Is Star Trek "For Kids"?

[Lysian]

Star Trek in all its lots of forms is often called the first "adult" sci fi show.
I disagree with this, and I hate when other sci fi is called "kids stuff" and the like.
But I am pretty young and I really do enjoy Star Trek, I think its supposed to be for everyone but now we have the new Star Trek movie that is R rated coming and even Discovery is pretty scary sometimes, of course Star Trek shouldn't dumb itself down but that doesn't mean that it cant be enjoyed by everyone I don't think unless Star Trek fans are selective about this?
I know I consider myself a Star Trek fan and yet I don't like when its called a kids show. I'm curious if anyone else has thoughts on this, otherwise I just needed to get it out there.

 

[Jetboogieman]

I can't really comment on Discovery as I haven't seen it yet.

But as for the rest of Trek, the lessons, the stories are in many cases timeless, the moral dilemmas are certainly something that can be enjoyed and learned from by any age group and many more that are just lighthearted and entertaining.

But there is the occasional episode that it would be up to that individual or those individuals parents to say how they feel about a certain episode because there are a few that are pretty freaky that may scare the socks of a much younger person, I mean take Scientific Method from Voyager or Schisms from TNG as an example but those are few and far between.

I started watching Star Trek when I was about 11 and throughout my life it's had a big impact on me I'd say was overwhelmingly positive.

 

[BillJ]

It was never intended as a kids show, at least where the original is concerned. I started watching when I was four.

 

[Albertese]

I've been watching Star Trek since I was an infant. Probably seen most, if not all, the episodes on TV in the 80s and 90s. And since we were at the mercy of local television program directors, we saw the episodes that were presented.

But now I've been showing my eight year old son Star Trek. And since I have it on DVD or Netflix, I can manage to curate the episodes he sees. I started with episodes that I thought he would enjoy as a kid (not just any kid, he is my boy so I know his tastes and can cater to them). And he declared himself to be a Star Trek fan, much to my surprise and satisfaction. I've still been selecting episodes for him, though, rather than going in random airing order. I am focusing on showing him good episodes and avoiding ones that I think are a bit suckier or might be unsettling ("The Lights of Zetar" freaked the hell outta me as a kid!)

That said, I don't think are any that I'd rule against based on their content being too adult. Same goes for the TNG era shows. Although, I wouldn't really want him watching Discovery. That show is too dark for kids in my personal judgement. Not to mention just not being very good. I admit that I'm trying to train my son to have good taste in science fiction and fantasy.

--Alex

 

[The Wormhole]

I've been watching since I was eight. While it may not technically be a kids show, there's no reason kids can't watch it.

 

[DimesDan]

I have always gotten the impression, that Star Trek is aimed at "all the family" and not just specific age groups.

 

[MacLeod]

Star Trek in all its lots of forms is often called the first "adult" sci fi show.
I disagree with this, and I hate when other sci fi is called "kids stuff" and the like.
But I am pretty young and I really do enjoy Star Trek, I think its supposed to be for everyone but now we have the new Star Trek movie that is R rated coming and even Discovery is pretty scary sometimes, of course Star Trek shouldn't dumb itself down but that doesn't mean that it cant be enjoyed by everyone I don't think unless Star Trek fans are selective about this?
I know I consider myself a Star Trek fan and yet I don't like when its called a kids show. I'm curious if anyone else has thoughts on this, otherwise I just needed to get it out there.

What other Sci-Fi shows where airing around the time TOS started to air?

Lost In Space, sure you had anthology shows like The Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone.

There is very little in DSC that would warrant anything higher than a 15 rating and most of it likely a 12. I suspect should this rumoured new ST movie ever see the light of day it'll also likely get at most a 15 certificate.

Certain genres of TV (mostly Sci-Fi/Fantasy) show have a stigma attached to them, yet most of TV is escapism to varying degrees. If you enjoy it at the end of the day that is all that matters regardless of what other people think about the shows you watch.

 

[2takesfrakes]

TAS is a pretty good indication that kids were expected to be an integral part of the audience, as STAR TREK has always been, at the very least, a "family" show. Toys aimed at kids have had this franchise's brand all over them, since the inception. Kids are definitely drawn to the adventure and the imagination of STAR TREK .. kids of all ages.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Star Trek's always been considered a family show, with the exception of Discovery.

 

[Lord Garth]

I became a Star Trek fan when I was 11. Which is an awkward point. From 11 to 13, I was moving away from things I was interested in during my childhood and Star Trek was one of the first things I was into that I thought wasn't geared towards children.

I'd probably say Star Trek's bread and butter, until Discovery, was teens and young adults. Though I think TNG wanted "all ages". DSC wants to aim for an adult audience but showing it to anyone who's at least a teenager should be okay. I wouldn't exactly show it to a six-year-old.

 

[Jayson1]

I think it's seen more as a young adults and family based show. Well I guess it's also seen as a nerd based show as well.

Jason

 

[Greg Cox]

I watched TOS as a kid, along with the original Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. They were scary at times, but that was part of the appeal. Scary stuff is fun for some kids.

Can't speak to the later shows since I was well int adulthood by the time they came along.

 

[Forbin]

There were plenty of adult themes explored in TOS, and adult situations. Evil Kirk attempting to rape Janice in Turnabout Intruder certainly wasn't for the kiddies. But I'm fairly sure the show was aimed at 13-and-up. I bet the beautiful women in skimpy costumes weren't there to appeal to the middle-aged female audience.

 

[JesterFace]

Star Trek is for everyone!

But, there are topics that kids just won't get.
I haven't watched the Animated Series (yet?) so I don't know how deep the material is in there, but animated usually says: for the kids.
In general, I don't think Star Trek is a show for the kids.

 

[BillJ]

Star Trek's always been considered a family show, with the exception of Discovery.

I disagree. Family shows don't have multiple depictions of attempted rape.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Star Trek's always been considered a family show, with the exception of Discovery.

Most of TOS third season was broadcast on Friday at 10PM, when the children wouldn't be expected to be out of bed. So, that's a definite "no."

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I disagree. Family shows don't have multiple depictions of attempted rape.

Shows that aren't trying to be accessible to kids don't put such a large number of kids in the show. Also, while they touched on major social issues they always digested it down to something simple, and never had any kind of graphic depictions of violence. The times there was sexual content, they talked about it in a manner that adults would easily understand but would go over kids' heads.

Arguing that they put a low rated show in the garbage slot is not an argument they didn't design the show for either kids or adults to enjoy it.

"Family show" is not the same as "Kids show". They very clearly intended the show to be enjoyable for both kids and adults. I will concede, TNG season 6 diverged from this more, as did later in DS9. But Voyager seemed to lean more and more into it as the show went on, adding more and more kids to the show.

Let me ask you, what age were you when you first got really into Trek? I was 10. What percentage of Trek fans do you think would answer that question with a number over 18?

 

[BillJ]

Let me ask you, what age were you when you first got really into Trek?

I was four, as I noted earlier. It doesn't mean the show was directed at four year old kids. Even Roddenberry in the TOS writers guide calls it adult science fiction.

 

[Greg Cox]

Most of TOS third season was broadcast on Friday at 10PM, when the children wouldn't be expected to be out of bed. So, that's a definite "no."

My dad let me stay up past my bedtime to watch it with him . . .

 

[CorporalCaptain]

My dad let me stay up past my bedtime to watch it with him . . .

That's great. When I was in early grade school, my parents woke me up at 12:35AM to watch TOS in syndication on the weekend.

But I hope you see that it does essentially prove my point, which, narrowly, was to refute the contention that ST was "always" considered family programming.

To clarify my position, there are facets of ST that aren't necessarily suitable for all viewers, but that doesn't mean that it's irresponsible for parents to let their kids watch every bit of it, especially when the channels of discussion are open as needed. Kids can get scared and bothered by the most random things, even in a program intended for "family viewing," but it's part of life to cope with it. For example, The Wizard of Oz is generally considered suitable for the whole family to watch together as a yearly staple, but I've talked both to people who as kids were bothered by the talking tree that got angry about having an apple picked off of it, which is more or less understandable as the tree is mean and kinda scary, but also to one person who as a kid was emotionally upset by the reveal that the wizard wasn't really a wizard, which is the sort of thing that might blindside a parent trying to filter out only the "scary parts."

 

[The Old Mixer]

10 p.m. was where they buried it in Season 3, but in Seasons 1 and 2 it was on at 8:30 following Daniel Boone and Tarzan, respectively, so there's a stronger argument that it was meant to be a family show.