Why Star Trek: Discovery Outshines The Next Generation in One Key Aspect

While Star Trek: The Next Generation is often hailed as a fan favorite, Star Trek: Discovery has achieved a noteworthy milestone that sets it apart from its predecessor. The original Star Trek, premiering in 1966, laid the groundwork for a franchise that has captivated audiences for nearly six decades. Following a successful wave of films, The Next Generation debuted in 1987, signaling the dawn of a new era in the Star Trek universe, both on network television and in syndication.

Marking its welcome return in 2017, Star Trek: Discovery bridged a 12-year gap in Star Trek programming following the conclusion of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005. More than just revitalizing the franchise, Discovery ushered Star Trek into the streaming landscape, where new installments are now predominantly available on Paramount+ (and Netflix for Star Trek: Prodigy).This reboot has catalyzed yet another expansion of the Star Trek universe, promising to be even more extensive than what TNG introduced.

Star Trek: Discovery Has Outdone TNG in Spinoffs

Anticipating More Spinoffs from Discovery

Although The Next Generation continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many Star Trek enthusiasts, Star Trek: Discovery has generated a remarkable number of spinoffs. With five successful seasons on Paramount+, it has laid the groundwork for several offshoots, including Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Section 31, and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Additionally, Paramount+ has introduced various other formats like Star Trek: Short Treks and the animated Star Trek: Very Short Treks. While only a few of these series directly connect to Discovery, the total of eight spinoffs represents a diverse and significant expansion, with more potentially on the horizon.

Upcoming projects include a live-action Star Trek comedy helmed by Tawny Newsome and Justin Simien, associated with Star Trek: Lower Decks.

TNG Outpaces Discovery in Movie Spinoffs

The Movie Legacy of The Next Generation

While Star Trek: Discovery has made strides in expanding the Star Trek universe, it still falls short of The Next Generation in terms of feature films. TNG made its cinematic debut in 1994 with Star Trek Generations, followed by three more films: Star Trek: First Contact in 1996, Star Trek: Insurrection in 1998, and Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002. These films offered varied receptions, yet Star Trek: First Contact is celebrated as a standout entry and a fan favorite.

To date, the only feature film stemming from Discovery is the streaming-centric Star Trek: Section 31. Unfortunately, after the release of Star Trek Beyond in 2016, the franchise’s theatrical endeavors have encountered a prolonged hiatus, with no new films gracing theaters for almost ten years. Despite hopes for sequels and additional streaming films from Section 31, the film’s lackluster reception has left its future uncertain.

The Incomparability of TNG’s Era

Streaming Star Trek vs.the Volume of Network TV

Although Star Trek: Discovery has inaugurated a greater number of spinoffs than The Next Generation, it’s important to note that the scale of content produced during TNG’s era, characterized by network television and syndication, remains unmatched. Series in that era typically featured 22-26 episodes per season—an impressive volume compared to today’s streaming format.

Seasonal structures in the current lineup, including Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, often consist of just 10 episodes each, making it difficult for the new series to rival the extensive catalog created during TNG’s run. Notably, the total episode count for Discovery and its associated shows remains significantly lower, adding up to just 65 episodes over five seasons—a stark contrast to TNG’s hundreds of episodes.

Moreover, long-time fans of the franchise miss the charm of “filler episodes, ”which allowed for character development and exploration of smaller narratives in the vast universe. It would take extensive additional content and time for today’s Star Trek iterations to catch up with the breadth of storytelling crafted during the iconic TNG years.

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