore, while the three Kelvin Timeline movies are kind of their own thing.
What other Star Trek stuff are they making today?
In addition to the upcoming Section 31 streaming flick, a third season of Strange New Worlds is on the way and should release sometime between the spring and summer of next year.
Star Trek: Lower Decks is currently airing its fifth and final season, while a second season of Star Trek: Prodigy was released in July 2024. A new live-action series entitled Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, with Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, is also in the works and should arrive on Paramount+ in either 2025 or 2026.
That's really neat! Where can I watch Star Trek now?
Series episodes and movies air daily through cable on several stations, and the core catalogue of classic Trek (the original series, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and the first ten movies) come and go from various streaming services. If you really want to commit, though, Paramount+ is the streaming service to have; it has everything, old and new. And, if you're old like me and love physical media, you can also snag your favorite seasons on Blu-Ray or DVD.
