Star Trek featured seven incredible leading captains from the series across its nearly 60-year history. While the majority Star Trek shows casts of feature films rather than focusing on a singular character, Star Trek several captains often take center stage. When Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) decided to explore strange new worlds in Star Trek: The Original Series, he laid the foundation for every starship captain who would follow him. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) from Star Trek: The Next Generation He was a very different kind of captain than Kirk, but he became equally beloved.
Following Picard, captains Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) faced very different challenges than their predecessors, but both rose to the occasion. On Star Trek: Enterprise, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) was recast as the first captain of the Enterprise, helping to found the United Federation of Planets. Premiering in 2017, Star Trek: Discovery introduced the franchise into the streaming era, featuring Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham. Finally, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) became a Starfleet captain for the modern era as leader of the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
7
Captain Jonathan Archer
Played by Scott Bakula in Star Trek: Enterprise
Captain Jonathan Archer commanded the Enterprise NX-01, the first ship launched by Earth before the founding of the United Federation of Planets. As the first Starfleet captain to venture into the unknown in a warp-5 capable ship, Archer often had to make decisions quickly without any precedent to look back on. Archer made several first contacts with some of the Star Trek most famous species, including the Klingons and Andorians.
Captain Archer could be extremely stubborn and made many mistakes, sometimes compromising his morale when he saw no other options. Star Trek: Enterprise sometimes it felt like it wasn’t sure what kind of show it wanted to be and Archer sometimes made decisions based on emotion instead of logic. He often ignored the advice of the more experienced second-in-command T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), but Archer was also more relatable and down-to-earth than some of his members. Star Trek larger than life heroes.
6
Captain Michael Burnham
Played by Sonequa Martin-Green in Star Trek: Discovery
At the end of Star Trek: Discoveries Last season, Captain Michael Burnham really came into his own as a character, but his journey had a lot of ups and downs. Sonequa Martin-Green never failed to deliver a strong and Burnham had an incredibly compelling story arc all over Discovery five seasons. However, Burnham’s connections to Spock (Ethan Peck) and his family limited the character somewhat in Discovery older stories. Burnham had her moments early on Star Trek: Discovery, but it flourished after the USS Discovery traveled to the 32nd century.
Burnham went further than anyone else Star Trek captain, in more ways than one.
Burnham was a different kind of Star Trek captain, and she sometimes made rash decisions, but she helped save the galaxy several times. Michael’s ability to connect with the people around him was very helpful to her and its deep relationships with Star Trek: Discovery other characters became one of the best parts of the show. From committing mutiny aboard the USS Shenzhou in the 23rd century to helping rebuild the Federation in the 32nd century, Burnham has gone further than anyone else Star Trek captain, in more ways than one.
5
Captain Christopher Pike
Played by Anson Mount in Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Anson Mount’s opinion of Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek: Discovery the second season was so well received that Paramount has greenlit a series centered on Pike’s USS Enterprise. In its two seasons so far, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds became one of Journey most popular current shows and incorporates new characters and updated versions of classic characters. With so many incredible characters, however, Strange new worlds often shifts his focus from Captain Pike. Anson Mount’s Pike is a prime example of a modern romantic protagonist who is unmistakably a hero.
Even after Pike learns about the tragic future that awaits him, he continues to lead exploration missions with hope and wonder. Captain Pike has a more collaborative command style than others Star Trek captains, as he often asks his crew for ideas. Still, he can take command when he needs to and will always put his crew’s safety above his own. Pike only appeared in three seasons of Star Trek so far, but Anson Mount has already guaranteed that he will take his place among Star Trek greatest captains.
4
Captain Benjamin Sisko
Played by Avery Brooks in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
As commander of the Deep Space Nine space station, Captain Sisko’s job seemed significantly different from that of the Star Trek captains. Sisko was a talented Starfleet officer, but sometimes he had to turn a blind eye or find ways around Starfleet’s most illogical orders. A vibrant space station that hosted aliens from across the galaxy, DS9 was a very different beast than a starship. Sisko took his job as station commander very seriously, as he tried to balance Starfleet’s desires with the needs of the Bajorans and others on the station.
Captain Sisko commanded on the front line during Star Trek: Deep Space NineThe Dominion War and DS9’s strategic position meant that Sisko had to make many difficult decisions. Sisko was one of Star Trek more serious captains, making it a perfect fit for the darker shade of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Between his duties as commander of DS9 and his role as Bajoran Emissary of the Prophets, Sisko didn’t have much free time, but he enjoyed cooking and playing baseball. Sisko also had an understandable crush on his son, Jake (Cirroc Lofton), and the two had one of the Star Trek better father/son dynamic.
3
Captain James T. Kirk
Played by William Shatner in Star Trek: The Original Series
When viewers of the first Captain of the USS Enterprise found themselves on screen, Captain James T. Kirk helped introduce the world to the Star Trek universe. With your vitality and charm, Kirk has become one of the most iconic and beloved characters in all of science fiction. He was a strong captain who never turned down an adventure and was willing to make bold moves when necessary. With Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) by his side, Kirk often felt like an unstoppable force, and he and his crew saved the galaxy multiple times.
Some aspects of Kirk’s character, such as his tendency to date alien women, may be somewhat outdated by today’s standards, but he nevertheless remains attractive. William Shatner brought a uniquely captivating energy to Kirk that always made him fun to watch. Kirk has become such an iconic figure that Star Trek brought him back more than once, with Chris Pine in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek movies and Paul Wesley in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Both actors did an admirable job of bringing Kirk’s larger-than-life character to life for modern audiences.
2
Captain Kathryn Janeway
Played by Kate Mulgrew in Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Prodigy
In Star Trek: Voyager, Captain Janeway became the first captain to lead a Star Trek show, as commander of the USS Voyager. On Voyager’s first mission, Janeway and her team ended up stranded in the distant Delta Quadrant, 70,000 light years from Earth. With a crew made up of Starfleet officers and former Maquis members, Janeway spent the next seven years leading Voyager through the unexplored Delta Quadrant. Without Starfleet to lean on, Janeway faced many difficult decisions and had an entire ship full of people relying on her.
Captain Janeway was undoubtedly a hero, but she was also a realistic character who sometimes struggled with loneliness and depression. Janeway always strived to do what was best for her team, and Kate Mulgrew instilled in Janeway genuine heart and strength. Janeway could be strong-willed, but she cared deeply about her crew and did her best to uphold Starfleet rules. Captain Janeway has achieved many firsts throughout her time in Traveler and, as seen in Star Trek: Prodigy, Kathryn became one of Starfleet’s most impressive admirals.
1
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Played by Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard
As the first main Star Trek captain to follow Captain Kirk, Patrick Stewart’s Picard had big shoes to fill and he was more than up to the task. Picard was a more contemplative captain than Kirk and would rather read a book and enjoy a cup of Earl Gray tea than hang out with alien women. Yet, Picard had his fair share of adventures as captain of the USS Enterprise-D, and Patrick Stewart never failed to deliver an incredible performance. With his subtle and compelling portrayal, Patrick Stewart was a big part of why Captain Picard worked so well as a character.
Captain Picard truly exemplifies the ideals of a Starfleet captain.
As one of Starfleet’s most accomplished captains, Picard initiated several first contacts and helped save the entire galaxy more than once. Picard could command a room and give an incredible speech, but he could also face a deadly enemy without flinching. He cared deeply about his team, listened to their ideas, and always strived to do the right thing. Captain Picard truly exemplifies the ideals of a Starfleet captain and remains one of the Star Trek best characters, as well as the best captain the franchise has to offer.
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- Cast
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William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Frank da Vinci, Eddie Paskey, Roger Holloway, Ron Veto
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Gene Roddenberry
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Gene Roddenberry
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Gene Roddenberry
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Gene Roddenberry
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Rick Berman, Michael Piller
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Michael Piller, Ira Steven Behr
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- Cast
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Sonequa Martin-Green, Rekha Sharma, Rainn Wilson, Maulik Pancholy, Doug Jones, James Frain, Anthony Rapp, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Obi, Jason Isaacs, Shazad Latif
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Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Fuller
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Alex Kurtzman
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Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet
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Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
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Brannon Braga
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Brannon Braga