Should I Let My Kids Watch "Star Trek?"

Being a parent in the age of peak television/peak streaming has its positives and negatives. On the one hand, we are no longer beholden to a broadcast schedule, with a limited number of choices being shown only at particular times, which makes homework and after school activities more tricky to navigate. We can choose from hundreds of shows, tailoring our viewing to our preferences, and watch them at exactly the times that work for us!

The problem, then, is that very thing - choosing what to watch, and figuring out our preferences. What should my kids watch? What levels of action, violence, sexuality, and adult themes are appropriate? Should they watch "Star Trek?" 

 

To explore strange new worlds... to seek out new life and vaporize it in a
bloody cloud when it crosses you.

Kid's Guide: TOS Episodes 1-5

Welcome to the first of many posts detailing recommendations for when and if Star Trek episodes are appropriate for kids. I have 5 year-old and 2 year-old sons, and I am very keen on introducing them to Star Trek. I also want to do it before other lesser forms of popular entertainment make inroads that are too deep. With that said, I don't think a sequential watch-through is called for at this point. For one thing, it's too much screen time. But for another, which episodes are appropriate? Which ones are entertaining enough to hold the attention of a youngster?

So I'm going to rate these episodes on a few axes and then spit-ball an age that I think is appropriate for each. The axes will be: Violence and Scariness, Sexual Content, Big Ideas, and Entertainment Value.

So, here goes!

TOS Season 1 Episode 1: The Man Trap

 HI KIDS!!! Want to watch some Star Trek?!?!

All the podcasts are now operating within established paramters

I am now able to happily report that all the TOS podcasts are working and the links have been corrected to the new server in the posts. So, why not wrap up this holiday weekend with a little TOS podcast? If somehow I missed one, just leave a comment or email us, and I'll fix it. Enjoy everyone!

Live Long and Prosper in 2012...

From Nichelle Nichols' twitter account, in case you haven't seen it:

Kelly's Star Trek Dress

Cross-posted on my other blog: Kelly Learns to Sew

With a week and a half to spare, the Star Trek TOS minidress is nearly complete. And I'm halfway happy with it. (I'm never very happy with my work; I think I've become my grandmother.)

Looks like a red burlap sack.

More photos available on Flickr.

Treknobabble's Official TOS Top Ten List

To arrive at our top ten, we polled four of Treknobabble's contributors, and asked each to come up with their own personal Top 15 list for the series. We gave each number 1 pick 15 points, each number 2 pick 14, etc. Then, we added the totals of each list together, and the top ten totals gave us the ten episodes that earned the most accolades from us.

Without further ado, here they are:

10. The Doomsday Machine (22 Points)

In Soviet Russia, super joint smoke YOU!

A great "fallen captain" and a lot of peril make this episode a consistent entertainer. Ship after ship meet their ends in the maw of the planet-eater, and Kirk's level head prevails over Commodore Decker's rashness.

Vote: What's your pick for the best TOS episode?

In preparation for our TOS Season 3 and series recap, we want to hear from you. Please let us know what episode you consider the best of TOS. Feel free to use whatever criteria you choose. We'd love to hear in the comments why you picked the episode you did. After our recap, we'll post our own Top 10 list. Stay tuned!

What's your pick for the best TOS episode?

If your pick isn't on the list, please let us know in the comments!