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This video explores the most special additions to the Star Trek universe in 2025, including new series, audio dramas, comic books, and the incredible LEGO USS Enterprise set that every fan has dreamed of.
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00:00In 2025 a barrage of uncertainty and far more attention to industry trends took much of our
00:05focus. Star Trek may be owned by a billion dollar company but for all of the noise in the trades
00:11it actually produced a lot of fun happy moments throughout the year. Though Star Trek has been
00:16multimedia for decades we were treated to an audio drama that was far more than a short story,
00:21a new series aimed at encouraging the youngest among us to look to the stars and more teases
00:26and tidbits about the upcoming Starfleet Academy that we can shake a jump to stick at.
00:30For the moments this year that have failed to raise our spirits we have produced a list of the 10
00:34worst
00:35Star Trek moments in 2025. Here we're focusing on what made us happy, what made us smile with hope,
00:40and what we feel were some truly special additions to the Trek universe. As the year comes to a close
00:46it is something that we as a community have the opportunity to reflect on, let us focus on the
00:51good times, the best of times as it were. 2025 was light on new on-screen episodes but that does
00:57not mean that those we received weren't thoroughly enjoyable. Added to that it took nearly five years
01:03but a certain pilot finally got her due and selfishly a certain Trek culture writer and presenter popped
01:10up in not one but two Trek publications. So let's turn those frowns upside down to see out 2025 with
01:16a
01:16smile. I'm Sean Ferry for Trek Culture and here are the 10 greatest Star Trek moments in 2025.
01:23Number 10. The LEGO Icons USS Enterprise NCC-1701D
01:30In our best Cadet Tilly voice... You guys this is so f***ing cool.
01:35Announced on November the 6th and launched for her maiden voyage on November the 28th,
01:40the LEGO Icons USS Enterprise NCC-1701D is the first of what will hopefully be a long line of Star
01:47Trek models. It includes minifigures of all of the senior officers as well as Guinan, Wesley and most
01:53importantly Spot. If purchased between November 28th and December 1st 2025 it also came paired with a free
02:00Type 15 Shuttlepod as a gift as well as a mini Rolaren to pilot it. This thing is insanely detailed
02:07and huge,
02:08clearly intending to match Star Wars counterparts like the Death Star or Venator class Star Destroyer.
02:14In addition to the minifigures, the Enterprise D comes with its own stand and has a removable saucer
02:19section for those who may be interested in recreating certain scenes. To be perfectly honest,
02:24this model is a dream come true for many of us. Of course many of you will be aware of
02:29a slightly
02:30misspelt decal included with the original release which LEGO has offered to replace for free. However,
02:36for those of you who prefer to boldy go, you might just be sitting on a treasure chest for future
02:42rarity value.
02:44While it's currently on back order with estimated shipping dates out into mid-March, you can still pick one up
02:49these for yourself. Like the previously mentioned Star Wars models, this one does not have a small price tag
02:55between £349 or £399, but we would say it's worth it if you've got the scratch. Just ask myself or
03:02Chris, who got to build our own?
03:03Check out our video documenting the process. With Star Trek's 60th anniversary literally on the doorstep,
03:10stay tuned for more about that. We hope we will see much more collaboration between Star Trek and the LEGO
03:15Group.
03:16Number 9. Payback's a bitch.
03:19It is no secret that we here at Trek Culture do not support hatred towards Star Trek Discovery.
03:25In fact, though we have been quick to note certain frustrations or misses with Discovery, by and large,
03:30we defend it. One member of our team in particular makes it a mission.
03:34With all that said, whatever complaints we had during Discovery's run are in the past,
03:39and based on what we've seen thus far of Starfleet Academy, they've been addressed.
03:43Klingons look the way we expect them to, Emperor Giorgio is firmly in the rear view,
03:48and to our delight, the holograms don't flicker. All of that, and we're still getting a Trek that seems
03:54quite committed to pushing the envelope in many of the same ways Discovery did. This year has seen a
03:59whirlwind of announcements for Starfleet Academy, from trailers at both SDCC and NYCC, the latter of
04:06which confirmed a January 15th release date, to a poster and a first look clip released in early December.
04:12We have been introduced to nearly all the major characters, including the bridge crew of the USS Athena,
04:17Nuss Bracka, and the students who will be the primary focus of this series. A few specific highlights
04:24include Laura Thock and Lieutenant Yaa, played by Gina Yashire and Becky The Man Lynch respectively,
04:30a sentient hologram who was very nearly born yesterday, and a Klingon who wants to become a doctor.
04:35We believe the first look clip gives a glimpse of a show that will have a depth and impact we're
04:41all
04:41hoping for, and we can't wait to talk all about it with you once it releases. Number 8, Punch It.
04:48Since 1979 Star Trek has enjoyed much success on the big screen, with the motion picture making an impressive
04:54debut followed by The Wrath of Cannes, setting up a universe that continues to be mined to this day.
05:00While Trek is well suited to the small screen, it's hard to ignore the excitement that a new film can
05:06bring.
05:06So, when Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daly, who together penned Spider-Man Homecoming and wrote
05:12and directed Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves, were announced as heading a new Star Trek film project,
05:17tongues immediately started wagging. This new film is said to be unconnected to any existing Star Trek film or series,
05:24which has caused some confusion in the audience. Will it follow any established character or plot?
05:29Or simply be a fresh story in the Star Trek universe? Or will it be a reboot similar to Star
05:34Trek in 2009?
05:36Both ideas have merit. If it's an entirely new story, but in the established universe,
05:41then it's very possible this could become the oft-discussed Star Trek legacy, just without the Enterprise G.
05:46Were it to become a fresh reboot entirely, then it would be freed from any existing plotline or concern.
05:52That is not to say we are championing a scorched earth approach to Trek, but a bold new vision could
05:57reinvigorate the franchise.
05:59As it stands, there is little information to really work with, and Star Trek is no stranger to proposed films
06:04that never get off the ground.
06:05A fourth Kelvin film has seemingly been permanently shelved, while a Star Trek Origins movie has also gone quiet.
06:11Both Homecoming and Honor Among Thieves did well at the box office, so these men may very well bring that
06:17success to Trek.
06:18In a period of history where money dictates so many of the decisions made, having a strong track record can
06:24mean everything.
06:25Star Trek is heading back to the big screen, and we will be in our seats on release day.
06:30Number 7. The Future Begins
06:33As Star Trek nears its 60th birthday, we have already seen the ramping up of marketing and events for 2026.
06:40If one is old enough to remember Trek's 50th birthday, one might recall that very little was done.
06:45Star Trek Beyond was released in theatres, and Star Trek Discovery was in production ahead of its 2017 release.
06:52That was about it.
06:53For the next big decade, however, Star Trek seems to be warming up for a busy year.
06:58January sees the arrival of Starfleet Academy, with Strange New Worlds's fourth season coming later in the year.
07:04Off the small screen, StarTrek.com has launched a 60th specific section of their site,
07:09dedicated to bringing all things birthday related into focus.
07:12The LEGO Group's USS Enterprise packaging also bore a 60th logo,
07:19confirming that the celebrations are being marked by more than just digital releases.
07:24Star Trek will feature prominently in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California,
07:29with a float highlighting the theme, Space for Everybody.
07:32George Takei, Tig Notaro, Rebecca Romain, and Karim Dianae will also be in attendance.
07:37The focus on celebrating Star Trek's massive milestone has been a breath of fresh air in 2025,
07:44not simply because of the lack of coverage for the 50th,
07:47but in the fact that it shows a renewed interest and confidence in the long-running franchise.
07:52Star Trek seems to be gearing up for a renewed lease on life, if all of the marketing is to
07:56be believed.
07:57Number 6 Accents in the Future The clip that was released,
08:02presumably from the pilot of Starfleet Academy,
08:04offered several hints and treats for those of us who were desperate to know more about the show.
08:08While Paul Giamatti's villainous Noose Bracca seems to be ruining everyone's days,
08:13two little moments rose above the explosions.
08:16Both Gina Yashire, who is playing the half Klingon, half Jem'Hadar, Laura Thok,
08:20and Becky Lynch, who is playing Lieutenant Yaa, will be keeping their natural accents.
08:25Why is this worth noting? Because they both have brilliant accents, that's why.
08:29Star Trek has a varied history when it comes to casting people and informing them of a vocal change.
08:35We will always love you James Toohan, that's not about to change.
08:38But having both of these actors keep their real voices is a perfect call.
08:42For Yashire, who is an extremely successful and hilarious stand-up comic,
08:46hearing her natural London accent at the clip's beginning and slipping into her Nigerian accent
08:51as the students run up the stairs, promises a character who may not be a million miles from
08:56her onstage persona. Could there be a story or two of Thok bringing a girlfriend home to meet her
09:01mother? If so we're here for it. Becky Lynch is Irish. If that doesn't immediately explain why I'm on
09:06board then welcome to Trek culture, is this your first visit? Star Trek, as wonderful as it is,
09:11has a bit of a hit and miss history with the Irish. Colomini stole hearts as Chief Miles O'Brien,
09:16and then Fairhaven. Yeah. Allowing the man to remain Irish while serving on board the USS Athena
09:24serves two purposes. First, the Irish still exist in the 32nd century, which is wonderful. Second,
09:29it teases that her character may not be too different from her off-screen self. Is this
09:34Lieutenant Yaa going to fare slightly better than the similarly named Tasha? Only time will tell.
09:40Number 5. In this arena, it's all about Ortegas. Melissa Navia burst onto our screens in Strange
09:48New Worlds' pilot episode, and as pilots go, she's been a highlight of the show from the beginning.
09:52Season 1 left fans wanting a dedicated episode for Erika Ortegas, whereas Season 2 teased but failed
09:59to deliver. Adding together both early seasons and the two-year gap, thanks to the Writers Guild of America
10:05Strike in 2023, audiences were crawling the walls in anticipation of an Ortegas-centric episode.
10:12Terrarium delivered on that long wait, bringing a modern update on an old story with a powerful
10:18emotional portrayal from its lead actor. Navia teased the fact that the show's producers were
10:23aware of the demand for more Tegas and, when the episode finally dropped, hopes were fulfilled.
10:29The story echoed enemy mind, Darmok, and the age-old trope of two enemies learning to understand each
10:35other. Ortegas was paired with a Gorn, one of her great fears, and rather than spend half the episode
10:40butting heads, they developed a friendship that we're still loving to this day. It was the highlight of
10:46the show's third season, reminding not only the audience, but those making the show as well,
10:51that the strength of Star Trek lies in the ensemble, the many rather than the few. While at the time
10:57of
10:57writing we know next to nothing about the fourth season, other than a piece of felt, we can only
11:02hope that this is the beginning of more Tegas's many adventures.
11:06Number 4. Star Trek is a priority. Things are still uncertain when it comes to
11:12Paramount's recent merger with Skydance, particularly when it comes to the ongoing Star Trek series.
11:18The streaming movie era seems to have died, which we covered in our list of the worst moments of 2025,
11:23but David Ellison arrived with a clear message. Star Trek is a priority going forward. Paramount is
11:29in charge of high profile IP like Transformers and Mission Impossible, so one could have been forgiven
11:35for fearing that, as wonderful as Star Trek is to its fanbase, it may not be the billion dollar beacon
11:41of interest for the new bosses. They have however been very clear about the fact that they wanted to
11:46continue and to grow. We've already mentioned the new film that's on the slate, and Ellison has been vocal
11:52about wanting to up the number of theatrical releases from Paramount under his tenure.
11:57What then of Trek's streaming wing? We are sure that there will be some people considering the
12:03end of streaming movies, at least in terms of being a focus, worthy of an entry here,
12:07rather than focus on the negative, let us instead focus on the fact that the company has now received
12:12a space station's worth of money. Star Trek does best on the small screen, and with successful series
12:18like Yellowstone and NCIS already running, or coming to an end, Star Trek is an established
12:24name with an established base. It seems only logical to begin to consolidate that, build it,
12:30and even greenlight new series. While everything is still unclear, there could be a silver lining in
12:36the creation of Paramount A Skydance Corporation. It could lead to more Trek than ever before.
12:41Number 3 Kaaaan! Star Trek Kaaaan brought something new to the Trek universe by bringing something old
12:49back to it. This 9 part audio drama was based on an idea by Nicholas Meyer, who directed Star Trek
12:54II
12:55The Wrath of Kaaaan, and cast Naveen Andrews in the iconic role. When the news broke that it would be
13:00audio only, there was more than a little head scratching. After all, it had originally been pitched
13:05as a televised miniseries. The arrival of the first episode on September the 8th of this year managed to
13:11quell most of the worries surrounding the show. It was epic, it was emotional, and most importantly of
13:16all, there was a point to the story it was telling. Prequels always face a similar issue. How does one
13:22keep the tension high when one knows the outcome? We knew that Khan was going to end up on the
13:27Reliant.
13:28We knew that Kirk didn't have any knowledge of Seti Alpha 6's explosion. Sadly, we knew that Lieutenant
13:34Marla McGivers was killed by a Seti eel. What was the point of any of it? The point it transpired
13:39was to give
13:40context, character, and catharsis. Khan was, and remains, a villain, but thanks to Andrews's
13:46performance there is slightly more depth to him now. Wren Schmidt's MacGyvers was a revelation,
13:52finally giving the character three dimensions after nearly 60 years. The series also saw the return
13:56of George Takei as Captain Hikaru Sulu, and Tim Russ as Ensign Tuvok, both still aboard the USS Excelsior.
14:03If the series could be boiled down to a single thing, though it is of course much more, it is
14:08a story that
14:08expands the universe in which it is located. The new things we learn now feel essential to
14:13understand these people. The series was, in our opinion, a resounding success. Let this be the
14:19beginning of many more. Number 2. The Return of Archer
14:24Trek to Vegas, the 59 year mission saw an enormous moment in Trek history in August as Scott Bakula
14:30walked out on stage, making his first convention appearance since the 20 teens. What did it mean?
14:36Was this the beginning of the return to Jonathan Archer to Star Trek? As it turned out, possibly.
14:41Mike Sussman, producer and writer on Star Trek Enterprise, among many other things,
14:45revealed that, while a previous pitch to Secret Hideout focusing on a Bakula led series was not
14:50successful, Scott himself was more than interested in returning to the franchise. The pitch would have
14:56focused on President Archer, leading the Federation in its early years. This would have been more Earth
15:01focused, closer in tone to the West Wing than Star Wars, the idea may have been originally turned
15:06down, but from small acorns. The idea has taken root with the audience, and Star Trek United,
15:12as it was tentatively called by Sussman, has become a major point of interest for much of the fandom.
15:18Since August, many outlets, including Trek Culture, have had the chance to speak to Mike about what
15:23United could be, where it might go, and why the time is right for Archer to return. It was fan
15:29outcry that
15:30led to Strange New Worlds' inception, proving the validity of keeping the conversation alive.
15:35This has been another rallying point for Trek fans in 2025, perhaps even dethroning the idea of legacy.
15:41If nothing else, it has also shown the love for Enterprise, a series that truly found its audience
15:46years after its conclusion. Number 1. Same face, same message
15:522025 saw seismic changes in the movie industry, and disappointing updates from Paramount in particular.
15:58The company's vow to get rid of DEI initiatives caused major worry, not just for people's livelihoods,
16:04but also what that might mean for the future of a franchise that, by its very nature, was diverse
16:09to its core. Robert Picardo, who was returning to Star Trek as the emergency medical hologram in
16:14Starfleet Academy, was quick to publish his comments on a Trek without DEI. In a nutshell,
16:20he affirmed that there is no Trek without DEI. This was an especially timely reminder to those who fear
16:27that the new regime at Paramount would chuck the spirit of Star Trek out. They simply can't.
16:32Since its earliest days, Star Trek has espoused the morality of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
16:38Claiming otherwise displays a thorough misunderstanding of what Gene Roddenberry wanted this universe to be about.
16:44Trek has not always kept the torch aloft, though it has managed to weather many threats to it over the
16:49years.
16:49Star Trek is, at its core, a hopeful vision of the future. If Picardo's comments are to be believed,
16:56then Starfleet Academy is set to keep that hope alive. If David Ellison is to be believed, then
17:01Star Trek is a priority. Star Trek is special to so many of us that any threat to it feels
17:06like a threat
17:07to us all. This year, despite the world surrounding it, Star Trek has kept afloat, brought new eyes to
17:13itself, and promised an exciting future to come. At the end of this year, the fact that Star Trek is
17:18going nowhere feels like the best moment of all. And that's everything for our list today folks,
17:23thank you so much, and thank you for everything throughout the year. We are so excited to see
17:27what 2026 has in store, what's coming up, and what we get to enjoy together as a community.
17:33I hope that you have a wonderful, wonderful time until I'm talking to you again. Please make sure you're
17:38subscribed to the channel, please make sure you're following us at the various socials. We are
17:41at TrekCulture or at TrekCultureYT on Instagram. Thank you again to Brandon with whom we collaborated,
17:47and may you all have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas, holiday season, new year, and however
17:54you choose to celebrate or not celebrate, just have a great time. Thanks very much all, live long and prosper.
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