Star Trek: Lower Decks – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2020

75%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Star Trek show for people who always wondered what the janitors on the Enterprise were up to—hilarious, smart, and surprisingly heartfelt.

93%

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Star Trek: Lower Decks

show

TV-14, 2020

75%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Star Trek show for people who always wondered what the janitors on the Enterprise were up to—hilarious, smart, and surprisingly heartfelt.

93%

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Screenwise Verdict

Lower Decks is the rare Star Trek show that's actually, consistently funny while still maintaining the optimistic, exploratory spirit of the franchise. It's smart without being pretentious, irreverent without being mean-spirited, and manages to develop characters you genuinely care about between the jokes about alien biology and transporter malfunctions.

The 14+ rating is accurate—this is not a family show in the traditional sense. The humor is crude, there's innuendo, and the pacing assumes you can keep up with rapid-fire jokes and Trek references. But for teens and adults? It's genuinely great television that respects its audience's intelligence.

The high critical scores (93% RT) aren't inflated—this show earns them by being consistently entertaining while sneaking in themes about work, friendship, and finding purpose. If your teen is into sci-fi, comedy, or just wants something that doesn't talk down to them, this is a solid pick. Just don't expect Bluey in space.

Age Fit

Best for teens 14+ and adults who enjoy animated comedies with heart. Younger Trek fans might want to watch, but the humor is genuinely aimed at older audiences—this isn't kids' Star Trek, it's Rick and Morty meets The Office in space.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Animated Star Trek comedy that focuses on lower-ranking crew members working together. The ensemble cast models teamwork and friendship, though the humor skews more adult with sarcasm and some crude jokes. The tone is generally positive but more irreverent than traditional Trek, with characters showing growth through cooperation. Pacing is energetic without being chaotic.

Imaginative

Expands the Star Trek universe with creative world-building, exploring the 'grunt work' side of Starfleet that's rarely shown. The animated format allows for wild alien designs, bizarre sci-fi scenarios, and visual gags impossible in live-action. Invites curiosity about space exploration, different cultures, and problem-solving. Deep-cuts to Trek lore reward knowledge while building new stories.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 14+, suggesting some mature content. As an adult-oriented animated comedy, it includes crude humor, occasional profanity (bleeped or mild), some sexual innuendo, and sci-fi violence (usually played for laughs but still present). No graphic content, but the humor style means younger kids might encounter jokes above their maturity level. Generally predictable in its content—no shocking twists—but not designed for young children.

Enriching

Strong on themes of competence, work ethic, and finding meaning in 'unglamorous' jobs. Characters demonstrate problem-solving, respect for different species/cultures, and the value of friendship. Explores ethical dilemmas typical of Trek (diplomacy, scientific curiosity, moral choices) while being genuinely entertaining. The comedy format makes these themes accessible without being preachy. High entertainment value with 93% RT critic score.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Actually funny—93% on Rotten Tomatoes means the comedy lands, unlike many animated Trek attempts
Celebrates the 'little guy' and shows that you don't need to be the captain to make a difference
Deep Star Trek lore for fans, but accessible enough for newcomers who just want a fun sci-fi comedy
Characters grow and develop real friendships while dealing with absurd space problems
Smart social commentary wrapped in dick jokes and alien shenanigans—classic Trek DNA with modern sensibility

⚠

What to Watch For

Rated 14+ for good reason—crude humor, sexual innuendo, and language that's mild but present
The first few episodes are finding their footing; it gets better as characters develop
Younger kids won't get the jokes and might be bored or confused by the rapid-fire Trek references
Some sci-fi violence and peril, though usually played for laughs rather than genuine scares

Conversation Starters

"The main characters aren't the 'heroes' of the ship—do you think the behind-the-scenes work matters as much as the big decisions?"
"What would it be like to work on a spaceship where something weird happens literally every day?"
"The show makes fun of Star Trek while also clearly loving it—what other things do you love but also find funny?"
"If you could have any job on a starship, what would you want to do? (And no, you can't all be captain.)"

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