“Star Trek: Picard” follows former Starfleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) 20 years after his final appearance in “Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)”. We find Picard as a retired old man living in his vineyard before his help was sought by an alleged daughter of Data, leading him to undertake a new adventure. The show aired back in 2020, and the third and final season started airing in February 2023. Here are seven shows that are similar to “Star Trek: Picard.”
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969)
The original Star Trek series was surprisingly not very well received during its initial run, prompting the creators to call it quits after its third season. The show, however, gained traction during its 1970s reruns and achieved classic cult status, leading to the creation of several series and films over the coming decades. The story begins in the 23rd century aboard a spaceship called the U.S.S. Enterprise, captained by James T. Kirk (William Shatner). A pioneer in science fiction and space cinema, the show may be the first of its kind to take its fictitious world seriously. Creator Gene Roddenberry mixed the outlandish concept with real-life societal issues to make a surprisingly down-to-earth show for a space story. The script here is dense and engaging and is probably the best part of the show, as modern audiences could find the special effects, set pieces, and makeup of that time to be a bit dated now.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
Pegged as one of the best series of the franchise, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” features Patrick Stewart as the legendary Captain Jean-Luc Picard for the first time. The third show of the franchise went with a brand new crew consisting of new characters such as Picard, Data (Brent Spiner), and Worf (Michael Dorn), among others. Set a hundred years after the events of the original series; the show sees the crew embark on a new mission onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-D. The show took a couple of seasons to truly click but was unstoppable once it found its footing. “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was aired for seven seasons and was one of the highest-rated shows of its time. Patrick Stewart was a revelation here with his engaging and sophisticated performance. He was backed up by some stellar performances from Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, and Marina Sirtis.
The Mandalorian (2019-)
“The Mandalorian ” is Star Wars’ attempt at a live-action series, and it surely worked. The show is essentially a space western and follows the protagonist, Mandalorian (Mando), played by the ever-flawless Pedro Pascal, as he, along with his young rescuer Grogu (a cute Internet term: Baby Yoda), travels from planet to planet, making friends and fighting foes as Mando tries to deliver Grogu to his own kind. The show mostly takes an individual episode-based storyline, with a few major plot points building into a thrilling and tense finale. The first two seasons were very well received by both critics and audiences, and the third season is airing right now on Disney+. The show came out at a time when the fans of the franchise were divided after the critically panned “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and managed to surprise everyone with its laid-back approach, placing adventure and fun over heavier stuff. That doesn’t mean that the show doesn’t have its fair share of dramatic moments, but they are placed far apart between shootouts, monsters, and other incredible adventures, and on top of that, you get to see an endearing father-son bond bloom between Mando and Grogu.
Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)
Set in a distant universe, when a massive disaster kills all 12 human colonies across the galaxy, the crew members of the last surviving spaceship (Battlestar Galactica) are on a quest to find the apparent 13th colony called Earth. Much like Star Trek, “Battlestar Galactica” is one of the more popular science fiction T.V. shows of its time. The story is considerably bleak here, with humanity on the verge of extinction, but the show does have a considerable amount of action to drive away any of your apocalyptic blues. “Battlestar Galactica” is praised for its impressive visuals, great characters, and character-driven storyline that distinguishes it from most of the other run-of-the-mill space science fiction series.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
The 4th episode of the franchise takes place in a space station called Deep Space Nine, governed by the United Federation of Planets, guarding the opening of a wormhole that gives one access to the far sides of the galaxy. The show is distinct from its predecessors as it features an all-new cast and takes place prominently in a set location (the space station) rather than on a moving vessel. Avery Brooks stars as Captain Benjamin Sisko, the lead of the series, who is accompanied by Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, and Colm Meaney, among many others. While the previous shows were eager to portray the fictional world of Star Trek as one free from any kind of misery, discrimination, or strife, “DS9” takes a more realistic approach. The show explores various themes inspired by real-life history and politics and does a phenomenal job of showcasing the ugly side of the Star Trek universe. The show also takes a more multi-perspective approach, as we get the points of view of characters that aren’t related to the federation in any way, making “DS9” a much more mature show than its predecessors. It also does away with the episodic plot structure of the previous versions. “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” may not be as popular as some of the other shows in the franchise, but it sure is a strong entry.
Babylon 5 (1993-1998)
“Babylon 5” takes place in a space station known as Babylon 5, located on neutral territory and serving as the centre of galactic diplomacy. The show follows an ensemble cast of human and alien diplomats and military personnel as they struggle to keep peace in a galaxy filled with interplanetary conflicts and intra-racial disputes. Unlike some of the Star Trek series, “Babylon 5” started with a clearly laid out 5-season narrative with an all-encompassing plot of epic proportions filled with backstories and lore about the various interplanetary species and their historic conflicts. The first season is a bit tacky as it has the hard job of introducing so many characters while also establishing their backstories, but the show picks up midway through the second season, and the rest is one of the best space operas ever put on screen.
Lost In Space (2018-2021)
A reboot of the 1965 show of the same name, “Lost in Space,” follows the Robinson family on a mission to colonise a new star system when an unseen attack on their spaceship leads to them getting crashed on a habitable planet where they must fight against the hostile environment to survive. The sci-fi and the visual spectacle take a back seat here; the emphasis is on the individuals in the family. The show does such a great job of focusing equally on all members of the family that, as an audience, it is hard to say who the main character is. We see several characters grow over the seasons (both literally and metaphorically), and that makes for an emotional final season. “Lost in Space” doesn’t try to be more than what it is, as the show doesn’t try to expand its world further; instead, it’s a contained thriller featuring the Robinsons and their fight for survival.
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