Star Trek is a treasure trove of meme humor, checking almost all the boxes for viral success. It’s got a specialized audience, perfect for inside jokes, but it’s also generally well known to everyone. Even a person who’s never seen an episode or a movie has an emotional or cultural response simply by bringing up the franchise.
The beauty of Trek is that it leans into that cultural response, always being open with its commentary on current affairs. Science fiction has long tried to predict future technology and humanity, and while the series is trying to explain both, it’s also experimenting with philosophy, ethics, and sociology.
These memes are here to make fun of all of those efforts. Thankfully, the phenomenon has always had a sense of humor - whether it’s comparing captains, cuddling with tribbles, or debating Captain Kirk’s character - the series has taken on a rich mythology over its decades in living rooms.
By injecting more lightness and humility into the Star Trek series to push and pull its audience, this list will hopefully succeed in aiding the original mission to explore the boundaries of our solar system, through these 20 Hilarious Star Trek Memes.
20. MEANWHILE AT CBS…
As a general rule, you always protect your parent network. When Star Trek: Discovery came out in 2017, it was announced that the series would only be aired on CBS’ new online streaming service, “CBS All-Access”.
It costs $5.99/month with ads, $9,99 per month without ads. That’s a whole lot of latinum just for Star Trek.
The prospect of a new series is enough to make a true fan pay almost any sum of money, but then again, should Star Trek only be marketed to true fans? Wouldn’t the show get a broader audience if released on its main network? Hopefully, CBS opens Discovery up to all audiences soon, instead of using it as an anchor to its streaming service.
19. THE WALKING DEAD
Red shirts! Take your pick of any of the red shirt memes, they all play on the same tendency scarlet-shirted crew members have to perish again and again. These tunics represent security and engineering officers.
It became a recurring plot point on Star Trek: The Original Series for those characters to show up unexpectedly and pass away at some point in the episode, usually defending the Enterprise from some kind of alien threat. Over the course of three seasons, this trend claimed 43 crew members.
The trope eventually became too predictable to be carried on into future renditions of the franchise. As an example, Captain Picard wore a red uniform in The Next Generation.
The red shirt plot device in Trek is apparently unrelated to the college sports convention.
18. PICARD V. SISKO
The Next Generation Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a fan favorite, while Deep Space Nine’s Captain Ben Sisko is remembered as passionate and easily angered. This meme accurately points out the difference in how the two Captains handled Trek’s classically omnipotent antagonist, Q.
The earlier series introduces Q as a radical plot device, pushing the Enterprise crew to their limits with his powers that defied logic and expectation. This made him an exciting villain for the audience as well.
Q gets such an earful from Sisko he doesn’t dare return, calling Captain Picard far more fun.
However in DS9, despite John de Lancie’s performance as a charming yet demanding demi-god, the character didn’t work with its more grounded themes and human conflicts.
17. DOUBLE FACEPALM
Even a quarter century later, the Picard and Riker characters were imagined so clearly that this meme detailing their frustration still summons memories of their personalities and working dynamic. Captain Picard and his second in command, Riker, were such a great team that fans can sympathize with the event that led them to this moment of frustration. Picard was always a more cerebral, patient diplomat, while Riker was the noble drill sergeant who wanted to be everyone’s friend at the same time.
Even as they served together, these guys were the top ship commanders in the Starfleet. Riker was even offered his own ship several times over the course of the series, but always passed up the opportunity to continue serving on the Federation flagship, Enterprise. The two stand today as an example of two alpha males able to do their jobs in their own, very different ways.
16. PROSPURR
While a lot of the original Star Trek series is only watchable for academic or nostalgic purposes now, Leonard Nimoy’s performance as Spock continues to stand out. Much ado has been made of William Shatner’s performance as Kirk and the ensuing legacy; Shatner does go on a journey with Kirk, learning to balance the swagger with measured confidence. Holding the show together all along, adding ballast to Kirk’s unflappable Captain, is Nimoy’s Science Officer.
Instead of appearing contrarian, Spock always seems cool, zen, and sophisticated.
In the episode “Assignment: Earth” Spock’s unexpected petting and holding of Gary Seven’s black cat charmed and surprised fans. When he described himself as “being strangely drawn to it,” it gave a whole new meaning to the famous Vulcan greeting.
15. SHERLOCK
Geordi La Forge and Data’s friendship on The Next Generation is one of the more endearing parts of the series. In the first season, fans are introduced to Data and his quest to explore humanity. Then around the second season, they pair La Forge and Data as friends, making a great human interest duo that shows recreation and a look at peer relationships in the space-based future.
Once the holodeck is developed, it’s only a matter of time until Data begins running his lesson on humanity through holographic realities. He inhabits the characters from literature he admires most, including Sherlock Holmes. Initially, Data struggles with the idea of the “fun” of a mystery, but his education doubles as a meditation on fiction and literature at large for the home viewer, and Star Trek continues using the sci-fi genre to explore narrative.
14. THREE BUTTONS
It’s amazing that for how inspirational Star Trek is purported to be and how much it supports science and technology, there’s not a lot of hard scientific grounding or accuracy in the show. While the producers definitely make an effort to get the science of the show mostly correct, the episodes aren’t really “about” science.
This meme proves how difficult it is to display true science via television.
These discursive lines of science-like dialogue, lovingly referred to as techno-babble, still have an effect on the tone of the show. By putting science front and center, not ignoring it or being afraid of it, the actual scientific facts become irrelevant. Especially because, since the series is based so far in the future, the science behind the warp drive doesn’t really exist yet anyway.
13. KIRK SR. = THOR
Before he was Thor (2011), Chris Hemsworth played James Kirk’s father in the opening minutes of 2009’s Star Trek reboot. Aside from the concept of Pine and Hemsworth potentially being related, this meme is also remarkable just because of the thread of celebrity that connects the two film franchises. No slight towards Mr. Hemsworth’s talents, but it’s surprising to see the same guy have such a pivotal role in two major franchises.
Hemsworth is nowhere near the first to crossover with the utopian sci-fi series. Other notable actors who guest starred in Star Trek include, but are not limited to: Kirsten Dunst, Ashley Judd, Seth McFarlane, Sarah Silverman, The Rock, Famke Janssen, Teri Hatcher, Kelsey Grammar, Jason Alexander, and Iggy Pop.
12. THE ORVILLE GENERATION
Seth McFarlane, (who once had a guest appearance in an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise) debuted his series The Orville last year as an homage to the progressive optimism of TNG, along with a healthy dose of his trademark humor.
Not only is the star ship Orville traveling on much the same journey as the Enterprise, they’re even going on some of the same missions.
On the fourth episode of the new series “If The Stars Should Appear”, the crew of the Orville travel to a planet whose inhabitants are unaware that they’re actually on a space station, orbiting into their destruction. A third season TOS episode, “For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky”, runs through a quite similar premise. Both episodes ask when, how, and even if it’s appropriate to intervene in alien species’ development.
11. DANGEROUS MISSION
As many away missions as there have been, it’s amazing the main cast hasn’t faced more peril. These are the issues one consumes themself with once they’ve really spent a lot of time pondering the Enterprise’s shift schedules.
In this meme alone, four departments are without their crew chief, leading one to wonder just who’s in charge of the security or engineering departments while the department heads are off ship, out on a mission. All of these questions and more are why the world is clamoring for a Star Trek: Support Staff series.
Federation starships are enormous, from what audiences are led to believe. This meme makes you wonder: what plot lines are going on below the command decks?
10. WARP VS. LIGHT
For the record, as Captain Janeway here confirms, warp drive is many factors faster than light speed. Fans need to recall anyone of their favorite Captains barking orders to their helmsman to put themselves in the right frame of mind to evaluate starship acceleration.
As a base for comparison, warp factor one is equivalent to light speed.
Enterprise-class Federation ships cruise between fractions of warp one, or “impulse” power and they top out somewhere between Warp 9-10, the point where the space-time continuum begins to get a little shaky. Janeway goes a little too far here, comparing the technology of the future to that from a galaxy far, far, away.
Don’t neglect her subtext emanating from this meme. Star Wars fans may have light sabers and cool Jedi, but Star Trek is on the side of science.
9. EARLY ALIENS
Before fans complain about too much lens flare on the most recent attempt at modern day Star Trek, remember that production complaints could have been far worse. It was a different time, admittedly, but that dog just jumps off the screen; it’s far too adorable to be an alien.
Thanks to Star Trek’s enduring pop culture presence and constant success, the full franchise is a good yardstick for special effects on television. Of course, there are huge glaring differences, like these cute little would-be aliens and “entities” with the characteristics of glorified disco balls.
Once the ’90s roll around, a close observation allows one to track the newest special effects and techniques as they make their way to network television. Trek’s never been about special effects, really, but it’s still nice to be able to leave the pet dogs behind in the 20th century.
8. CHARACTER SQUARE
This meme approximates a tool resembling a Myers-Briggs test applied to the Deep Space Nine characters. The funny part is that it holds up pretty well. These stories have always been revered for their writing, narrative competence, and willingness to experiment. This tool is something a writers room might rely on, measuring the characters on scales of lawful vs. chaotic tendencies, and then good vs. evil, giving a sense of modality and morality.
On one extreme, Odo and Sisko represent the different extremes of goodness in the Trek universe. On the other, Gul Dukat and the Female Founder balance out the spectrum on the evil side. Meanwhile, Quark is right in the middle, sitting out of the moral quandaries of the galaxy, just looking to earn a little profit.
7. LEADING WOMAN
Before Sonequa Martin-Green and Daisy Ridley, Star Trek pushed the boundaries of gender representation in sci-fi. For seven seasons, Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Kathryn Janeway, helmed the ship Voyager on her mission to make it home after getting hopelessly lost in space.
Star Trek had an even earlier agenda, trying to incorporate more women in sci-fi.
Most fans wouldn’t name Janeway their favorite Captain, but as the final ship leader of ’90s Star Trek, she represents a great combination of diplomacy and communication that make her the best in some ways. Her mission didn’t let her be known for leading the Federation’s diplomatic core, but leading a lost crew for seven years, she may a favorite Captain among Starfleet crewmembers. Morale was her primary task over her journey, and through the series she made an impression by connecting with her shipmates on a more personal level than either Picard or Sisko.
6. CSI: ENTERPRISE
While it seems like every episode dealt with some kind of mystery, this meme honors the medical bay of the starship. DS9’s Odo was the only formal lawman fans have seen in a major role. Usually, these kinds of human/scientific questions are taken up by the doctor of the ship. Everybody respects their doctor, but this show made a habit of elevating their physicians.
Drs. Crusher, Pulaski, Phlox, the EMH, and especially McCoy, have always been driving the human solutions of the scenarios encountered by the crew. In the original archetype, Dr. McCoy was labeled the pathos to Kirk’s ethos, and Spock’s logos, signifying his emotional response to each mission.
In later series, that passion isn’t toned down at all, just spread along an arc of logic and ethical thought as the Doctor’s problems often take up entire episodes.
5. KEEPING UP WITH THE CARDASSIANS
No one would have understood the reference at the time, but Keeping Up With The Cardassians would have been an appropriate title for the events of DS9.
The series begins with Captain Sisko taking custody of the space station recently vacated by the occupying Cardassians.
DS9 goes on to tell the story of the continued presence of that race in the sector, their continuously evolving relationship with host species the Bajorans, and the role they play in local power dynamics.
Gul Dukat is a recurring antagonist of the space station, shifting from former captain, to supreme Cardassian commander, to rebellion leader. Garak, the other Cardassian most commonly seen on the show, is even more interesting - operating a clothing boutique on Deep Space 9, and acting as a double agent on the side.
4. ELEVEN OF NINE
Fans of Stranger Things may have noticed that the enigmatic super powered girl Eleven has a few things in common with Seven of Nine, the Voyager fan favorite. Both of them have had traumatic childhoods. Both were swept up by forces too big for them to understand when they were really young. For Eleven, it was the government and the experimental upside-down. For Seven, it was the Borg.
Both are hesitant to attempt fitting in at first, but they eventually make slow progress.
Seven’s arc across the last four seasons of Voyager gives a great look into the long term trauma recovery process and the importance of human connection. When she comes on the show, rescued from her Borg captivity, it’s almost impossible to see how she becomes a valued member of the crew. By the end, she becomes another positive example of female representation in the show.
3. AWESOME KIRK
Captain James Tiberius Kirk, played by the inimitable William Shatner, holds such a curious place in Star Trek lore. His version of the Captain during that original series is now considered a pop culture cornerstone. Considering how power dynamics in American technology and software industries have changed, it’s interesting to think about exactly how much impact Captain Kirk has had on the current state of masculinity.
Presumably, a huge portion of the little kids watching the show admired Kirk’s character.
As this meme is quick to chime in, there’s a dark side to the bravado Kirk conducted himself with. Is it really a good idea for every man to measure themselves against a 1960s conception of a spaceship captain? Definitely not. But it’s also impossible to ignore the effect he had, even if his attitude toward women and his reluctance to opt for diplomacy before aggression tend to get swept under the rug.
2. OVERWHELMED?
Think you’ve got trouble? Try trifling with tribbles. So says this meme, referencing the original series episode and origin of this euphemism: “The Trouble With Tribbles”. In this iconic episode, the Enterprise is tasked with a simple protection assignment that goes awry, and the mission is endangered by what seems like the silliest of tribulations.
As Star Trek is always quick to remind its fans, everyone has a hoard of tribbles of their own, storming through their lives at all times. The trick is how one reacts to them. In this episode, the tribbles had no malicious intent, no demands or end goal; they’d simply made their way onto the Enterprise, and began reproducing at an uncontrollable rate.
Worrying about problems never solved anything, so when feeling overwhelmed, look through the fluff to see the solution
1. ORVILLE V. DISCOVERY
A more generous reading of this meme doesn’t have to take a side in the The Orville vs. Star Trek: Discovery argument. Seth McFarlane’s The Orville is a satire, relevant today, that cloaks itself in the storytelling advantages of TNG. Discovery is an advance of the entire canon, an attempt to evolve the series to ride the mainstream of audiences today.
Both series could stand to make improvements in their second season, as all Star Trek shows normally do. The Orville could beef up its sci-fi storytelling, and commit to a reliable subplot instead of dancing around crew members. Discovery needs to fill viewers with more hope for Burnham’s journey. Without the moral balance, that version of Trek leans too closely to sensational action and fan service. Now fans have two dice to roll instead of one, so the future still looks as optimistic, as even TNG ever portrayed it.
Which memes brought back the most Star Trek nostalgia for you? Let us know in the comments!
