Introduction

My goal for this article is to give a general overview of the different Star Trek series that have aired over the years, along with my general impressions of each one. The series are listed chronologically by their airing date.
 

Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS)	Air Dates: 1966-69	Episode Count: 79
TOS is the one that started it all. Today, TOS seems campy, melodramatic, clichéd.  On top of that, the special effects looked like they were done in someone's garage. However, for its time, TOS was outstanding. At a time when sitcoms and westerns ruled the airwaves, TOS was radically new and different. I would argue that no show has been more revolutionary, before or after. Not only did TOS launch the entire Star Trek phenomenon, it also helped to bring science fiction to the main stream. With the Space Race in full swing, it was an idea whose time had come. So, while TOS isn't my overall favorite of the bunch, I still enjoy watching it and I respect the achievements in television programming  it represents.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG)	Air Dates: 1987-1994	Episode Count: 178
Okay, I want to say up front that this is my favorite Trek series. TNG lasted 7 full seasons, and did much to expand the Trek universe. I think it is fair to say that if TOS started the Trek phenomenon, TNG really defined what it is today. There were so many good episodes in this series, from the epic "Best of Both Worlds" to one of my personal favorites, "The Measure of a Man."  One of the best aspects of TNG in my opinion is the characters. I found the interactions between the different characters genuinely amusing. I especially enjoyed the interactions of Worf and Data with the other characters. TNG also benefited from one of the better Trek books out there, the ST: TNG Technical Manual. Thanks to this book, more is known about this series' ship and supporting technology than any other.
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (DS9)	Air Dates: 1993-1999	Episode Count: 176
Honestly, I haven't seen a majority of this series. I saw most of the first and second seasons, but then I only watched this show sporadically after that. What I have seen has been pretty good, however. I am looking forward to getting back to this series, especially the Dominion War episodes. Perhaps when the DVD's come out...
Star Trek Voyager (VOY)	Air Dates:1995-2001	Episode Count: 172
Unlike DS9, I have seen a majority of VOY. Overall, I think that this series isn't as strong as the other versions of Trek. I feel that some of the episodes are almost as melodramatic as TOS was, and many of the plot lines got a little to predictable. You always knew that at the end of the day, no matter what else happened, the crew would still be stuck a gazillion light years from home (otherwise, there wouldn't be a show next week!). In a way, many episodes of this show became something akin to "Gilligan's Island in Space," where the crew comes up with some way to get home, but someone or something comes along and screws it up. However, despite the flaws, VOY is still Trek, and I found many enjoyable episodes in it. Many fans have really attacked this show for its supposed lack of quality (and it may seem like I am doing that here), but overall VOY was a solid Trek series and for the most part I found it very entertaining.
Enterprise (ENT)	Air Dates: 2001-	Episode Count: 45 (And counting)
This is the newest Star Trek series, although it doesn't carry the "Star Trek" name in its official title. ENT is a prequel, taking place almost a century before the events of TOS. This allows for all sorts of interesting situations were the advanced technology of later Trek time periods simply doesn't exist or isn't advanced enough to solve a problem the crew faces. I haven't been able to see as much of this series as I would like to, since I am usually busy Wednesday nights when it airs, or else don't have access to a TV. My impressions of this series thus far is that it is a worthy successor to the Star Trek name. I like the design of the new Enterprise a lot, I think it looks very spiffy at certain angles. I suppose the only criticism that I could level against the show is that at times it doesn't feel retro enough. However, I think that this is at least partly the result of the fact that over 30 years have passed since TOS was aired, and production values coupled with fan expectations drive this show to seem more advanced than the technology seen on the TOS Enterprise, which is supposed to be decades into the future.