Star Trek: Best Series Finales
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Star Trek has been a cultural phenomenon since the 1960s. Pitched as a Wagon Train to the stars, The Original Series ran for three seasons before the brand experienced a resurgence through films and more series. To date there have been eight live action series under the Star Trek banner with six of them reaching a series finale.
While the series finale can send the show off on a good note for fans to fondly remember them, it can also leave a sour taste in fan’s mouths. Some Star Trek series finales have stuck the landing while others have left a lot to be desired, but here are the best of them.
6 These Are The Voyages
Star Trek: Enterprise – 5.3 Rating (IMDB)
In the early 2000s, after three series set a century after the events of The Original Series, Star Trek tried a prequel series set when humans first developed warp capable technology. Star Trek: Enterprise garnered its fans despite not being as well-received as the sequel series. However, its series finale was almost universally hated.
The finale was set as a holodeck recreation where Commander Riker from The Next Generation was revisiting Enterprise’s final mission looking for guidance on a decision he needed to make. Enterprise fans hated the focus on The Next Generation when it was supposed to be the finale for Enterprise, and even the cast has spoken out against the finale.
5 Turnabout Intruder
Star Trek: The Original Series – 6.8 Rating (IMDB)
This is the only series finale to date that wasn’t intended to be a series finale. Turnabout Intruder is the final episode of season three of The Original Series. At the time of filming, the show’s creators didn’t know the series would be canceled, so they didn’t develop a true series finale.
In the episode, Kirk’s ex-girlfriend switches bodies with him and takes command of the Enterprise, because Starfleet didn’t allow female captains. Despite being progressive by 1960s standards, the storyline has been retconned by almost every series since.
4 Endgame
Star Trek: Voyager – 8.6 Rating (IMDB)
The crew of Voyager finally get to escape the Delta quadrant in the series finale for Star Trek: Voyager. In the episode, a future version of Captain Janeway goes back in time to bring her crew home years earlier. Unfortunately, there were several deaths while she was bringing them home.
Janeway figures out how to use the Borg to get home while also delivering a crippling blow to the collective. Kate Mulgrew shines as both versions of herself as she tries to convince herself to use the Borg to her advantage. Voyager may not get the love of the other sequel trilogies, but it delivered in its final episode with such a unique premise.
3 What You Leave Behind
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – 8.9 Rating (IMDB)
Deep Space Nine took a different take with the entire series, so it made sense the series finale would be quite different from the other series finales in Star Trek history. The Federation had to wrap up the Dominion War while also dealing with some of the more evil Cardassians and the Pah-Wraiths who often caused troubles for Starfleet in connection with the space station.
The Deep Space Nine finale found a way to wrap up all the open plot threads and bring the show to a satisfying conclusion. It features an exciting victory for the Federation and a sad goodbye for Captain Sisko and his son, Jake Sisko. Without the traveling of other series, Deep Space Nine had to find a way to bring intriguing storylines to a space station, and it delivered on almost every level for seven season, right up to the finale.
2 All Good Things…
Star Trek: The Next Generation – 9.1 Rating (IMDB)
The most beloved of the Star Trek franchise appeared to provide the best series finale in Star Trek history when it first aired. In The Next Generation finale, Picard and Q jump through different time periods to save the universe by preventing an anomaly. Using three different versions of the Enterprise, Picard and one of his greatest foes were able to work together and save the day.
Both Patrick Stewart and John de Lancie were praised for their acting in this finale. While Picard and Q always played well off each other, this is arguably the best they’ve ever been together. It makes sense that it would take Jean-Luc Picard to defeat Jean-Luc Picard.
1 The Last Generation
Star Trek: Picard – 9.4 Rating (IMDB)
Paramount Plus brought Star Trek back to television with three live action series, so far. The only one to wrap up its mission is Star Trek: Picard which follows Captain Picard years after The Next Generation finale. While it was heavily criticized during its first season, the third and final season has been widely praised, especially the series finale.
Many of The Next Generation crew returned for the final season as Picard had one more battle with the nefarious Borg. He also meets his newly-discovered son that he had with Dr. Beverly Crusher even though he wasn’t aware of that. It shows growth for every member of The Next Generation crew as well as the new cast members who help the family grow.
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