The Ultimate Guide: Unveiling All New and Exciting Star Trek Series Coming in 2023

Summary

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 is a nostalgic and satisfying conclusion to a three-decade long story, featuring the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Continuing to capture the essence of classic Trek through its episodic storytelling, Strange New Worlds Season 2 has garnered positive reviews. Notably, it even features a crossover episode with Lower Decks.

Bringing the lighter and more humorous aspects of Star Trek to the forefront, Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 chronicles the escapades of four Ensigns aboard the USS Cerritos. With new episodes airing weekly, a fifth season has already been confirmed.

In 2023, Star Trek experienced a successful year with the premiere of several new seasons of Trek shows, receiving excellent reviews from both fans and critics. Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Star Trek: Lower Decks all debuted new seasons on Paramount+. The Star Trek franchise was initially established in 1966 with the captivating adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and the crew of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series. Since then, the franchise has expanded to include eleven distinct television series and thirteen feature films, captivating and inspiring millions of fans worldwide.

Following the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005, it took twelve years for Star Trek to return to the small screen. The premiere of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access (now Paramount+) in 2017 marked a new era for the franchise. Although Discovery received mixed reviews initially, it sparked a revival of Star Trek content. Its spin-off, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, has been universally acclaimed. These new Trek shows have not only delighted long-time Star Trek fans but have also introduced new fans to the vast Trek universe for the first time.

Star Trek: Picard Season 3

In 2023, Star Trek: Picard made its highly anticipated comeback with an incredible third season, reuniting the original cast members from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Building upon the events of previous seasons, season 3 of Picard sees Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) confronted with his past as Locutus and the Borg. When a distress signal from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) reaches Picard, he enlists the help of his former First Officer, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and together they set off on a mission to aid their old friend.

This thrilling storyline reaches a climax with the triumphant return of the USS Enterprise-D, as Picard and his crew once again save the galaxy. Star Trek: Picard season 3 is truly an exceptional and nostalgic journey, bringing a satisfying conclusion to a story that has been thirty years in the making. With the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation reprising their roles and the introduction of captivating new characters, season 3 of Picard became the highest-rated and most-watched season of the entire series.

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

Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, gained immense popularity in his debut in Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Recognizing the fan frenzy, Paramount made the decision to cast him as the protagonist in the upcoming Star Trek show, Strange New Worlds. This new addition to the Star Trek universe has been received with great enthusiasm. Serving as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, Strange New Worlds delves into the story of the USS Enterprise crew prior to Captain James T. Kirk (Willia Shatner) assuming command.

Strange New Worlds season 2 of Star Trek, with its captivating cast and episodic storytelling, successfully captures the essence of the classic series. The season received positive feedback, just like its predecessor. Season 2 of Strange New Worlds took some bold steps in its storytelling, including producing Star Trek's first-ever musical episode and a crossover episode with the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. The season concluded with a gripping cliffhanger, leaving the fate of several Enterprise crew members uncertain.

How to watch: You can stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 on Paramount+. As for its home video release, the dates are yet to be announced, but you can look forward to owning it on Blu-ray and DVD.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4

Star Trek: Lower Decks debuted in 2020, marking Star Trek's first venture into animated series since the conclusion of Star Trek: The Animated Series in 1974. Notably, it also became the first comedy series within the Star Trek franchise. While previous Trek series had humorous episodes, Lower Decks fully embraces the more lighthearted aspects of the Star Trek universe. The show follows the exploits of the USS Cerritos, a California-class starship that specializes in second-contact missions.

In a departure from tradition, Lower Decks shifts the focus away from the ship's Captain and instead delves into the lives of four Ensigns: Brad Boimler (portrayed by Jack Quaid), Beckett Mariner (portrayed by Tawny Newsome), D'Vana Tendi (portrayed by Noël Wells), and Sam Rutherford (portrayed by Eugene Cordero). Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks premiered on September 7 on Paramount+, with new episodes airing weekly. Additionally, the show has already 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 initially served as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, however, in the final episode of season 2, the USS Discovery and its crew found themselves transported to the distant future of the Star Trek universe - the 32nd century. Originally, the creators had not intended for season 5 to be the show's conclusion. Nevertheless, Paramount+ made the announcement in March of 2023 that Discovery would be concluding. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, filming faced delays and eventually wrapped up in late 2022.

Additional filming took place in April 2023 to transform the season 5 finale of Star Trek: Discovery into a series finale. The majority of the show's main cast, including Sonequa Martin-Green as Captain Michael Burnham, will be reprising their roles, alongside a few new additions. While an exact premiere date for Discovery season 5 has not been announced, it is expected to air in early 2024.

To watch Star Trek: Discovery season 5, tune in to Paramount+ in early 2024. The season will be available on Blu-ray and DVD after it finishes streaming.

What Happened To Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2?

Star Trek: Prodigy, another new animated series in the Star Trek franchise, made its debut in 2021 with a 20-episode first season, split into two parts. Aimed at younger Trek viewers, Prodigy followed the adventures of the USS Protostar's young crew, accompanied by holographic Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). Unfortunately, despite originally planning a late 2023 premiere for its second season, Star Trek: Prodigy was unexpectedly canceled in June 2023.

Following the cancellation announcement, Prodigy was promptly removed from Paramount+. However, devoted fans of the show have shown their support, and the creators of Star Trek: Prodigy remain optimistic about finding a new streaming platform for the second season. Nonetheless, the future of Prodigy remains uncertain as the Star Trek franchise expands in different directions, including the upcoming Starfleet Academy series and the Section 31 film featuring Michelle Yeoh.

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.