Star Trekhas brought galaxies of wonder and amazement to fans for decades. The franchise has produced 13 films, eight live action series, and three animated series. One of the most popularStar Trekseries wasThe Next Generation,which ran for seven seasons.
The Next Generation, Deep Space NineandVoyagerwere all set during the same timeframe, allowing for more crossovers. But, with the use of alternate dimensions and time travel, as well as a belief that people will live longer as time goes on, opportunities have arisen for characters fromThe Next Generationto show up in otherStar Trekseries.
11Jean-Luc Picard: Deep Space 9, Picard
Captain Picard appears in the pilot episode ofDeep Space 9, “Emissary.” He is hated by Captain Benjamin Sisko because of his actions while assimilated as Locutus of Borg. Sisko blames Picard and his actions for the death of his wife, Jennifer.
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Picard, of course, also returns as series regular in his own showPicard.It is set after the events ofThe Next Generationand follows the now-retired Admiral Picard on missions, even though he has become disillusioned with Starfleet.
10William Riker: Voyager, Enterprise, Picard, Lower Decks
CommanderWilliam Rikerhas shown some of the greatest range of guest appearances. He appears as a witness in a trial onVoyager,in which Q summons Riker to the ship as Janeway must decide whether to grant asylum to a member of the Q consortium. Riker then appears in the controversial finale ofEnterprise. It’s set on the Enterprise’s holodeck as Riker is studying the final mission of Captain Archer’s crew.
Riker returns toStar TrekinPicard,where he comes to Picard’s aide in the first season and then becomes a regular for the third season. Riker also makes an animated appearance in the first season finale ofLower Decks.
9Q: Voyager, Picard, Lower Decks
Q is one of the easiestNext Generationcharacters to place in another show, since he can move flawlessly through space and time. He appears in three episodes ofVoyager, and even hints that he can get the crew back to the Alpha quadrant faster than estimated.
Q also appears in the second season ofPicard, when he sends Picard, Seven, Rios, Raffi, and Jurati back in time to try to ensure the timeline is protected. He hints that he will die when he sends them back to their own timeline. Q also makes an animated appearance in an episode ofLower Deckstitled “Veritas.”
8Geordi La Forge: Voyager, Picard
Geordi is one of the best engineers in theStar Trekuniverse, but he appears as the Captain of the Challenger in the 100th episode ofVoyager, “Timeless.” In an alternate timeline, Geordi is trying to stop Chakotay and Kim from changing the past after Voyager crashed into an ice world. Geordi is sympathetic, but can’t let them violate the Temporal Prime Directive.
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Geordi returns in season three ofPicard,trying to assist Picard and Riker on their mission to save Beverly Crusher and her son Jack. It’s also revealed in the season the helmswoman of the Titan is Geordi’s daughter, and the pair have a contentious relationship.
7Deanna Troi: Voyager, Enterprise, Picard, Lower Decks
Much like her husband, William Riker,Deanna Troihas appeared on several other series in theStar Trekuniverse. She appears in three episodes ofVoyager. Deanna also joins Riker on the holodeck for the series finale ofEnterprise.
She also appears inPicardat the Riker homestead as she helps Admiral Picard regain his bearings in the first season. She also joins Riker in an animated appearance in the first season finale ofLower Decks.
6Data: Enterprise, Picard
Despite being an android who could conceivably return more often, Data has surprisingly few crossover appearances. Part of that is due to him being destroyed inStar Trek: Nemesis, but the franchise’s creators have found ways to bring him back. In his most controversial appearance, his voice can be heard in the holodeck in the series finale inEnterprise.
In the third season ofPicard, Data is revived in a new synthetic body. His consciousness has been merged with Lore and B4, as well as with some memories of Dr. Alan Soong. Despite Data’s few crossover appearances, Brent Spiner has appeared as other characters across theStar Trekuniverse.
5Worf: Deep Space 9, Picard
Worf is one of the few characters fromThe Next Generationto become a series regular on another show. In the fourth season premiere ofDeep Space 9, “The Way of the Warrior,“Worfmoves from life on a starship to life at a space station following the Klingon attack on Cardassia. He would remain onDeep Space 9until the end of the show’s run.
Worf returns in the third season ofPicard, as a subcontractor of Starfleet Intelligence working with Ro Lauren and Raffi. He helps Picard and Riker in their battle with the Changelings.
4Dr. Beverly Crusher: Picard
Dr. Crusher had a long and illustrious Starfleet career, but as fans learn in season three ofPicard, she and Captain Picard definitely explored their chemistry after the events of the series. Dr. Crusher is trying to protect her son from the changelings.
Dr. Crusher’s appearance in the third season ofPicardintroduces her son with Jean-Luc Picard, Jack Crusher. The return of Gates McFadden is something fans had been clamoring for sincePicardwas announced, and season three delivered for them.
3Miles O’Brien: Deep Space 9, Lower Decks
Miles O’Brien is the case of a beloved minor character getting the chance to grow into a beloved major character. He served on board the Enterprise duringThe Next Generation,appearing in 50 episodes. Then, he makes the jump to Deep Space 9 in the series premiere, providing a connective thread between the two series.
O’Brien goes from being an everyman serving as Lieutenant on the Enterprise, to the Chief of Operations aboard Deep Space 9 andChief Engineer on the Defiantwhen they had to leave the space station. His wife, Keiko, and daughter, Molly, join him on board Deep Space 9. A holographic statute of O’Brien also appears inLower Decks.
2Guinan: Picard
One of Jean-Luc Picard’s most trusted advisers makes her return in the series that focuses on him after he has become disillusioned with Starfleet. Guinan appears in two different forms in season two ofPicard.
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Whoopi Goldberg appears as an older version of Guinan in the second season premiere, “The Star Gazer.” Ito Aghayere then takes over the role on a recurring basis throughout the second season as Picard and his crew are sent back in the past to protect the timeline.
