Which Star Trek Series Has the Least Episodes?

When it comes to the vast universe of Star Trek, each series has its own rich history and unique narrative. However, one aspect that often fascinates fans and critics is the episode count. This article will explore which Star Trek series has the least episodes, considering both those that have concluded and those still in production.

Conclusion of Live-Action Series

Among the live-action series that have concluded, the Star Trek: The Original Series is a standout. Although it ended with 79 episodes, this is relatively low compared to its counterparts. The limited series Star Trek: Picard will conclude with 30 episodes, while other shows like Star Trek: Prodigy and Lower Decks continue their original animated series, which had 22 episodes each. These numbers make the original series stand out as one with the least episodes among its peers in the live-action lineup.

Current Production and Episode Count

Looking at the series that are currently in production, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has only aired 7 episodes by the time of this writing. This fast-paced release schedule suggests that the number of episodes may be limited. Additionally, Star Trek: Enterprise had 98 episodes over its four seasons, making it one of the more extensive modern live-action series. However, Enterprise’s episode count remains higher than those of the series that have concluded.

Future Projections

Given the current trends and production models, it's likely that Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will conclude with fewer episodes than their counterparts. Discovery's relatively short seasons (which are not 22-episode ones like the original series) and Strange New Worlds' current episode count suggest they may follow a similar pattern. On the other hand, Lower Decks, as a comedy animated series, has the potential to be a long-running show due to its lower production costs and broader appeal.

Conclusion

In the world of Star Trek, the series with the least episodes is primarily a reflection of the production models and the lifecycle of the show. While the original series from the 1960s had fewer episodes, modern series are structured in different ways. Star Trek: Enterprise had the most episodes among the currently concluded series, with a total of 98 episodes, but even among the series that have not yet concluded, Discovery and Strange New Worlds are projected to have fewer episodes.

For fans who are interested in exploring the lesser-known episode counts, Enterprise stands out for its extensive collection, while shows like Discovery and Strange New Worlds are likely to have tighter, more focused narratives.