Every Captain Of The Enterprise In Star Trek, Ranked

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While nan "Star Trek" franchise has agelong since expanded its scope to characteristic different starships, nan Enterprise still looms nan largest. There are a number of versions of nan starship Enterprise successful "Star Trek," evolving pinch Starfleet's spot successful nan galaxy. Every Enterprise, of course, has its ain captain, commanding their unit to research nan cosmos and take sides nan United Federation of Planets. But arsenic all "Star Trek" ships are not designed equally, not each captains are arsenic effective leaders arsenic others.

To clarify, we're only focusing connected captains that we've seen officially clasp nan domiciled of Enterprise captain. Acting captains are not included successful this list, though aggregate characters present person served arsenic acting captains before. Even pinch that favoritism successful mind, immoderate of these characters person only been seen concisely successful nan franchise, though they still surely suffice to beryllium included. 

Here is each skipper of nan Enterprise successful "Star Trek," classed from worst to best.

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The 1994 movie "Star Trek Generations" opened pinch nan maiden voyage of nan USS Enterprise-B successful 2293. On committee arsenic distinguished guests are retired Starfleet officers James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), and Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig). Though much of a commemorative occasion, nan starship receives a distress awesome from a alloy endangered by a spatial anomaly known arsenic nan Nexus. With nan Enterprise-B's Captain John Harriman (Alan Ruck) visibly unsure of himself and really to grip a crisis, Kirk steps up to return power of nan situation.

Harriman is simply a characteristic that exists to springiness Kirk nan excuse to prehend bid of nan Enterprise 1 past time. The character's debased ranking is surely not an indictment of Ruck's capacity for personification who was ever depicted arsenic a weaker captain. Harriman is visibly retired of his constituent successful nan captain's chair, moreover for thing arsenic seemingly regular arsenic a ship-to-ship rescue mission. A image of bid indecisiveness, Harriman hardly makes a footnote successful nan history of nan Enterprise.

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At nan commencement of 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," nan Enterprise is commanded by Captain William Decker (Stephen Collins). Will is nan boy of Commodore Matt Decker (William Windom), who met his tragic extremity successful nan "Star Trek: The Original Series" section "The Doomsday Machine." When Admiral James T. Kirk relieves him of his command, Decker is understandably disappointment but helps connected nan bridge, moreover redeeming nan vessel from an incident pinch a wormhole. In nan ending to "The Motion Picture," Decker volunteers to merge pinch nan sentient instrumentality V'Ger, efficaciously creating a caller lifeform that vanishes into nan unknown.

Decker is different characteristic who exists to beryllium replaced from their bid position connected nan Enterprise by Kirk, but Decker astatine slightest brings much to nan array than Harriman. It's Decker's quick-thinking connected nan span that saves nan vessel and his sacrifice that stops V'Ger's attack to Earth. Even pinch that successful mind, nan characteristic has a noticeable spot connected his enarthrosis and clashes pinch Kirk erstwhile nan superior serviceman takes charge. Yet different one-and-done captain, William Decker is softly forgotten by nan clip nan unit reconvenes for nan consequent sequel for illustration thing happened astatine all.

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Another often overlooked Enterprise skipper is Rachel Garrett (Tricia O'Neil), skipper of nan little-seen Enterprise-C, which vanished astir 20 years earlier nan commencement of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." In nan "TNG" play 3 section "Yesterday's Enterprise," nan Enterprise-D encounters a rift successful spacetime from which nan Enterprise-C emerges. This time-displacement causes important alterations to history which instantly go evident connected nan Enterprise-D, arsenic nan Enterprise-C is destined to beryllium destroyed successful nan past. The Enterprise-C proceeds pinch its fateful sacrifice to reconstruct nan timeline, though Garrett is killed earlier nan ngo is completed and replaced by Richard Castillo (Christopher McDonald) arsenic acting captain.

Rachel Garrett is nan first female Enterprise skipper successful history, though this auspicious favoritism is undercut severely by nan quality of her story. That Garrett agrees to return to her ain time, moreover alert of her grim destiny, is simply a noteworthy moment, but she doesn't moreover get to spot that ngo through. Ultimately, nan Enterprise-C is successful, but it's Castillo and Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) who are responsible for nan accomplishment. Rachel Garrett was ever dealt a mediocre manus to play, though she astatine slightest handled it pinch intense dignity and acceptance.

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Admiral Robert April has been cited successful various "Star Trek" ancillary material, some canonical and apocryphal, arsenic being Christopher Pike's nonstop predecessor arsenic nan Enterprise's captain. The character's on-screen debut was successful a "Star Trek" section galore apt ne'er saw, nan bid finale to "Star Trek: The Animated Series." Voiced by James Doohan successful his animated appearance, April is simply a dressed up admiral who temporarily reclaims bid erstwhile Kirk and his unit are de-aged aft entering an alternate universe. The characteristic is introduced successful live-action successful "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," played by Adrian Holmes, retaining his history mostly intact, though it's ne'er seen.

April holds a somewhat higher position connected this database because he has an esteemed reputation, moreover though his captaincy has yet to beryllium depicted on-screen. Holmes brings an effective gravitas to his capacity arsenic nan characteristic while maintaining a coagulated rapport pinch his successor, Chris Pike (Anson Mount) successful his capacity arsenic his superior officer. The "Star Trek: Discovery" section "Choose Your Pain" lists April among nan astir dressed up Starfleet officers successful nan organization's history. That suggests he played a pivotal domiciled successful nan Federation's increasing beingness successful nan galaxy, though nan nonstop quality of his work is still unknown.

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One of nan unseen developments betwixt "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is Spock (Leonard Nimoy) being promoted to skipper of nan Enterprise. At nan opening of nan 1982 film, Spock is seen starring a cohort of Starfleet Academy cadets connected a shakedown cruise. This is waylaid erstwhile nan Enterprise receives a distress awesome from abstraction position Regula I wherever nan top-secret Genesis Device is being developed. Recognizing his champion friend's request to return complaint again, Spock voluntarily relinquishes bid of nan Enterprise to Kirk.

To beryllium clear, if this was a database based connected nan spot of nan characteristic alone, Spock would rank overmuch higher. But successful his charismatic capacity arsenic captain, nan characteristic is hardly seen successful his activity position successful "The Wrath of Khan." Kirk is backmost successful nan captain's chair for nan mostly of nan film, pinch Spock famously dying successful "The Wrath of Khan's" ending. Following his resurrection, Spock resumes his domiciled arsenic Kirk's first serviceman until yet retiring from Starfleet to displacement to diplomacy, making his captaincy a little item successful his agelong career.

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The Kelvin Timeline successful "Star Trek" is 1 of nan much divisive periods successful nan franchise's extended history, pinch nan divergent timeline launching pinch nan 2009 soft reboot "Star Trek." Formed because of important alterations to history caused by nan villainous Nero (Eric Bana), this alternate reality featured noticeably different iterations of nan acquainted characters from "The Original Series." Among these was Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood), nan skipper of nan Enterprise who personally recruits James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) to enroll successful Starfleet Academy. Pike names Kirk arsenic acting skipper earlier being kidnapped by Nero and, soon aft retaking his bid successful "Star Trek Into Darkness," is murdered by Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch).

The Kelvin Timeline Pike exists arsenic a fig to get nan crippled moving successful nan first 2 installments of nan rebooted movie trilogy. In nan 2009 movie, Pike not only recruits Kirk but names him arsenic his nonstop successor, while its sequel has his decease galvanize Kirk and his unit into pursuing Khan. Greenwood does a reliably bully occupation pinch nan role, but nan characteristic really stands arsenic a mentor fig destined to measurement speech for a caller procreation to lead. Pike helps his young unit recognize their afloat potential, but it would've been bully to person seen much of him straight successful action.

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At nan commencement of nan 3rd and last play of "Star Trek: Picard," Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) is connected nan USS Titan-A, serving nether Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick). As Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) uncovers an insidious confederation betwixt nan Borg Collective and nan Changelings, nan Titan plays a pivotal domiciled successful nan last battle. In nan bid finale, Shaw dies heroically battling nan Borg, pinch Seven replacing him arsenic captain, while nan starship is rechristened nan USS Enterprise-G. With a caller crew, including her emotion Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) arsenic her first officer, Seven takes her starship into nan cosmos fresh for her adjacent adventure.

Like galore of nan preceding characters connected this list, we don't get to spot a batch of Seven arsenic nan Enterprise's captain. But successful a way, "Picard" was ever starring up to her taking nan captain's chair, having discontinue Starfleet astatine nan commencement of nan bid earlier becoming reinstated astatine Picard's recommendation. Seven and her adventures arsenic nan Enterprise's latest skipper were intended to beryllium explored successful the projected "Star Trek: Legacy" continuation series, though nary discernible improvement connected it has occurred. While we clasp retired dream for "Legacy" to 1 time move forward, nan Enterprise and Seven's adventures are continued successful a comic book.

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Just for illustration Pike, we're counting nan Kelvin Timeline's Kirk arsenic a abstracted character, fixed nan visible alterations to his history and personality. This Kirk is simply a brash rule-breaker who gets nan occupation done moreover if it flagrantly violates the eventual order, aliases nan Prime Directive. This tenacity and, frankly, recklessness gives Kirk an separator complete astir of his opponents, including Nero and Khan. This defiant streak besides temporarily costs Kirk bid of nan Enterprise astatine nan commencement of "Star Trek Into Darkness," though he is quickly reinstated successful nan aftermath of Pike's death.

The Kelvin Timeline Kirk dials up nan cockiness and impulsive behaviour successful comparison to his premier timeline counterpart. This favoritism makes him consciousness noticeably much immature, pinch a clear spot connected his enarthrosis that drives a batch of his decision-making. In that sense, this Kirk feels much trim from nan Han Solo cloth than that of nan iconic starship skipper that he's based on, though not without his ain merits. If the Kelvin Timeline wasn't genuinely and officially dead, possibly we'd spot a overmuch much mature Kirk, but nan premier timeline will person to suffice connected that score.

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Jonathan Archer captained nan Enterprise NX-01, nan first Starfleet alloy to carnivore nan sanction Enterprise, inspiring nan much iconic Enterprise NCC-1701. Initially only tin of a maximum velocity of warp 5 and parented by a unit of 84, Archer's captaincy of nan Enterprise comes astatine a pivotal constituent successful quality history. Within a fewer short years, nan Enterprise originates utilizing its experimental transporter to teleport personnel, and is equipped pinch shape cannons and photonic torpedoes. Archer himself made first interaction pinch dozens of alien species, became an instrumental fig successful nan Xindi War, and helped bring together nan founding of nan United Federation of Planets.

If we were scoring connected conscionable historical accomplishment alone, Archer would beryllium astatine nan apical of nan list. But Archer is much of a foundational starship skipper for what Starfleet looked for successful its leadership, not rather arsenic well-rounded arsenic respective of his successors. All astatine once, Archer is an explorer and a wartime commander, but he is simply a much visibly flawed skipper than galore successful nan franchise. If Scott Bakula's rumored "Star Trek" return does so travel to pass, possibly we'll spot a broadside to nan 22nd period skipper that we ne'er saw before.

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In "The Original Series," Christopher Pike is only seen successful the original aviator for "Star Trek," after a horrific mishap near him muted and confined to a wheelchair. "Star Trek: Discovery" play 2 reintroduced Pike (Anson Mount) while he was still very overmuch skipper of nan Enterprise, though alert of his tragic destiny. Pike leads his unit arsenic they research nan postulation while defending nan Federation from dispute forces for illustration nan Gorn. At nan aforesaid time, Pike is finely attuned to his crew's needs, providing an empathic touch to his activity style.

Mount does a terrific occupation successful bringing Christopher Pike to life, playing him arsenic a man who tries to do arsenic overmuch arsenic he tin pinch nan clip that he has left. That said, location are implications that Pike isn't ever nan champion skipper suited for nan job, astatine slightest not successful nan Enterprise's future. The play 1 finale of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" reveals that nan much assertive Kirk was needed to skipper nan Enterprise and debar warfare pinch nan Romulans. This highlights the main quality betwixt Pike and Kirk, hinting that arsenic bully a leader arsenic Pike is, location are amended captains retired there.

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Speaking of Kirk, nan very first Enterprise skipper that audiences ever saw remains 1 of nan champion successful nan full franchise. First played by William Shatner successful "The Original Series," Kirk leads nan Enterprise connected a five-year ngo to research nan postulation connected behalf of Starfleet. In this capacity, Kirk and his unit prevention nan Federation from galore extinction-level threats, from power consuming elephantine amoeba to rogue artificial intelligence programs. After redeeming nan Earth successful "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," Kirk is temporarily demoted to skipper to let him to skipper nan USS Enterprise-A, a posting he happily accepts.

The champion James T. Kirk episodes showcase a skipper who is much than fresh to leap into action himself, some physically and pinch his quick-thinking. Like Archer earlier him, Kirk decidedly has his characteristic flaws, from obsessively pursuing a vampiric unreality that terrorized him arsenic a young serviceman to his prejudice against Klingons. But moreover erstwhile his judgement is compromised, Kirk ever snaps backmost into attraction to prevention nan time arsenic champion he can. Just arsenic apt to lead pinch his fists arsenic his keen puzzle-solving strategy, Kirk is 1 of nan champion officers Starfleet ever saw.

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When it comes to a characteristic that brings even-keeled judgement and a paradigm successful upholding nan principles that Starfleet is built upon, cipher does it amended than Jean-Luc Picard. Captaining nan Enterprise passim "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and its 4 consequent films, Picard is nan afloat package erstwhile it comes to being a Starfleet officer. The champion Jean-Luc Picard episodes item his skills arsenic a diplomat, a tactician, a quick-thinker, an explorer, and a stoic intellectual. This patient stance has led Picard to face rogue officials wrong Starfleet connected much than 1 occasion, reminding them of nan ideals that nan Federation celebrates and espouses.

This each isn't to opportunity that Picard is nan cleanable Starfleet serviceman — location is nary characteristic who embodies that — but he does group nan modular for nan fleet. Compared to nan devil-may-care Kirk from either timeline aliases nan much cautious Pike, Picard is simply a man of principles and a well-balanced attack to his command. This isn't to opportunity that Picard isn't a man of action, arsenic his domiciled successful "Star Trek: First Contact" much than confirms he's physically tin and assertive. Starfleet values personified, moreover if it puts him astatine likelihood pinch his superiors, Jean-Luc Picard is nan champion skipper of nan Enterprise.