2023 has been a great year for Star Trek as several new seasons of Trek shows premiered with great reviews from fans and critics alike. Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Star Trek: Lower Decks all had new seasons premiere in 2023 on Paramount+. The Star Trek franchise began in 1966 with the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the USS Enterprise on Star Trek: The Original Series. Since then, the franchise has grown to include eleven different television series and thirteen feature films, and has inspired millions of fans around the world.
After the cancelation of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005, it would be twelve years before Star Trek would return to television. Star Trek: Discovery ushered in a new era for the Star Trek franchise when it premiered on CBS All Access (now known as Paramount+) in 2017. Although Discovery was met with mixed reviews, it led to a resurgence in Star Trek content and its spin-off, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been met with universal acclaim. The new Trek shows have not only been a delight for older Star Trek fans, but have also brought in new fans experiencing the Trek universe for the first time.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3
Star Trek: Picard returned in 2023 with its acclaimed third season that saw the original cast members of Star Trek: The Next Generation reunite. Following the events of seasons 1 and 2, Picard season 3 finds Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) forced to confront the Borg and his history as Locutus. When Picard receives a distress signal from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he calls his former First Officer, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and they embark on a journey to help their old friend.
The story culminates with the triumphant return of the USS Enterprise-D, as Picard and his crew save the galaxy one more time. Star Trek: Picard season 3 is truly a nostalgic tour de force that serves as a satisfying conclusion to a story thirty years in the making. With the return of the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generationand the introduction of some captivating new characters, Picard season 3 became the most-watched and best-reviewed season of Star Trek: Picard.
How to Watch: Star Trek: Picard season 3 is streaming on Paramount+ and is available on Blu-ray and DVD from CBS Home Entertainment.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2
Anson Mount’s Captain Christopher Pike proved to be so popular after his debut in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 that Paramount decided to cast him as the lead of the next Star Trek show. Strange New Worlds was born and quickly became one of Star Trek’s most well-received new shows. As a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, Strange New Worlds follows the crew of the USS Enterprise before Captain James T. Kirk (Willia Shatner) takes over command.
With its episodic storytelling and captivating ensemble cast, Strange New Worlds captures the magic of classic Trek, and its second season was just as well-received as its first. Strange New Worlds season 2 took several big swings with its storytelling, producing Star Trek’s first musical episode and a crossover episode with the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks. Strange New Worlds season 2 ended on a dramatic cliffhanger with the lives of several Enterprise crew members hanging in the balance.
How to watch: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 is streaming on Paramount+. Its home video release date hasn’t been announced, but Strange New Worlds season 2 will be available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4
With its debut in 2020, Star Trek: Lower Decks not only became Star Trek’s first animated series since Star Trek: The Animated Series ended in 1974, but it also became Star Trek’s first comedy series. While every Trek series has comedic episodes, Lower Decks is the first series to fully embrace the sillier side of Star Trek. Lower Decks follows the adventures of the USS Cerritos, a California-class starship that specializes in second-contact missions.
Rather than centering the ship’s Captain as the main character, Lower Decks focuses on the lives of four Ensigns: Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells), and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero). Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 premiered on September 7 on Paramount+ with new episodes airing weekly, and the show has been renewed for a fifth season.
How to Watch: Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 is streaming on Paramount+ and will be released on Blu-ray and DVD after season 4 completes streaming.
What Happened To Star Trek: Discovery Season 5?
Star Trek: Discovery began as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, but at the end of season 2, the USS Discovery and her crew ended up in the far future of the Star Trek universe, the 32nd century. Discovery season 5 was not originally meant to be the show’s last, but in March of 2023, Paramount+ announced that Discovery would be coming to an end. Filming was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and was eventually concluded in late 2022.
Some additional filming was completed in April 2023 to make Star Trek: Discovery‘s season 5 finale a series finale. Most of the show’s regular cast members will be returning, including lead Sonequa Martin-Green as Captain Michael Burnham, along with a few new faces. No exact premiere date has been set for Discovery season 5, but it will air sometime in early 2024.
How to Watch: Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will premiere on Paramount+ in early 2024, and its release on Blu-ray and DVD will follow after the season completes streaming.
What Happened To Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2?
Star Trek’s other new animated series, Star Trek: Prodigy, premiered in 2021 and had a 20-episode first season that was broken into two parts. Following the young crew of the USS Protostar and the holographic Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Prodigy served as a great entry point for the Star Trek franchise and appealed to younger Trek viewers. Although the second season was originally set to premiere in late 2023, Star Trek: Prodigy was unexpectedly canceled in June 2023.
Soon after the announcement of its cancelation, Prodigy was removed entirely from Paramount+. Since then, fans have rallied behind the show, and Star Trek: Prodigy’s creators are hopeful they will find a new streaming home for the show’s second season. Still, the future remains uncertain for Prodigy. With the upcoming Starfleet Academy series and the Section 31 film starring Michelle Yeoh, the Star Trek franchise seems to be boldly going in other directions.
How to Watch: Star Trek: Prodigy is no longer available on Paramount+, but season 1 is available on Blu-ray and DVD, with episodes 1-10 and 11-20 in separate collections.
