Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Darker, more violent Trek still has positive messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Star Trek: Discovery
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 30 parent reviews
Based on 20 kid reviews
Kids say this series offers a modern twist on the classic franchise, featuring strong female leads and diverse representation, but it's significantly darker and more violent than previous iterations, often with graphic scenes and mature language. While praised for its engaging narrative and character development, many viewers recommend it for older teens due to its intense themes, including violence, sexual content, and the complexity of its plotlines.
- mature themes
- graphic content
- strong female characters
- diverse representation
- dark tone
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, a routine mission takes a fateful turn when the Starship Shenzhou encounters a mysterious presence near a damaged Federation probe. Determined to learn more, Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) persuades Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) to let her check it out. In so doing, she engages a member of the Klingon race not seen or heard from in more than a century, and inadvertently gives away Starfleet's proximity. This launches the crew into an epic battle with their longtime enemy and its formidable leader, T'Kuvma (Chris Obi).
Is It Any Good?
Set 10 years before the story told in the original TV series, this sci-fi adventure gets a boost from two modern factors: absorbing special effects (including Klingon makeup) and cast diversity. The story doesn't break much ground -- save for a few surprises here and there -- but it does an excellent job linking itself through Michael to the tale of the Enterprise and its crew that's no doubt indelible memory for Trekkie fans.
Its arrival as a prequel to the classic series that boldly went where no man had gone before is fortuitous for non-Trekkies whose introduction to the events of the mid-20th century is Star Trek: Discovery. Rather than feeling like you have to backtrack to understand who's who and what's what, with a few basic facts (Sarek is Spock's dad as well as Michael's mentor, for instance), you're able to see connections between the two stories start to emerge.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of right and wrong in a story like Star Trek: Discovery. Is it always easy to identify the good guys and the bad guys, or is that distinction subjective? Does this story allow the Klingons to be sympathetic characters? If so, does that change your impression of the Federation's actions?
What qualities make Michael a role model? Do her actions ever contradict that distinction? How does it feel when someone you look up to disappoints you by what he or she says or does?
If you have seen other Star Trek shows or movies, compare them to this one. Besides the modern advances in visual effects, does this story eclipse the others in another way? Does it do enough to make connections between itself and the original series, or does it work better as its own show?
How do characters in this series show courage? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 24, 2017
- Cast : Jason Isaacs , Sonequa Martin-Green , Doug Jones
- Network : CBS
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : June 29, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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