Pandora
Pandora
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Pandora is a youth-oriented science fiction series about a young woman attending a space academy while trying to uncover details about the death of her parents. There's some explosions, lasers being fired, and destroyed ships, but there isn't much blood or gore. There's some flirting, occasional kissing, and drinking alcohol. With only a few exceptions (uses of "ass"), the overall language is pretty clean.
Community Reviews
Not as tame as it appeared
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Definitely not for a 10 year old
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What's the Story?
PANDORA is a science fiction series centering on an orphaned student attending Earth's Space Training Academy. It's 2199, and after the violent loss of her parents, Jacqueline "Jax" Zhou (Priscilla Quintana) enrolls in the Academy with the help of her uncle, Professor Donovan Osborn (Noah Huntley). There she meets bubbly clone Atria Nine (Raechelle Banno), telepathic Thomas James Ross (Martin Bobb-Semple), med student Greg Li (John Harlan Kim), and a Zatarian named Ralen (Ben Radcliffe), whose father serves as their world's ambassador after years of being an enemy species during the long war. Rounding out the group is Jax's roommate, Delaney Pilar (Banita Sandhu), whose data processing power is much more advanced than most species. With their help, Jax hopes to find out more about what led to her parents' death, but with the help of Professor Osborn's teaching assistant, Xander Duvall (Oliver Dench) she soon discovers that her parents' extraordinary research has unboxed a phenomenon that is both mysterious and frightening.
Is It Any Good?
This young adult-oriented series combines a young, good-looking cast who come together to help protect the universe while simultaneously creating intergalactic drama. It features lots of predictable sci-fi tenants, ranging from interspecies relationships and advanced holographic technology to the discovery of phenomena that has the potential of redefining life as we know it. But Pandora's special effects are lackluster at best, and the action sequences are more routine than exciting. Diehard fans of the genre will find it a poor substitute for iconic franchises like Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica. But younger viewers may find the interpersonal drama entertaining enough to tune into.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Pandora is. A person? A project? Or a metaphor for something bigger? How do we know?
Did you know that science fiction stories are rooted in Westerns? What do these two genres have in common?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 16, 2019
- Cast: Priscilla Quintana, Oliver Dench, Ben Radcliffe
- Network: CW
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Space and Aliens
- Character Strengths: Courage, Curiosity, Perseverance, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: September 4, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Star Trek: The Original Series
A cultural icon that's lived long and prospered.
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Battlestar Galactica
Exciting space drama has complex adult themes.
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The Mandalorian
Sci-fi violence, real magic in small-screen Star Wars show.
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Snowpiercer
Decent sci-fi action series explores class, has violence.
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