Parents' Guide to

Hyperdrive

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Teens will scoff at corny British sci-fi comedy.

TV BBC America Comedy 2007
Hyperdrive Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Paulrich4
Paulrich4 Adult
August 24, 2021
age 16+

A satirical British Star Trek

This is a brilliant series that pokes fun at space travel and how “pre” Star Trek would look when each nation has its own space fleet. Typically English and humour that goes over the heads for our friends across the pond. The only downside to this series is that they only made two of them. Nick Frost heads a brilliant cast of British comics doing what they do best….. exploring space!!! Sorry making people laugh.

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What's the Story?

HYPERDRIVE is set in the year 2151, when Space Force -- the British conglomerate on all things galactic -- has deployed ambassadorial teams to the far reaches of the Milky Way to establish and maintain friendly relations with alien life forms. The crew of the Camden Lock has been charged with acting as diplomats and protecting British interests throughout the galaxy, and is led by Commander Henderson (Nick Frost), whose idealism is often tried by a menagerie of extraterrestrials, as well as his own mish-mash crew. They also conduct various transactions in the name of their homeland, traveling to other planets to create an intergalactic business presence in England and peddle British wares to their alien acquaintances. Reporting to Henderson are first officer York (Kevin Eldon), a certifiable psychopath who specializes in combat; perky diplomatic officer Teal (Miranda Hart), who sees stars whenever her boss is around; techie guru Jeffers (Dan Antopolski); and anxiety-ridden navigator Vine (Stephen Evans). The Camden Lock is piloted by a Sandstrom (Petra Massey), an experimental prototype whose imperfections are kept a secret to help maintain the aura of British scientific supremacy throughout the galaxy.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Chock full of cornball comedy, Hyperdrive may garner a few chuckles from viewers who can appreciate the multiple spoofs on sci-fi clichés (like oddball aliens and gadgets so technologically advanced that they outsmart human users, for example), but teens will probably roll their eyes at the goofiness and tune out. If tweens show an interest, be sure to give it a once-over first, since there are lots of sexual references that may be too much for them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this show might be different if it was produced in America. How is British and American humor different? What -- besides accents -- marks a show as being distinctly British? Families can also discuss our fascination with space. Do you think it's important for us to keep exploring space? Why? Are you interested in space travel? Where would you go if you could? Do you believe that alien life forms exist? How would the discovery of one change how we view our world and the galaxy?

TV Details

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