Beyond starships, strange new worlds, and the final frontier, the beating heart of Star Trek are its beloved characters and their love stories. Star Trek is about humans and aliens working together to explore the galaxy. Sometimes, in the close quarters of starships and space stations, love blooms. While there are a plethora of young people in Star Trek, most romances involve mature adults who must make love work with the demands of crewing a starship, scientific exploration, and, sometimes, even war.
Star Trek‘s various TV series and movies are laudable for how much they focus on matters of the human (and Vulcan, and Klingon, and even Ferengi) heart. Star Trek casts are ensembles whose romantic pairings are sometimes logical and sometimes not. Occasionally, the audience sees a romance that Star Trek is downplaying and ‘ships’ it until it finally happens. Case in point, the alternate universe Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) becoming a couple on Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Star Trek love story honorable mentions include Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) winning Lt. B’Elanna Torres’ (Roxann Dawson) Klingon heart on Star Trek: Voyager, the love match between Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) on Star Trek: Picard, Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) blossoming romance with Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofanio) on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and the sweet feelings between young Dal R’El (Brett Gray) and Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) on Star Trek: Prodigy. Here are a dozen of the best love stories in Star Trek:
12
Dr. Beverly Crusher & Admiral Jean-Luc Picard
Played By Gates McFadden & Patrick Stewart On Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher shared romantic feelings throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, but didn’t act on them. Both Picard and Crusher had other love interests on TNG, yet fans wanted to see Jean-Luc and Beverly act on their obvious attraction. Even in Star Trek: Picard season 3, actual romance and a long-awaited kiss eluded Admiral Picard and Dr. Crusher.
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Picard and Beverly’s romance has mostly happened off-screen, spoken of but not seen. Yet there’s living proof that Beverly and Jean-Luc love each other: their son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). Admiral Picard and Dr. Crusher are a love story that has endured for decades, fueled by fans’ desire to see both beloved USS Enterprise-D icons live happily ever after together.
11
Admiral Kathryn Janeway & Captain Chakotay
Played By Kate Mulgrew & Robert Beltran On Star Trek: Voyager & Star Trek: Prodigy
The love story between Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay is another that was desired by fans but was not ignited by Star Trek: Voyager. Kate Mulgrew herself argued the logic against Captain Janeway pulling rank on her First Officer. Yet there is clear sexual tension and desires not acted upon by Janeway and Chakotay.
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In Star Trek: Prodigy, Admiral Janeway searches space and time to bring Captain Chakotay home, continuing their will-they-or-won’t-they friendship that may finally blossom into full-blown romance.
10
Lieutenant La’an Noonien-Singh & Captain James T. Kirk
Played By Christina Chong & Paul Wesley On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star-crossed lovers Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh and Captain James T. Kirk (from an alternate timeline) are Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ great romantic tragedy. The emotionally sealed-off La’an opened her heart to the dashing Captain Kirk, but she was doomed to lose him as La’an set Star Trek‘s Prime Timeline right.
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Christina Chong and Paul Wesley share an ideal romantic yin/yang with a sweet but fiery chemistry. Her brief love affair with Kirk became the catalyst for La’an to “change her paradigm,” and perhaps even recapture her lost love with the Prime universe’s Lieutenant James T. Kirk.
9
Captain Kasidy Yates & Captain Benjamin Sisko
Played By Penny Johnson-Jerald & Avery Brooks On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
A widower, Captain Benjamin Sisko found love again with Kasidy Yates, a freighter captain who understood, challenged, and didn’t coddle the station commander of Deep Space Nine. Sisko and Kasidy were two intelligent, mature adults who found greater fulfillment in each other, overcoming difficulties like Yates being temporarily jailed for helping the Maquis.
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Kasidy and Benjamin married at the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and she was carrying Sisko’s unborn child when the Emissary ascended to become a Prophet of Bajor. Yet Sisko promised he’d return to Kasidy one day, perhaps after Benjamin teaches the Prophets what it means to be in love.
8
Nurse Christine Chapel & Lieutenant Spock
Played By Jess Bush & Ethan Peck On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Lieutenant Spock gave up his passion-less relationship with T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) to pursue his burning feelings for Nurse Christine Chapel. For Christine, Spock was as true-blue as a romantic partner could be, while Chapel encouraged Spock’s humanity to outweigh his Vulcan logic. Yet Spock and Chapel are not destined to be, despite the palpable electricity between them.
Dr. Roger Korby (Cillian O’Sullivan), Nurse Chapel’s future fiancé, will appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.
Ethan Peck’s Spock and Jess Bush’s Chapel are the younger versions filling in the backstory of the unrequited love between Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett Roddenberry) from Star Trek: The Original Series. But Strange New Worlds‘ Spock and Christine bring more heat than the canonically older Vulcan and nurse.
7
Sister Edith Keeler & Captain James T. Kirk
Played By Joan Collins & William Shatner On Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series delivered the seminal Star Trek romantic tragedy. Captain James T. Kirk traveled back to 1930s New York City and fell in love with Sister Edith Keeler, who was doomed to die by fate’s cruel hand. Kirk knew saving Keeler would change history for the worse, and he let her go to save the needs of the many.
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The star-crossed Kirk and Edith shared a gentle love that could never be, although Keeler never learned her special man was a space hero from the future. Together, Captain Kirk and Edith Keeler made “The City on the Edge of Forever” the Star Trek romance and episode all others are judged by.
6
Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax & Lt. Commander Worf
Played By Terry Farrell & Michael Dorn On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
On paper, the free-spirited Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax and the stick-in-the-mud Lt. Commander Worf was a poor love match, but the Trill and Klingon’s romantic chemistry defied logic. Jadzia tested Worf’s patience but uniquely understood his needs as a Klingon. In turn, Worf was the rock Jadzia could depend on in a tumultuous, Dominion War-torn galaxy.
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Whether serving on the bridge of the USS Defiant or dueling bat’leths in a holosuite cave, Worf and Jadzia Dax were a dynamic couple torn apart by Dax’s sudden murder in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 6. But before tragedy struck, there was no doubt about the love between the Trill and the Klingon.
5
Commander Paul Stamets & Dr. Hugh Culber
Played By Anthony Rapp & Wilson Cruz On Star Trek: Discovery
Not only the first gay married couple in Star Trek, Commander Paul Stamets and Dr. Hugh Culber are loving and inspiring in any timeline. Hugh understands Paul’s drive for science while Stamets encourages Culber’s exploration of the heart. Stamets lost Culber in Star Trek: Discovery season 1, but the resurrected Hugh found his way back to Paul.
Culber and Stamets are a shining example of patience, honesty, and communication.
In Star Trek: Discovery season 3, Culber and Stamets “adopted” and became parental figures to Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio), who had their own love story with Gray Tal (Ian Alexander). Culber and Stamets are a shining example of patience, honesty, and communication, their romance holding strong against the time and tides of the galaxy.
4
Major Kira Nerys & Constable Odo
Played By Nana Visitor & Rene Auberjonois On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Constable Odo won the heart of Major Kira Nerys by staying true to his essence as a kind and honest person. Gruff and formidable to criminals on Deep Space Nine, Odo showed Kira that the liquid-based Changeling has a heart. In turn, Kira opened herself up to Odo, the incendiary former rebel finding safety, trust, and adoration from the shapeshifter.
Rene Auberjonois passed away in December 2019.
Kira had romances with prominent Bajorans throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Odo had his own trysts, even being seduced by the Female Changeling (Salome Jens). But Odo’s inner compass always pointed him to Kira, and she taught Odo the value of his true self. Sadly, Odo returned to his people and rejoined the Great Link, leaving behind memories of a Star Trek love story for the ages.
3
Captain Michael Burnham & Cleveland Booker
Played By Sonequa Martin-Green & David Ajala On Star Trek: Discovery
Captain Michael Burnham met her match in Cleveland Booker, an empathic maverick with a gentle, nurturing spirit who perfectly balanced her brilliance and relentlessly driven idealism. Burnham is a rare Star Trek Captain who doesn’t separate her heart from her duty, while Book’s devotion to Michael is challenged only by his dedication to “queen,” Grudge the cat.
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Burnham and Book almost didn’t make it. Cleveland broke it off with Michael to pursue vengeance when his world, Kwejian, was destroyed, and finding their way back to each other to took time and regaining trust. But Star Trek: Discovery ended with proof that Burnham and Book are a love that lasts a lifetime, and they never failed to bring out and cherish each other’s best.
2
Rom and Leeta
Played By Max Grodenchik and Chase Masterson On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine & Star Trek: Lower Decks
A Ferengi couldn’t buy a better happily ever after than Rom and Leeta. The sweet-hearted former Ferengi bartender-turned-engineer was in love with the Bajoran Dabo girl employed by his brother Quark (Armin Shimerman). Leeta dated Dr, Julian Bashir but, incredibly, preferred Rom. Their wedding – the first between a Bajoran and a Ferengi – was even presided over by Captain Sisko.
Leeta and Rom are improbable, unlikely, and a simply perfect example of true love in Star Trek.
Rom and Leeta are simply good people, and good things do happen. By the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Rom became Grand Nagus of the Ferengi. Leeta, who picked up some Ferengi guile, is by her husband’s side, wheeling and dealing as First Clerk. Leeta and Rom are improbable, unlikely, and a simply perfect example of true love in Star Trek.
1
Counselor Deanna Troi & Captain Will Riker
Played By Martina Sirtis & Jonathan Frakes On Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Picard
Will Riker and Deanna Troi are the definitive Star Trek romance, and they even have their word: Imzadi (“beloved” in Betazoid). Commander Riker and Counselor Troi served together on the USS Enterprise-D, but Star Trek: The Next Generation refused to pair the former lovers romantically for seven seasons. In Star Trek: Insurrection, Riker and Troi’s romantic magnetism could no longer be denied.
Riker and Troi were inspired by a similar relationship between Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins) and Lt. Ilia (Persis Khambatta) in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
After Riker and Troi married in Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek: Picard positively reveled in Will and Deanna as man and wife, as parents, in happy times, through tragedy, and even a brief separation and their romantic reunion. Simply put, Riker and Troi are the Star Trek couple, and they will always be the gold standard by which all other Star Trek love stories are judged.
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Star Trek: The Next Generation
9/10
- Release Date
-
1987 – 1993
- Network
-
Syndication
- Showrunner
-
Gene Roddenberry
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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
8/10
- Release Date
-
1993 – 1998
- Showrunner
-
Michael Piller, Ira Steven Behr
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Star Trek: Voyager
8/10
- Release Date
-
January 16, 1995
- Network
-
UPN
- Showrunner
-
Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, Brannon Braga, Kenneth Biller
- Directors
-
David Livingston, Winrich Kolbe, Allan Kroeker, Michael Vejar
- Writers
-
Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor
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Star Trek: Discovery
7/10
- Release Date
-
2017 – 2023
- Showrunner
-
Alex Kurtzman
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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Release Date
-
May 5, 2022
- Network
-
Paramount+
- Showrunner
-
Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
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