Parents need to know that this entry in the Star Trek franchise doesn't have the same impact as the original. The first series was groundbreaking, famous for its willingness to address important social issues at a time when the United States was in the midst of a major cultural transformation. This iteration, however, is more focused on pure entertainment than social commentary. It's plenty of fun, the special effects are a vast improvement over the original, and many episodes do try to make a larger point, but in general the goal is simply storytelling. And that's just fine.

Families can talk about consequences. The crew of the Enterprise is on an extended mission to explore the galaxy, and they often encounter far-less-advanced alien cultures. Their Prime Directive is to never interfere in the natural pace of another race's development, because it's almost certain to permanently alter their evolutionary path, and not always for the better. Do you agree with this approach? Does it have any parallels in real life? Are there times when doing what seems like the humane thing can have negative consequences? Families who've seen other Star Trek shows and movies can also discuss how they're different from and similar to each other. Which one is your favorite?