Question:
Hi
This my situation:
I love Star Trek but :
1) I have never seen one second only of The Next Generations .
2) I have never seen one second only of Deep Space Nine .
This my problem :
1) Which one is the best ?
2) Which one should I buy first for plot reasons?
or
3) Are the two series related in terms of story and / or characters ?
4) One more question : Choose one of the following :
The Next Generations vs Deep Space Nine vs Babylon 5
Thanks in advance
Edgler
Answer:

Love them all, if I had to put them in order it would be:
Babylon 5
ST: TNG
ST: DS9
Sadly it can be an expensive hobby - got all TNG box sets, DS9 1+2 and B5 1+2 and will be buying all of them. Just hope my bank manager does not get wind of it :suspect:
Answer:

For me it there would be only one winner - TNG. If you are serious about buying one of the boxsets then why not watch a few episodes on each series first. BBC 2 are showing an episode of TNG on a Wednesday evening I believe, DS9 can been seen quite often on Sky and BB5 can be viewed on channel 5 I believe.
Answer:

Don't listen to them, DS9 is far superior to TNG in every way. Better characters, better stories, and drew you into the whole universe each episode.
Here's the problem, everyone has different views and you'll have to make your own choices in the end. I personally have to recommend DS9 because I loved the multi-story arcs, the way there was continuity between many episodes, the way there were many recurring characters. It worked much better, and was excellent from the very first season (despite what other people say). Though I agree it really improved around seasons 3 and 4, the first two are still very watchable, much more so than early NextGen or Voyager.
Answer:

If you are serious about buying one of the boxsets then why not watch a few episodes on each series first
good suggestion...but I do not live in UK...
Your opinions are very important because I will make a blind purchase
Answer:

All sensible Trek fans know that DS9 is by far the best of the five series. TNG is a great series, but still suffers from the "all wrapped up at the end of the episode" factor.
DS9 is the only Trek series in which the characters actually grow, even the minor ones! A small (in many ways) character like Nog had ten times more developement during DS9 than a big (also in many ways) character like Riker in TNG.
So, it's easy to recommend DS9 over TNG, but versus B5 is a much tougher choice.
Personally I would go with DS9, the quality remained high throughout the series, whereas B5 suffered badly in seasons 4 & 5 (due to the threat of cancellation).
But, B5 does contain some of the most amazing episodes of TV that I have even seen. After watching (and taping) the season 2 finale The Fall of Night I was gob-smacked, I rewound the tape and watched it again immediately. A truly stunning piece of Sci-Fi TV.
Answer:

Having seen all three series, my choices in order are:
Babylon5 - IMO the only weakish season of B5 was S5, but even then it wasn't too bad
DS9 - wasen't that great at the start, but really grew from S2 onwards
TNG - never really got going till the 3rd season IMO
Answer:

there is only one star trek series in my opinion and thats
STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION!
Answer:

I would buy them all if I were you (I have collected them all so far), it's quite expensive but just think you'll be getting 3 TV-Sci-Fi Masterpieces.
Chronologically TNG would be first, followed by DS9.
(Besides, TNG boxsets are going for £49.99 a piece now compared to £57.99 when first released) :thumbs:
Picard is God! :notworthy
Answer:

There will always be a great debate as to what was the best star trek series.
Well I say The Next Gen. It just gets better and better each season. The 1st two seasons start a little stiff, but it grows and grows.
I did try to watch DS9, but found the characters rather boring, plain and they didn't seem to gel like in TNG. Just as well there was a wormhole next to the station...
So I say get TNG first, then toss a coin for the others (I've never seen B5 so I can't comment, though its probably better than DS9 !!!).
Que the next person to say the opposite of this post :D
Answer:

I am a big fan for TNG but I think DS9 wins especially if you watch the laters episodes. DS9 does take a bit longer to get going compared to TNG but some of the best trek episodes are from DS9.
I myself am going to get them all to replace my VHS copies. It is actually much cheaper to get them on DVD than VHS. Most of my DS9 and Voyager were £12 for just two episodes.
I was also glad to get TNG on DVD and they stopped the reissused TNG VHS tapes after the fifth season due to low sales, as most people are getting the DVD version. I stopped getting the VHS after the fourth season.
Another bonus with the DVD is you can get all the episodes in less on one year. On VHS they did one season per year.
Babylon 5 was good but there seems to be problems with both seasons one and two on DVD which made me to skip it on DVD.
Answer:

My vote is for DS9, for all the reasons already covered by LeftHandedGuitarist and Walrus Man.
Answer:

All three are well worth seeing for different reasons.
Next Generation is very much based on individual episodes with not a lot of development from season to season. But individually episodes tend to be very watchable.
Chronologically (and broadcast date I think) Deep Space Nine starts partway through Next Gen's 6th Season, taking one of the minor characters from Next Gen and making him a lead character on DS9.
After the end of Next Generation another character Worf joins the DS9 crew.
DS9 especially from season 2 has much more of a story arc over the course of a season and the whole series. Individual episodes are sometimes not quite as good as TNG, but watching every episode of the series brings greater reward, ideal for DVD box sets.
That said one of the story strand I enjoy most is the relationship between Starfleet & the Federation (mainly humans) and the Klingon empire personified in the character of Worf who is unique as a Klingon Starfleet officer.
This is brought to the fore in the odd Next Gen episode and runs as a major thread in DS9 from season 4 after Worf transfers.
For that reason among others I would recommend watching TNG first and DS9 afterward.
If you were really bothered you could follow the chronology of the episodes by the "Stardate" given in the episodes as listed here:
http://www.mts.net/~arphaxad/chronost.html
Babylon 5 takes the idea of a series arc even further, the whole series is one big story. Here the background story is really interesting, and sometimes vitally important hints are buried in the backgound, but with the downside that the major plot of the individual episodes is sometimes not very good, predictable & unoriginal.
As I said I like each of the for different reason, but I hope I have explained why and this helps you make up you mind.
Have you seen the movie Star Trek: First Contact?
That is probably the best Trek movie with the Next Generation crew, and might give you an idea if you like it.
Similarly you could order the Babylon 5 pilot "The Gathering" and see fi you liked that.
(If you have a multi-region player you could get it with another B5 tv movie - "in the beginning" it is a prequel to the series but if you watch that it spoils the series by telling you too much at the start, save it til the end.)
Hope that is not too much info for you.
Answer:

I've only seen Babylon 5, but I'd imagine it would be hard to find ANY show to have such a consistant and gripping storyline like B5 had from S2 to S5 beginning. :notworthy
But on a side note, I will be buying a star trek series on the whim after I have watched B5 and I will get DS9 for its plot continuation
Answer:

Chronologically (and broadcast date I think) Deep Space Nine starts partway through Next Gen's 6th Season, taking one of the minor characters from Next Gen and making him a lead character on DS9.
The DS9 timeline starts just after the TNG episode "Chain of Command Part II"
Answer:

Originally posted by edgler vess
The Next Generations vs Deep Space Nine vs Babylon 5 On some messageboards that would be considered trolling:D.
My 2p: B5>TNG>DS9.
Answer:

Definitely The Next Generation.
Much better characters. Their relationships are much more interesting to see progress through the seasons. You also have more diversity with the type of people/personalitys in Next Gen also.
Deep Space Nine has only a few excellent relationships(Odo/Quark, Sisko/Kira) for example, but in Next Gen everybody's relationship with everyone else is excellent, especially anyone with Data or Q/Picard.
Also there is only so much you can do on a space station, apart from the odd trip through the wormhole. Yes the episodes have more continuity being in one place the whole time, but you don't get the whole spectrum of situations as with TNG.
Answer:

Originally posted by The Bear
Definitely The Next Generation.
Much better characters. Their relationships are much more interesting to see progress through the seasons.You have got to be kidding, right? I love TNG, but the only character who even remotely grows during its 7 year run is Data. The others don't change at all, even Picard, who is a fantastic character and almost certainly the best captain, but he really doesn't progress much in the series.
Originally posted by The Bear
Deep Space Nine has only a few excellent relationships(Odo/Quark, Sisko/Kira) for example, but in Next Gen everybody's relationship with everyone else is excellent, especially anyone with Data or Q/Picard.
Er, did you not watch the show? What about Bashir/Garak, Bashir/O'Brien, Sisko/Dukat, Odo/Kira! Need I go on?
We even get three marriages: Dax/Worf, Rom/Leeta & Sisko/Kasidy.
...and we get to see two kids (who aren't annoying gits - Wesley) grow up into two very different people.
Answer:

Agreed, DS9's characters were allowed to grow so much more, and were much more interesting. The relationships and dynamics between them were fantastic as well, as they changed throughout the series, especially ones such as O'Brien/Bashir (the two UK-lads, great!), Odo/Kira and Garak was fantastic.
Dukat is also the best Star Trek bad guy ever. TNG's character never seemed to go anywhere except for Data.
Answer:

TNG.
Can’t stand DS9 or B5
Answer:

Definately DS9 all the way characters, plots and storyarc are all miles ahead of tng
Answer:

I'd say DS9 is the best by miles.
Find TNG a bit dull now, most problems are solved by a technobabble against-the-clock solution in the last 5 minutes in most episodes. Used to love it, and have most on VHS recorded off the telly though...!
Answer:

TNG is top then DS9...
to be honest DS9 is a work in progress for me... I stopped watching it in S1 when it first aired... So I got DVD season 1 & 2 ... so far season 1 is Blandorama compared to TNG...
BTW if you decide to go for TNG I would start off with Season3 :)
Odd I know but S1 & 2 are an acquired taste...
then way way way below is B5... I watched a few eps and thought it was just a giant soap opera in space with dodgy makeup and CGI
Answer:

I think seasons 1 and 2 of DS9 was much better than seasons 1 and 2 of TNG.
Answer:

As an intro TNG is the best option.
However, DS9 is by far the better series (from late season 2 onwards) overall. The overarching arc kicks off in season 2 with a few mentions of the Dominion then kicks into top gear with the season closer. Nothing like it was tried in Trek before and hasn't been since.
Answer:

TNG is the answer.
Still the greatest spin off series for Trek that remains true to 'The Vision'.
Accept no substitutes.:nono:
Answer:

The problem I had with DS9 is that the story arcs were punctuated with far too many inconsequential stories. Maybe this isn't so much of a problem when you can sit down and watch an entire season, but when I was watching week-in, week-out, there you are, enjoying the superb Dominion war story arc for a couple of weeks, and then suddenly the war stops for a week so Quark can participate in an "hilarious" episode on the Ferengi Homeworld or some other nonsense :|
I'd have to go with TNG myself - yes, the stories are a lot more self-contained, but that means I can dip into any episode being shown on the Beeb or Sky and I'm pretty much guaranteed an hour of entertainment without having to figure out where in the story arc timeline I am. Plus there's the small factor of Spiner and Stewart's performances dwarfing anything seen on DS9, Voyager etc.
Answer:

Originally posted by Grandmaster
I'd have to go with TNG myself - yes, the stories are a lot more self-contained, but that means I can dip into any episode being shown on the Beeb or Sky and I'm pretty much guaranteed an hour of entertainment without having to figure out where in the story arc timeline I am. Plus there's the small factor of Spiner and Stewart's performances dwarfing anything seen on DS9, Voyager etc.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Answer:

I love DS9, IMO the best Trek. But if your first into it I would suggest TNG, but start with season 3 onwards, then move onto DS9.
Answer:

STNG :thumbs:
Answer:

Has to be TNG.
TNG used its settings and characters largely as a means of exploring wildly disparate ideas. Which surely is what good science fiction should do.
DS9 by comparison was a character-driven soap-opera.
Answer:

I enjoy all three shows however B5 wins hands down simply because it tells the most stunning story ever. Its like Lord of the Rings in space. The characters grow, some of the main ones even die and at the end of the episode its not unusual for no one to have learnt a damn thing. Plus no annoying kids and no dodgy robots.
Someone in a previous post suggested watching the pilot of B5 to see if you liked it, while this is a very helpful suggestion I have to say the pilot does not in anyway reflect the final product.
Then check out DS9 the best of all modern day trek (the original crew is still the best). DS9 follows a B5 like way of telling stories and a TNG way of having lots of one off stories. This far better then TNG which had a lot of naff episodes in season 1,2 and 7. And the last thing to take into consideration is that when TNG was bad it was bloody awful.
Answer:

Originally posted by zantarous
Plus no annoying kids and no dodgy robots.
Not a big fan of Bill "Billy" Mumy's early work then? ;)
Answer:

TNG for me also - as has been said, season 1 and 2 are a little average - some good stories, but season 1 especially its obvious they were all finding their feet. Last (?) episode of season 1 with aliens taking over starfleet was very very creepy though - more like a horror story.
Season 3 onwards would perhaps be first choice if you're new to it - unless you want to start from day 1 and see how things developed.
When I first saw season 1 I was quite sceptical it would compare to the original series - it took me a few episodes but I got hooked right through until the end of season 7 and its my favourite series. TNG is probably the MOST similar to the original series in terms of premise, plot layout and characterisation.
DS9 had some excellent episodes but I never got "dragged in" in the same way as I did with TNG and the original series. Its more like another type of series set in the Trek universe. I intend to buy the dvds at some stage and give it some more time though - every tme I watched it for a few weeks there would always be a stupid episode which would then put me off staying with it - and I completely missed anything after about season 3.
B5 - totally different feel to either - all sfx are CGI rather than models (as in Trek). For some reason that put me off a little, dunno why - maybe it just felt a bit too glossy. Again it didn't hook me in, when I expected it to.
Answer:

DS9 hands down but doint miss B5 as its just as good or better then DS9
Aviod Voyager like the plague..........
Answer:

DS9 is by far the best Trek, but B5 is superb TV sci-fi. Although the only DVDs I've actually bought are TNG (go figure!).
If cost is an issue then B5 only has 5 seasons (and you don't have to buy season 5) and they are cheaper (plus they're widescreen).
I would say that DS9 wins, just cos I love Trek far too much and thoroughly enjoyed Nemesis. But if you like TV sci-fi whichever you go for you will enjoy hugely.
Have fun :)
Answer:

I love DS9. I find it much better than the Next Gen and I'm a hardcore Trekker, not trekkie, there Geeks.
I do find DS9 to have better stories with arcs and stories that can devolop over several seasons. The charactors are really interesting too. Sisko is a hardass captain, Kira is a tough female heroin, Odo is just class cos of his ablility to Morph and change shape, ideal for a security cheif. Bashir and O'Brian bring the human side to the series and Quark is just really funny. Dax (Jadzia) is my favourite Trek bird all the curves in the right places and she's damn hot. I also like Nog, Garek and Rom all good additonal charctors with lots of scope.
The station is unique cos of the Cardassion architecture and the wormhole enables ships to visit other planets with Runabouts and The Defiant.
The series is just brilliant. I got my Season 3 set (R1) yesterday, already on episode 4.
:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
Answer:

Not to be all sweet and beatific, but: ST:TNG = DS9 = Babylon 5. There is no compelling reason why you should like one dramatically more than the other. They all have much to offer in terms of story and character. Buy and enjoy.
Answer:

Have to say DS9 the whole dominion war really draws you in, more so that anything in TNG (well maybe the borg)
Answer:

So then edgler vess that what we think, I'm sure you'll agree it all nice and clear so what one are you going to go for :D
Answer:

I'd order them: B5, DS9, TNG, however, for TV SF I'd rate Farscape as being better than them all.
Answer:

So then edgler vess that what we think, I'm sure you'll agree it all nice and clear so what one are you going to go for
Completely confused .... :confused: :confused: :confused:
But...
great help ... great forum
Anyway ... my options are:
Babylon 5 > DS9 > TNG
Thanks