But also, the correct answer is Devil's Due

You clearly start with "The Cage"

In my time we started most shows in the middle of whatever season was on when you stumbled them while flipping channels.

But also shows were made for syndication, so most didn't have overarching plotlines and it didn't matter what order you watched them in. There might be one (heavily advertised) event a season that actually affected anything, and it'd be something like two characters getting married rather than something that fundamentally shook up the concept.

The only Star Trek media I’ve consumed are the new movies. Burn me at the stake trekkies.

Congratulations, you started with the action parody. Now go catch up on the classics.
You'll be tied to the deflector dish
- This will either destroy them, or make them more powerful than we could possibly imagine.

Understood; starting with Picard and Discovery first!

Picard is easily the worst serious ever. And I don't mean it in the sense of "place to start" but in the sense of "worst serious period". Discovery is great tho.
- it's an odd series for sure. I did enjoy the last season purely for the Enterprise-D returning. But still it's weird how they kinda just tossed Wes aside as if he didn't exist because THIS Crusher son was "WAY more important". It's like hey Beverly, you have another kid. one who at this point is WAY more powerful than your hybrid Borg thingy Son.
- As a non-Trekkie, I found it enjoyable enough.. ditto with Discovery (at least the first season).
  I just picked those two because they were literally my introduction to Star Trek TV series, and I know both are quite divisive in the community…
- I liked S1. I did not finish S2.

Lost, confused, disturbed, unsettled, baffled and eve a bit turned on.

This could describe every decon scene in ENT.

I loved when they got tired of putting the eye candy in those scenes and started throwing in random characters like Porthos.

The Star Trek universe is based on the premise that a peaceful, united mankind is acting as a benevolent, civilized partner and friend of all alien species.

But let's be honest, we all know we would behave like the aliens from Independence Day - mercilessly conquering and harvesting alien worlds and spreading destruction across the universe.

@glorkon @USSBurritoTruck
Star Trek also assumes a truly post-scarcity society in which capitalism plays, at most, a small part.
One of the problems we face in assessing human potential is that we pretty much only know of humans since the Neolithic, when authority and wealth became increasingly centralized. In the Star Trek universe, while authority remains hierarchical and highly centralized, economic inequality is somewhat diminished. These are different sets of social premises and the outcomes might vary.
- Indeed, outcomes may vary. I remember growing up in West Berlin in the 1980s, surrounded by the GDR - a highly centralized and hierarchical society with diminished economic inequality. We frequently got time off school because the smog was so bad.
  I'm very skeptical if a human society is possible which does not lead to over-exploitation of resources and recklessness towards discovered species on alien planets. I also doubt that the technology required for space travel could be developed in a sustainable manner in the first place.
  I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a Star Trek type society which was somehow able find a solution for this problem, but I fear it's highly unlikely. Ultimately, we're selfish apes. That's why I find the Star Trek premise unrealistic.
But let's be honest, we all know we would behave like the aliens from Independence Day - mercilessly conquering and harvesting alien worlds and spreading destruction across the universe.
This would be true, except that Star Trek assumes a truly post-scarcity world where nobody needs to harvest alien worlds. Hell, the capitalists (Ferengi) are depicted as ruthless and conniving (oftentimes outright cartoonish) villains most of the time.
- the capitalists (Ferengi) are depicted as ruthless and conniving (oftentimes outright cartoonish) villains
  And once again, reality lets out a "here we go again" sigh and says "fine... hold my beer."

Start with TOS and if you find it too hard to watch start with TNG and if you find the first bit of TNG too hard to watch you can skip ahead of you really want to I guess, but I find it all worth watching.

TOS - The Man Trap.

This is incorrect.

If you are new at this point “Lower decks” is the right place to start.

After that you can go to any series, even if TNG is the right next step. You can pick anything.

Lower decks has soooo many references to the other series I feel like it would be a very confusing place to start.
I think either Strange New Worlds or Lower Decks is a good starting point for someone new to Trek. I think I'd recommend SNW over Lower Decks though just because the number of references in Lower Decks to other Star Trek media is pretty high.
- The number of references and in jokes was what made me give SNW and eventually TNG a chance personally. I jist really wanted to know wtf was up with the Koala
Ew.

Wow, Devils Due is like the second episode I watched (first was Silicon Avatar) and I remember enjoying the ending where Picard mimics all her tricks before telling her to fuck off.

In hindsight easily a notgreat episode, but I remember it fondly.

i am a very late bloomer to ST. i watches TOS and loved it; i startrd up TNG about a month ago.

im in season 3 episode 4 and councillor troy hasnt died yet. i hate her with a fiery passion for ruining what seems to be a really good show. my friends have confirmed she doesnt die and told me to leave TNG behind and move on to DS9.

i guess i get DS9 tomorrow.

I’m going to be the serpent in the grass and say give Babylon 5 a go before DS9. The first season will feel slow because the show is structured like a novel; exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion. There are small things like newspaper headers that hint towards future developments, and every main character undergoes a major arc. I enjoy DS9, but it’s never felt as cohesive as B5 to me. You may throw your stones now.
- B5 definitely best star trek. Ds9 or lower decks a close second.
It’s such a weird choice to put “ships councilor” on the bridge.
- All the high-maintenance staff are on the bridge.
- Someone had to protect Wesley from Picard.
- i can imagine the unimportant meetings that werent part of the show... you know like routine runs.
  "i am captain jean luc picard of the USS Enterprise. to my right is my number one, commander riker. to my front left is my number two, lieutenant commander data... as opposed to this random lady sitting next to me who has nothing to do with leadership on the bridge."
  [everyone glares at troy]
Her character does get a bit better in later seasons. She even starts wearing a real uniform.

The only right way to start is with TOS. And now get out of my grain silo, damn tribbles!

I started with voyager, was that wrong?
- Yes. You're only a true fan, if you watched TOS when it first aired. menacingly brandishes walking stick
- what an odd place to start...I absolutely respect it!

We're all getting the Star Trek experience of the early 21st century troubles.

No no no. The correct place to start is with A Klingon Challenge. The only way to get sucked into the universe is interactively!

/j

I tried that and accidentally experienced Bij (it worked and now I love all the series).

My recommendation is to start with the second movie and make your way to first contact.

Then switch to voyager. If you reach the middle of it, there is no stopping you anymore.

Alternatively, you can switch to deep space 9 after the movies.

The only way it's going to make sense is if you watch it in chronological order. So you have to start with Enterprise.

That sounds like a long road
getting from there to here.

I have never watched a single star trek thing and the only knowledge I have about it comes from you guy's memes

You should check it out. Star Trek has some damn good media.

Yeah, but the answer is TNG, Season 3, Episode 2, The Ensigns of Command. That's about when they hit their stride. If you're very brave you could start with Season 2, Episode 9, The Measure of a Man, but that season is pretty hit or miss (if I remember right, the season finale was a clip show).

Why not s3e1? I don't know anything about it but why skip that one?
- It's a Wesley episode.

Look I fell into the doctor who crowd years ago and it has been.... A ride. I always figured I'd get into trek when Ive got nothing left to lose

If you're going to do a "courtroom" TNG episode, no way it's Devils Due... The Drumhead all day long.

Measure of a Man > The Drumhead > Devil's Due

no, the correct answer is star trek online, klingon empire gorn science captain.

The most wrong is Star Trek: Straight New Worlds.