Unveiling the Ultimate Ranking of Star Trek's New Animated Shorts

Summary

Key takeaways:

Star Trek: Very Short Treks is a compilation of animated films created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series. These episodes encompass a blend of humorous moments and dramatic turns, eliciting varied responses from fans, spanning from admiration to criticism.

The major attraction of the series lies in its impressive lineup of current and renowned actors lending their voices to the characters. This includes Ethan Peck, Doug Jones, Celia Rose Gooding, Noël Wells, and George Takei. Star Trek's animated film series, titled "Star Trek: Very Short Treks," had its share of highs and lows in terms of humor. Created by Casper Kelly from Adult Swim, Very Short Treks celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic "Star Trek: The Animated Series." Consisting of five episodes, these Very Short Treks are not considered part of the official Star Trek canon. The animation style of the episodes draws influence from the 1970s' Filmation, while also incorporating some modern animation from "Star Trek: Lower Decks" and "Star Trek: Prodigy." The reactions from Star Trek fans towards Very Short Treks varied greatly, ranging from appreciation to disdain. The response was also dependent on the release of each individual episode.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Star Trek: very Short Treks is the exceptional ensemble of current and former actors who lend their voices to bring the diverse characters to life. Ethan Peck portrays the iconic Mr. Spock, while Doug Jones embodies Saru. Celia Rose Gooding takes on the role of Uhura, with Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi, Bonnie Gordon in various roles, and Bruce Horak reprising the late Lieutenant Hemmer from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Notably, Star Trek veterans George Takei returns as Mr. Sulu, Jonathan Frakes as Commander William Riker, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Armin Shimerman as Quark, Ethan Phillips as Neelix, and Connor Trinneer, who reprises his role as Commander Trip Tucker since Star Trek: Enterprise concluded in 2005. Without further ado, here are the rankings of the five episodes of Star Trek: very Short Treks, from least to best:

5 Star Trek: very Short Treks Episode 3 - "Worst Contact"

"The Worst Contact," a comedic short, is undeniably the nadir of Star Trek's very Short Treks. This particular installment features Commander Will Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation, alongside Dr. Beverly Crusher and an unidentified crew member from the USS Enterprise-D, embarking on a mission to establish initial contact. However, "The Worst Contact" swiftly descends into crude and distasteful humor due to the involvement of aliens resembling the Talosians from the inaugural Star Trek pilot, "The Cage." Apart from the gratifying return of McFadden and Frakes in their respective roles as Dr. Crusher and Riker (with Beverly affectionately referring to Commander Riker as "Bill"), there isn't much to indulge in this particular episode.

You can watch "Worst Contact" here:

4 Star Trek: very Short Treks Episode 1 - "Skin A Cat"

"Skin a Cat" serves as a lackluster introduction to Star Trek: very Short Treks. Taking place aboard the USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Animated Series, this short episode incorporates clever jokes centered around peculiar expressions that offend the increasingly eccentric alien crew members. While Ethan Peck fills the role of Mr. Spock in place of the late Leonard Nimoy, Pete Holmes portrays a bewildered, generic starship Captain who mercifully does not resemble James T. Kirk. The comical, offbeat designs of some of the alien Enterprise crew inject moments of humor, yet overall, the viewing experience of "Skin a Cat" falls short of expectations.

You can watch "Skin a Cat" here:

3 Star Trek: very Short Treks Episode 2 - "Holiday Party"

Lt. Hemmer, very much alive, and Nyota Uhura wearing a Starfleet Cadet's uniform, confirm that Star Trek: very Short Treks episode 2 takes place during the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The atmosphere quickly turns awkward at a holiday party on the Starship Enterprise when Lt. Spock unveils a "blooper reel" filled with thousands of horrific deaths as a tribute to the series premiere of Star Trek: Discovery. The reel also includes crew members being injured by transporter malfunctions and Spock being dumped by his Vulcan fiancée, T'Pring (Gia Sandhu). Although Spock's lack of understanding of the concept of a "blooper" adds a touch of humor, "Holiday Party" is definitely a step up from "Skin a Cat."

You can watch "Holiday Party" here:

2 Star Trek: very Short Treks Episode 5 - "Walk, Don't Run"

The final installment of Star Trek: Very Short Treks brings the series to a close with a delightful musical performance. In a clever twist, "Walk, Don't Run" is hosted by Ensign D'Vana Tendi from Star Trek: Lower Decks, before her well-deserved promotion to Lieutenant, junior grade in season 4. Unfortunately, the spirited Tendi finds herself in a playful disagreement with Scotty (played by Carlos Alazraqui), who takes offense to some of the Orion's words. However, their lighthearted arguments, including a humorous discussion comparing the rec room from Star Trek: The Animated Series to Lower Decks' holodeck, are interrupted by the arrival of Commander Riker and Mr. Sulu. Together, they commence a zany musical number. While the song in "Walk, Don't Run" may not reach the extraordinary caliber of the musical numbers in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Noël Wells' captivating singing voice as Tendi shines through in this homage to the animated Star Trek universe, seamlessly blending the styles of TAS and Lower Decks.

You can watch "Walk, Don't Run" here:

1 Star Trek: very Short Treks Episode 4 - "Holograms All The Way Down"

With a lightning-fast runtime of just two minutes, "Holograms All The Way Down" stands out as the shortest among the Star Trek: very Short Trek episodes. Yet, it skillfully incorporates more than a dozen beloved Star Trek characters and maintains a genuinely amusing tone throughout. Crafted by Aaron J. Waltke, the executive producer of Star Trek: Prodigy, this episode begins by paying a subtle tribute to Commander Trip Tucker's demise in the controversial series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise. From there, it swiftly transforms into a whirlwind adventure within the holodeck, uniting characters from all Star Trek series, including Star Trek: Prodigy. Moreover, "Holograms All The Way Down" cleverly references the iconic "In The Pale Moonlight" episode from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, resulting in a truly outrageous moment on the holodeck. Undoubtedly, "Holograms All The Way Down" claims the title of the finest Star Trek: very Short Treks episode and wholeheartedly celebrates the essence of Star Trek.

You can watch "Holograms All The Way Down" here: