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What is the recommended viewing order for young first-timers to watch Star Trek TV episodes and movies?


Some things are best read/viewed in the order of release, regardless of chronology. Some works are better taken in a sequence that reflects the order of the events represented. And for some others, it's a blend of the two.


I'd like to introduce my 8-year old daughter to the Star Trek franchise, and hope to eventually cover it completely. That is, to fully include:





  • TV series



    • The Original Series

    • The Next Generation

    • Deep Space Nine

    • Voyager

    • Enterprise





  • Movies



    • The Motion Picture

    • Star Trek: II - VI

    • Generations

    • First Contact

    • Insurrection

    • Nemesis

    • Star Trek (2009)

    • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)





I've found a list on Wikipedia* that seems to thoroughly cover the chronological order down to individual episodes. Should I use this, or should I go in order of release? Or, is there another recommended alternative order?


I am not interested in any answers that recommend exclusion of any series, episode, or movie from those listed above. However, lists that add more content are certainly welcome.


Also, unless someone offers a compelling reason to do otherwise, I'm planning on leaving the 2009 movie for last since it represents the beginning of a completely new canon.


*On a slightly related note, it would be really nice if somebody with sufficient time and resources could add episode numbers to that list.



Answer



Considering that your child is a 21st-century-born 8 year old girl, I'd suggest the following:


Original Series - Keep for last. She will not relate to the conversational styles, the special effects, the technology or the culture. Also, the main cast consists mostly of older men. One has to develop a taste for Star Trek before one gets into this.



DS9 - Keep for last as per OghmaOsiris. It is too depressing and the commentary on the human (and alien) condition too subtle for her.


Next Generation - Keep for #3 spot. May be too cerebral. Try the Q episodes. Children love Q. Children also love Data.


Voyager - This is my recommendation. It has a female captain, a female engineer, a female nurse and later a female borg. It's fairly faithful to the original Star Trek principles, which I think any child could benefit from. The plots are mostly straightforward and limited to single episodes. The cast is younger. The scenes and sets are generally colorful and vibrant.


Enterprise - Keep for #2. I think this is a great show, but if you lead with this, she might get the wrong idea about what Star Trek is. But that's just me. You could try both Enterprise and Voyager and see which she prefers best.


Movies - I'd say keep for later. First Contact was a great movie in my opinion, but she needs a little background on the Borg and time travel before she can understand it.


Recommended Voyager episodes: (again, considering your daughter's demographic)



  • Learning Curve (Season 1) - Crew episode

  • The 37's (Season 2) - Timeline episode

  • Twisted (Season 2) - Spatial anomaly episode


  • Death Wish (Season 2) - A Q episode

  • Future's End (Season 3) - Time travel

  • Worst Case Scenario, Scorpion I, II and the Gift (Season 3) - Borg, Seven of Nine Intro

  • The Raven (Season 4) - Seven's history


Beyond this, I think you can basically go any way you wish, but the following were some episodes I really loved. I think she will too:



  • Relativity (Season 5) - a good time travel episode

  • Blink of an Eye (Season 6) - a good introduction to relative time

  • Workforce (Season 7) - crew episode


  • Q2 (Season 7)


Recommended Next Generation episodes



  • Encounter at Farpoint (Season 1) - Pilot

  • Where No One Has Gone Before (Season 1) - This episode had a profound impact on my development

  • Hide and Q (Season 1)

  • Datalore (Season 1) - About Data

  • 11001001 (Season 1) - The Binars are interesting aliens

  • The Inner Light (Season 5) - Famous episode, but one needs to understand relative time



P.S. Voyager is what got my sister hooked on Star Trek. It's also what I used to introduce my wife to Star Trek.


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