And no question breaks the bonds of peace like that of the best captain in Starfleet.
Those caveats aside, here are the seven main Captains ranked from worst to best.
Okay, maybe thats not fair.
We cant really hold Archer to the same standard applied to other Captains on this list.
But even with all of that in mind, Archer still firmly takes the bottom of the list.
Unfortunately, genre TV vetScott Bakulacouldnt find the mode to accentuate those qualities.
Too often, Archer came off as belligerent and incurious, two qualities no Starfleet captain should have.
Its no wonder that Archer eventually became an Admiral in Starfleet, paving the way for Cartwright and Satie.
Strangely, Burnham sort of became much less important when shedidmake Captain inDiscoverys third season.
who brokered a deal with the Emerald Chain, something Kirk or Picard might have done in other shows.
Christopher Pike Strange New Worlds
Christopher Pikes shadow has always loomed large overTrekhistory.
That weight and history makesAnson Mounts take all the more remarkable.
He empathizes with his crew and supports them.
Katheryn Janeway Voyager
Theres only one way: the Janeway.
Like most things onVoyager, Janeways cavalier and sometimes reckless attitude has gotten better with age.
And if shes gottakill a couple Tuvixesto make it happen, so be it.
Those qualities made Sisko one of the richest characters in sci-fi history.
An incredibly playful performer, Brooks could deliver oration like Stewart and a wink and a joke like Shatner.
James T. Kirk The Original Series
Captain Kirk isStar Trek.
No,William Shatnerdidnt suddenly grab my keyboard.
But no one would sign up to watch those debates if they werent having fun (Need proof?
look at every other Gene Roddenberry show.
Or, better yet, dont.).
Shatner salted the heavy stuff by giving Kirk a charming smirk and a twinkle in his eye.
Which isnt to say that Kirk was theZapp Brannigan-style dummy that many assume.
Kirk could listen to his crew, taking advice from Spock and McCoy when considering his next move.
And he could be moved to tears by the moral courage of Edith Keeler.
Jean-Luc Picard The Next Generation
Jean-Luc Picard wasnt the firstStar TrekCaptain, nor will he be the last.
Famously, Roddenberry didnt want Stewart in the role and even worried about Picards characterization.
To a certain extent, Rodenberry was correct.
But he did have something even more imporant: a clear moral focus.
