Expressions like “beam me up, Scotty!” or “the line must be drawn here!” are instantly associated with Captain Kirk or Captain Picard, respectively, capturing the enduring legacy of “Star Trek.” The internet is teeming with memes inspired by its numerous iterations, and all 14 “Star Trek” films, regardless of their reception, boast dedicated fan bases. So, why do the recent streaming series fail to capture the public’s attention?

Take “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,” for example—its lackluster viewership led to its downfall. It’s a trend seen across the franchise’s new offerings. It wasn’t until the third season in 2023 that “Picard” appeared on the Nielsen streaming charts. Similarly, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” experienced fluctuating chart positions during its third season. This highlights a peculiar phenomenon: “Star Trek” remains globally recognized, yet its latest streaming ventures struggle to attract significant audiences. As of now, the future of “Star Trek” on television seems uncertain.

The next wave of “Star Trek” programming presents an opportunity to address these viewership challenges. The solution lies in two key strategies: returning to the franchise’s recognizable roots while simultaneously introducing bold, innovative elements to spark conversation. Such efforts could usher “Star Trek” into an exciting new era of creativity and artistic exploration.

Each era of “Star Trek” has its ardent supporters and critics, reflecting both the fervor of its fanbase and the diverse time periods explored within its canon. However, this complexity can be daunting for newcomers. “Starfleet Academy,” set in the 32nd century, serves as a continuation of numerous earlier series, while “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” though chronologically preceding the original series, follows events from “Star Trek: Enterprise.” This intricate timeline may deter potential viewers who prefer the simplicity of newer sci-fi shows like “Severance” over deciphering intricate “Star Trek” lore.

Every “Star Trek” era has its passionate defenders and detractors. This reality doesn’t just reflect the passion of Trekkies, but also how many different time periods in “Star Trek” canon have been explored. Unfortunately, that denseness has made the saga a bit impenetrable to newbie viewers. “Starfleet Academy,” for instance, is set in the 32nd century, but its inherent backdrops makes it a “sequel” to countless other “Star Trek” TV shows set earlier in the universe’s timeline. “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” meanwhile, though set a few years before the original “Star Trek” show, is still set after certain properties like “Star Trek: Enterprise.” This makes “Star Trek” daunting to potential viewers. Why try to figure out a deep lore “Star Trek: Lower Decks” reference on a different show when you can watch a newer sci-fi show with fewer episodes like “Severance?” 

The solution is easy, and it’s to follow the path of arguably the most successful “Star Trek” series of all-time: do what “Star Trek: The Next Generation” did. 

Whatever “Star Trek” program comes next needs to be set in a brand-new era completely untethered to other shows and characters. It needs to look and feel different, with new alien species, new types of uniforms, new worlds, and new storyline beats. This will minimize the “homework” people need to enjoy each week’s story. With this maneuver, this new “Star Trek” production will offer up something different while also being way more accessible to general viewers. If more people are able to easily jump onto whatever “Star Trek” offers next, greater viewership is bound to follow.

One recurring critique of “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” was how it hesitated to boldly go somewhere new. That flaw has undoubtedly kept the streaming “Star Trek” shows from cultivating a widespread fanbase — they’re all so immersed in preexisting characters like Pike, Spock, and Picard. But Picard was once a newbie “replacing” a famous captain. Look where he is now.

What has to come next should be rooted in both familiarity and newness, but also stand on its own. Yes, the baseline “premise” for a new “Star Trek” series must stick with the familiar and iconic setup — a hopeful future, diverse characters, and a central narrative concerning a starship captain commanding a crew to explore new planets — but on a storyline level, “Star Trek” desperately needs to start doing new things, taking unexpected detours and embracing philosophical plotlines that get people thinking in new ways. Even the most familiar fixtures should be balanced out with compelling material that challenges people’s perception of what “Star Trek” looks like. Many of the 30 best “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episodes were built on this subversive balance. The Kelvin timeline “Star Trek” movies got flack for being too focused on action, but they also showed that the “Star Trek” brand name is absolutely a draw to audiences if they feel a property is new, exciting, and accessible. 

What “Star Trek” needs is a prestige series that feels like a prestige series. It needs new characters. A new era. It needs to take the familiar setup and launch it in a bold, unexpected direction. Fully committing to unexpected material devoid of Tribble and Henry Mudd shout-outs could finally give modern “Star Trek” the towering viewership figures it’s worthy of.