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.

Voyager, Season 7: Endgame

Voyager, Season 7
"Endgame"
Airdate: May 23, 2001
168 of 168 produced
168 of 168 aired

Introduction

Captain Janeway is presented with another dilemma similar to the one that stranded Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. This time she has another voice added to the debate - her own, from 23 years in the future.

"You're going to have to tell me what face cream I start using between now and then."

Voyager, Season 7: Renaissance Man

Voyager, Season 7
"Renaissance Man"
Airdate: May 16, 2001
167 of 168 produced
167 of 168 aired

Introduction

When the Doctor and Captain Janeway are accosted in a nebula, the Doctor must improvise a way out of their conundrum without endangering the rest of the crew.

All right, who farted?

Voyager, Season 7: Homestead

 Voyager, Season 7
"Homestead"
Airdate: May 9, 2001
166 of 168 produced
166 of 168 aired

Introduction

Neelix faces a difficult decision when Voyager comes across a wayward colony of Talaxians who are in dire straits.

Happy hedgehogs.

 

Voyager, Season 7: Natural Law

 Voyager, Season 7
"Natural Law"
Airdate: May 2, 2001
165 of 168 produced
165 of 168 aired

Introduction

Chakotay and Seven take a detour on the way to an alien conference, but run aground after impacting a strange energy shield. They find themselves in a native culture reservation with no clear way out.

Gimme Five!

Voyager, Season 7: Friendship One

 Voyager, Season 7
"Friendship One"
Airdate: April 25, 2001
163 of 168 produced
164 of 168 aired

Introduction

A probe sent out by pre-Federation Earthlings turns out to have caused devastation on a Delta Quadrant world. The crew of Voyager must decide how much they're willing to sacrifice in order to clean up that mess.

Ats-a nice-a ship-a design. Mwah!

 

Voyager, Season 7: Author, Author

Voyager, Season 7
"Author, Author"
Airdate: April 18, 2001
164 of 168 produced
163 of 168 aired

Introduction

The Doctor writes a holonovel loosely based on his shipmates, but discovers that his rights as an author may not be what they're cracked  up to be.

I wonder if Braga taught him this move...

 

Voyager, Season 7: Q2

 Voyager, Season 2
"Q2"
Airdate: April 11, 2001
162 of 168 produced
162 of 168 aired

Introduction

Captain Janeway receives an unexpected responsibility when Q visits her to drop of his son for an impromptu education.

 

Q, pondering the nature of bipedal species.

Voyager, Season 7: Human Error

Voyager, Season 7
"Human Error"
Airdate: March 7, 2001
161 of 168 produced
161 of 168 aired

Introduction

Seven of Nine explores her romantic side on the holodeck, but runs into complications.

Look out, Seven, he's about to Aziz Ansari you!

 

Voyager, Season 7: Workforce, Part II

 Voyager, Season 7
"Workforce, Part II"
Airdate: February 28, 2001
160 of 168 produced
160 of 168 aired

Introduction

Chakotay and Neelix beam down to the planet in an attempt to liberate Captain Janeway. But does she wish to be liberated?

Nothing beats Janeway Cooking Jokes. Nothing.

Voyager, Season 7: Workforce, Part I

 Voyager, Season 7
"Workforce, Part I"
Airdate: February 21, 2001
159 of 168 produced
159 of 168 aired

Introduction

Chakotay, Harry and Neelix find Voyager drifting within a nebula, derelict. They discover that the rest of the crew has left the ship and have apparently taken new jobs on an industrialized planet.

With such obviously comfortable clothing fashions, why would anyone leave?

Voyager, Season 7: The Void

 Voyager, Season 7
"The Void"
Airdate: February 14, 2001
158 of 168 produced
158 of 168 aired

Introduction

Voyager becomes trapped in a large space anomaly that contains no resources and no exit. The crew must decide whether to become pirates like many of the anomaly's current occupants, or to stick to their Federation ideals.

Ah, the good old days, when Star Trek characters were not cannibals, disembowelers, or cold-blooded murderers.

Voyager, Season 7: Prophecy

Voyager, Season 7
"Prophecy"
Airdate: February 7, 2001
157 of 168 produced
157 of 168 aired

Introduction

Voyager comes across a Klingon warship in the Delta Quadrant. It has been wandering the galaxy for nearly a century, looking for their Messiah. The one they've found? B'Elanna and Tom's unborn daughter.

 

Today is a good day for cosplay

Voyager, Season 7: Repentance

 Voyager, Season 7
"Repentance"
Airdate: January 31, 2001
156 of 168 produced
156 of 168 aired

Introduction

Voyager rescues the crew of a disabled ship and finds it was a prison ship full of condemned prisoners on their way to execution, forcing the crew the reconcile their personal beliefs about capital punishment with their obligation to not interfere.

 Leola Root Stew claims yet another victim...

 

Voyager, Season 7: Lineage

Voyager, Season 7

"Lineage"

Airdate: 24 January 2001

155 of 168 produced

155 of 168 aired

Introduction

Tom and B'Elanna learn that they are expecting a child, but B'Elanna has mixed emotions owing to her own difficult biracial childhood.

This "selfie" trend has gone way too far and needs to be STOPPED.

Voyager, Season 7: Shattered

Voyager, Season 7

"Shattered"

Airdate: 17 January 2001

154 of 168 produced

154 of 168 aired

Introduction

When Voyager runs afoul of an Anomaly Of The Week, it is split between different time periods along its trek home to the alpha quadrant.

"You built me a bath tub, you say? Put 'er there, Platonic Life Partner."

Voyager, Season 7: Flesh and Blood

Voyager, Season 7

"Flesh and Blood"

Airdate: November 29, 2000

151 of 168 produced

153 of 168 aired

Introduction

Voyager comes across the results of its decision to share holographic technology with the Hirogen.

Simon Tarses is pissed and he wants revenge...

Voyager, Season 7: Nightingale

Voyager, Season 7

"Nightingale"

Airdate: November 22, 2000

153 of 168 produced

152 of 168 aired

Introduction

Harry finds himself in a difficult spot after he agrees to help an alien race, but learns that they engaged him under false pretenses.

I question Harry's commitment to this assignment, if he is not bringing his primary instrument, the clarinet.

Voyager, Season 7: Body and Soul

Voyager, Season 7

"Body and Soul"

Airdate: November 15, 2000

152 of 168 produced

151 of 168 aired

Introduction

While out on an away mission, Seven, the Doctor, and Harry are abducted by a race that is fighting a war against holographic beings.

Please don't tell us what you would do with a day in Seven of Nine's body.

Voyager, Season 7: Inside Man

Voyager, Season 7

"Inside Man"

Airdate: November 8, 2000

150 of 168 produced

150 of 168 aired

Introduction

When Voyager receives an unexpected holographic visitor from the Alpha Quadrant, they are presented with a novel but dangerous way of getting back home.

I chose blue zinc-oxide so that I would remain inconspicuous. Did it work?