The Ultimate Cliffhangers that Leave Star Trek Fans Begging for More

Summary

Star Trek shows have excelled at using cliffhangers and dramatic moments to keep fans engaged.

Content fragments have become a consistent element in Star Trek, with each series incorporating them to varying degrees.

The most impactful Star Trek cliffhangers not only leave viewers intrigued by unresolved queries but also pave the way for thrilling storylines in the future.

Star Trek has always excelled at incorporating cliffhangers into its television shows. While the original series may have had fewer episodes that ended with cliffhangers, it certainly had its fair share of dramatic moments leading into commercial breaks. In fact, the first ever two-part episode, "The Menagerie," aired during the first season and even included footage from the show's unaired pilot. This set the stage for future Star Trek shows, where two-part episodes and climactic cliffhangers would become the norm.

One of the most memorable cliffhangers in Star Trek history occurred at the end of the third season of The Next Generation, with the episode titled "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1." This iconic moment marked a turning point for the series, as cliffhangers became a recurring theme. From then on, each Star Trek series made sure to incorporate cliffhangers in some capacity. While many of the shows adhered to a episodic format, the 1990s and 2000s saw an increase in two-part episodes sprinkled throughout the standalone episodes. More recent Star Trek series have adopted a serialized storytelling style, resulting in many episodes ending with cliffhangers.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 ranked cliffhangers in Star Trek history.

10 Star Trek: Picard - "Vox" (Season 3, Episode 9)

9 Star Trek: Enterprise - "The Expanse" (Season 2, Episode 26)

While "Vox," the concluding episode of Star Trek: Picard season 3, may not possess the same level of theatrics as certain cliffhangers, it effectively paves the way for the subsequent finale. Having collaborated with the Changelings, the Borg have managed to infiltrate Starfleet and assimilate all officers who are younger than 25. Tragically, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), the offspring of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), has been transformed into Vox of Borg. Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) has selflessly sacrificed himself in order to provide Picard and his crew with a fighting chance. As the episode concludes, the majority of the original TNG cast members are reunited on the bridge of the iconic USS Enterprise-D. This moment lingers with the pressing question: How will they embark on the mission to save the galaxy this time?

In the season 2 finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, titled "The Expanse," Earth is brutally attacked by an unknown enemy. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the crew of the Enterprise NX-01 embark on a mission to investigate the source of the attack, the Delphic Expanse. Along the way, Archer receives information from a future informant, revealing that the attackers are called the Xindi. Motivated by the belief that humans will eventually destroy their species, the Xindi have targeted Earth in the past to prevent this foreseen destruction. This pivotal episode not only sets the stage for the Xindi story arc, which spans the entirety of the third season, but also signifies how Star Trek: Enterprise shifts towards serialized storytelling.

8 Star Trek: Voyager - "Year of Hell, Part 1" (Season 4, Episode 8)

As the USS Voyager, commanded by Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), explores a new sector of space, they unexpectedly cross paths with the Krenim, an alien species. Initially, Voyager's shields and weaponry easily overpower the Krenim ship. However, a sudden temporal disruption disrupts the balance of power, granting the Krenim enhanced strength. This alteration leads to numerous intense battles between Voyager and the formidable Krenim over the span of two months. As a consequence, Voyager sustains significant damage and suffers heavy casualties. Tragically, Vulcan Security Chief Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ) endures severe injuries, resulting in blindness. The first part of the "Year Of Hell" in Star Trek: Voyager concludes with Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) falling into captivity as prisoners of the Krenim, while the rest of the crew, apart from the senior staff, is compelled to abandon the imperiled Voyager.

7 Star Trek: Discovery - "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2" (Season 2, Episode 14)

The addition of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck), and Number One (Rebecca Romijn) marked a pivotal moment in Star Trek: Discovery season 2. The season finale, "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2," not only introduced the crew who would later become the main characters in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds but also completely altered the course of Discovery. Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) assumes the role of the Red Angel to trigger the five signals that Discovery has been pursuing. She then embarks on a journey 900 years into the future to initiate a sixth signal, aiding Discovery's escape from Control. The episode concludes with Captain Pike and his crew witnessing the appearance of the seventh signal, indicating that Burnham and the Discovery have successfully reached the future. This leap into a future 900 years beyond anything depicted in previous Star Trek series left viewers uncertain of what to anticipate when Discovery returned for season 3.

6 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - "The Jem'Hadar" (Season 2, Episode 26)

Throughout the second season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, rumors surfaced about a mysterious force lurking in the Gamma Quadrant beyond the wormhole. In "The Jem'Hadar," these rumors are confirmed as Commander Benjamin Sisko and the crew of DS9 catch a glimpse of the Dominion and its formidable forces. The Jem'Hadar, the Dominion's foot soldiers, effortlessly breach the shields and forcefields surrounding Deep Space Nine. Even the arrival of the Federation starship U.S.S. Odyssey proves futile as the Jem'Hadar annihilate it in a suicidal attack. By the end of the episode, Sisko and his crew come to the realization that the Dominion poses an even greater threat than they had previously imagined, signaling the beginning of a long and arduous conflict.

5 Star Trek: The Next Generation - “Redemption, Part I” (Season 4, Episode 26)

In "Redemption, Part 1" of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Picard and Lt. Worf find themselves embroiled in intricate Klingon politics. Their mission involves helping Gowron ascend to the leadership of the Klingon High Council, which sparks the potential eruption of a civil war within the Klingon community. As tensions rise, Lursa and B'Etor of the house of Duras gather a fleet to challenge Gowron's authority. However, the suspense intensifies when a Romulan named Sela, who bears a striking resemblance to former Enterprise Security Officer Tasha Yar, is unveiled as the sisters' unexpected ally. Although the subsequent episode unravels the mystery behind this resemblance, seeing Denise Crosby back on TNG was undeniably astonishing.

4 Star Trek: Voyager - “Scorpion, Part I” (Season 3, Episode 26)

3 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - "Call to Arms" (Season 5, Episode 26)

Before Jeri Ryan's character, Seven of Nine, gained prominence as one of the main characters in Star Trek: Voyager, there was a controversial alliance made by Captain Janeway with the Borg in the Delta Quadrant. As the crew of the USS Voyager prepares for a journey through Borg territory, they unexpectedly come face-to-face with an alien species far more formidable than the Borg themselves. Known as Species 8472, these aliens launch an attack on Voyager, prompting Janeway to forge an alliance with the Borg. The episode concludes with Janeway finding herself on the Borg Cube, narrowly escaping destruction alongside Voyager at the hands of Species 8472. Not only is the third season's "Scorpion" of Star Trek: Voyager significant due to Janeway aligning herself with one of the Federation's greatest adversaries, but it also sets the stage for the introduction of Seven of Nine.

The iconic episode "Call to Arms" marks the initiation of an immensely significant narrative in the Star Trek universe—Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dominion War. Captain Sisko, alongside his esteemed crew, strategically lays mines around the wormhole, effectively blocking any further Dominion forces from breaching through. Given the unavailability of Starfleet reinforcements, the Klingons valiantly assist in patrolling the border while the USS Defiant diligently deploys these mines. However, the Dominion launches a full-scale assault on Deep Space Nine, compelling Sisko to issue an evacuation order for all Starfleet personnel. The episode concludes with the Dominion firmly establishing control over Deep Space Nine and Captain Sisko, along with the Defiant, uniting with an impressive armada consisting of Starfleet and Klingon vessels. Bearing witness to Sisko and his fellow Starfleet officers forsaking the station that had become their cherished home, uncertainty shrouds their minds as they ponder how they will reclaim what was lost.

2 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - "Hegemony" (Season 2, Episode 10)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 concluded with a cliffhanger reminiscent of the ones that concluded most of TNG's seasons. In the finale episode, "Hegemony," Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), and Scotty (Martin Quinn) manage to escape from Parnassus Beta. However, their relief is short-lived as they discover that the Gorn have taken many of the remaining survivors hostage. Despite receiving orders from Starfleet to retreat, Captain Pike refuses to abandon his people. As the episode concludes, Pike is faced with an impossible decision, knowing that the lives of Captain Batel and the captured survivors hang in the balance.

1 Star Trek: The Next Generation - "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1" (Season 3, Episode 26)

In the climactic conclusion of season 3 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) takes the decisive action of commanding Worf (Michael Dorn) to unleash a barrage of weaponry against a menacing Borg cube, endangering the life of Captain Picard. This monumental moment, marking the first of its kind within the Star Trek franchise, set the stage for the prevalence of cliffhanger endings on TNG and subsequent series. The episode titled "The Best of Both Worlds" not only captivated audiences, but also fueled speculations of Patrick Stewart's potential departure from the show, leaving fans anxiously awaiting the outcome for nearly three months - the ultimate survival of Picard hung in the balance. This gripping finale not only solidified the Borg as the Federation's most formidable adversary but also introduced a narrative thread that would resurface in the future, 30 years later, in the third season of Star Trek: Picard. Without a doubt, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1" remains an unparalleled cliffhanger, not just within the Star Trek universe, but across all realms of television.