《星际旅行》的试播章节「The cage」最初提供给了哥伦比亚广播公司（CBS），但被他们回绝了，改而选择较为主流的艾文·亚伦制作的《太空迷航》。接着它又被送到全国广播公司（NBC），一开始NBC也是回绝，认为它太花脑筋而且缺乏动作场景。但后来剧中的一些概念对NBC的高层们留下了深刻的印象，并让他们做出了极不寻常的决定——希望能够继续拍摄下去并形成一个系列：这就是后来所知的《星际旅行：原初系列》。不过原来的试播版本「The cage」并未获得播出。受到当时保守风气的影响，试看的观眾对於一个女性能够担任大副的职位感到无法接受，日后正式拍摄时多数主要角色也被更换。后来「The cage」的部分画面被剪接到正式影集「The Menagerie」之中，成为原主角派克舰长回忆的一部分。

Set in the 24th century and decades after the adventures of the original crew of the starship Enterprise, this new series is the long-awaited successor to the original "Star Trek" (1966). Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the all new Enterprise NCC 1701-D travels out to distant planets to seek out new life and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

In the seventh and final season, Riker goes undercover and rediscovers Picard posing as a mercenary on an alien ship. Together they initiate a plan to find a lethal artifact. The crew struggles to deal with Data's new found human elements which cause several traumatic episodes for the crew. As Picard is imprisoned by an alien race, he comes to terms with past emotions. Riker is once again conflicted between his loyalty to Picard and his obligation to Starfleet and the Federation. As the lives of the crew members are endangered, Picard is taken on a journey to the past, present, and future to see the results of his actions.