Casual ‘Star Trek’ Fans Always Get These 6 Things Wrong

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Star Trek is a classic space adventure series, and with so many movies and TV shows, it can be hard for new or casual fans to follow everything. It began in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series. Though that show only lasted three seasons, it launched a huge collection of prequels, sequels, and spin-offs that expanded the universe created by Gene Roddenberry.

Even if you’re not a dedicated Star Trek fan, you can still enjoy the series. However, those who don’t follow it closely sometimes misunderstand important details – and certain errors are surprisingly common. These misunderstandings can actually change how people experience the show, so let’s clarify a few things. While everyone’s journey with Star Trek is different, getting the facts right can enhance your enjoyment.

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Thinking Every ‘Star Trek’ Project Is Needed for the Franchise To Make Sense

Most ‘Star Trek’ Shows Can Be Enjoyed in Isolation

As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I’ve always loved how the movies and TV shows all build on each other, creating this huge, ongoing story that spans generations. But what’s really cool is you don’t have to watch everything in order to enjoy it! You can jump in with almost any series and still have a great time. Sure, you might miss a few inside jokes or references to past events, but the creators are really good about making sure new viewers aren’t lost. Sometimes an episode will focus a lot on characters or storylines from previous shows, but it’s always presented in a way that makes sense, even if you’re not familiar with the background.

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies are a great example of a reboot done right. Though the films include characters from the original Star Trek series, they tell a new story in a separate timeline with a fresh cast. There are plenty of references for longtime fans, but you don’t need to know the old series to enjoy them. On the other hand, Star Trek: Lower Decks isn’t the best starting point. This animated comedy is packed with jokes and references aimed at hardcore fans, making it difficult for newcomers to follow.

5
Where the Movies & TV Shows Fall on the ‘Star Trek’ Timeline

Newer-looking ‘Star Trek’ Shows Aren’t Necessarily Prequels


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I’ve always been fascinated by how Star Trek tells its stories. It didn’t start out this way, but the show doesn’t always continue directly after the last one. It began pretty straightforwardly with The Original Series taking place in the 23rd century. For a while, each new show simply continued that timeline. But then The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager all jumped ahead to the 24th century. It was exciting! And then, after Voyager finished in 2001, Enterprise came along and went back to the 22nd century – making it a prequel to everything we’d seen before, and it still is today!

In 2017, Star Trek: Discovery brought the franchise back to television after a twelve-year gap since Enterprise ended. However, Discovery was set before the original Star Trek (TOS), taking place in the same time period as Enterprise. Since then, it’s been unclear when future Star Trek shows would be set. While the 22nd century hasn’t been explored further, the 23rd and 24th centuries have seen some development across different series. Both Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery have moved the timeline forward, ending in the 25th and 32nd centuries, respectively. The timeline can be confusing for newer fans because the shows now have a more modern look, even though some are set before the original series.

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One of Captain Kirk’s Most Famous “Quotes” in ‘Star Trek’

“Beam me up, Scotty,” Is a Falsehood


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Over the years, Star Trek has become so popular that many of its phrases are now part of everyday language. While the show didn’t create sayings like “Revenge is a dish best served cold,” it helped make them well-known, especially by presenting it as a traditional Klingon saying. Even people who’ve never watched Star Trek often recognize the Vulcan farewell, “Live long and prosper.” Interestingly, the most famous quote associated with the show was never actually said by any character on screen.

Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner, frequently found himself in dangerous situations on alien planets and needed to be transported back to the Enterprise quickly. Despite this, he never actually said the famous line, “Beam me up, Scotty.” While he asked for transport using different phrases, he never gave that exact order to Chief Engineer Scotty (James Doohan). Because of this, saying “Beam me up, Scotty” around a dedicated Star Trek fan will often lead to a correction!

3
‘Star Trek’s United Federation of Planets & Starfleet Being the Same Thing

They Are Related, But Not Synonymous


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Starfleet is a space exploration organization originating from Earth, created by humans. It’s central to every Star Trek series, as the stories generally follow human characters serving on Starfleet ships. Founded in the 22nd century, Starfleet has evolved to include members from many different species. While it was once rare to see non-humans in leadership roles, that became increasingly common over time. Starfleet is connected to the Federation, but they are distinct entities.

The Federation came into being after Starfleet was already established and is made up of many different planets scattered across space. While Earth, Vulcan, Andoria, and Tellar Prime were among the first members, the Federation has grown considerably since its beginning and continues to welcome new worlds. Eventually, Starfleet became the main exploration and defense force of the Federation. When the Federation was officially formed at the end of Star Trek: Enterprise, all of Starfleet’s ships became part of the Federation, but the Federation also includes ships that aren’t part of Starfleet.

2
The Full Truth of Spock’s ‘Star Trek’ Lineage

The “Vulcan” Has a More Complex Background


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Spock, famously played by Leonard Nimoy, first appeared in the original Star Trek series as the sole alien crew member on the USS Enterprise. While recent shows like Strange New Worlds have introduced other alien characters, Spock remains unique. It’s common to call Spock a Vulcan, but that’s not entirely accurate – his father was Vulcan, but his mother was human. Although he appears fully Vulcan, his human heritage is a key aspect of who he is.

Spock, raised on the planet Vulcan, always felt different because his mother was human. This aspect of his identity is explored throughout the Star Trek series, especially in Strange New Worlds, where actor Ethan Peck portrays a young Spock. Understanding Spock’s half-human heritage is key to fully appreciating the performances of both Leonard Nimoy and other actors who have played the role. While it’s simpler to just call him a Vulcan, it’s important to remember he’s actually a Vulcan/human hybrid.

1
The Canon Status of Animated ‘Star Trek’ Shows

Only ‘Star Trek: Scouts’ Isn’t Canon


Paramount+

Star Trek is mostly known for its live-action TV shows and movies, but it also includes animated series that fit within the overall story timeline. The first animated show, Star Trek: The Animated Series, continued the adventures after the original live-action series ended. For a long time, fans argued whether the animated series should be considered part of the official Star Trek story, or ‘canon’. However, it’s now officially recognized as being part of the same continuous story as all the live-action shows.

Both Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy, created for today’s audiences, are officially part of the Star Trek universe. Lower Decks includes appearances by well-known Star Trek actors. Although it’s a unique and self-aware show that expands the existing story while playfully acknowledging it’s a TV show, it still takes place within the main Star Trek timeline. Prodigy feels like a continuation of Voyager, making it even more firmly established as canon. The only Star Trek animated series that isn’t considered official is Star Trek: Scouts, which is designed for very young children. You can stream all things Star Trek on Paramount+.

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2025-12-04 04:20