Star Trek: The Next Generation – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1987

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Picard's crew explores space and ethics in this cerebral '80s classic—if your kid can handle the slow burn and retro vibes.

92%

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Star Trek: The Next Generation

show

TV-PG, 1987

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Picard's crew explores space and ethics in this cerebral '80s classic—if your kid can handle the slow burn and retro vibes.

92%

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Screenwise Verdict

TNG is a sci-fi treasure—thoughtful, optimistic, and packed with big ideas about ethics, exploration, and what it means to be human. Picard is the dad we all wish we had, and the show models cooperation, curiosity, and moral reasoning better than almost anything else.

But let's be real: this is 1987 television. The sets look like a dentist's office, the pacing is glacial, and modern kids raised on Marvel and TikTok may find it borderline unwatchable. If your kid is already a sci-fi nerd or can handle slow-burn storytelling, TNG is gold. If they need explosions every five minutes, skip it.

The WISE score reflects this tension: thematically excellent, but realistically tough for most kids today to engage with. It's enriching if they can get past the retro vibes.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10–14 who can handle deliberate pacing and complex themes, though teens and adults who love thoughtful sci-fi will appreciate it too. Younger kids will likely bounce off the slow burn and talky episodes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

TNG models diplomacy, ethical problem-solving, and cooperation across diverse crews. Captain Picard embodies thoughtful leadership and moral reasoning. Episodes emphasize dialogue over violence, though some storylines involve complex adult themes (war, loss, ethical dilemmas) that require emotional maturity. Pacing is deliberate—this is 1980s television, not Marvel—which some kids may find slow.

Imaginative

Classic sci-fi worldbuilding with alien civilizations, moral thought experiments, time paradoxes, and exploration of 'what if' scenarios. The show invites curiosity about science, philosophy, and the unknown. Iconic for inspiring generations of engineers and scientists. However, it's largely observational—kids watch rather than create—so it doesn't offer interactive imaginative play.

Safe

Generally safe with a TV-PG sensibility, though some episodes contain phaser battles, alien violence, and occasional body horror (Borg assimilation). No graphic gore or sexual content, but romantic subplots and mature themes (genocide, PTSD, death) appear. Common Sense Media rates it 10+, which feels right. Not a 'surprise scary clown' situation, but parents should know some episodes are emotionally heavy or philosophically dark.

Enriching

TNG is a masterclass in ethical reasoning, cultural empathy, and scientific curiosity. Episodes tackle complex moral dilemmas (the Prime Directive, AI rights, justice vs. mercy) that spark real conversation. High IMDb (8.7) and Rotten Tomatoes (92% critic, 90% audience) scores reflect its enduring quality. That said, entertainment value for modern kids is a question mark—it's talky, slow, and very '80s in production design.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Models thoughtful leadership, diplomacy, and ethical reasoning through Captain Picard and crew
Introduces big ideas: AI rights, cultural relativism, time travel, the nature of consciousness
Diverse cast working cooperatively; conflicts resolved through dialogue and problem-solving
Inspired generations of scientists and engineers with optimistic vision of humanity's future
High-quality storytelling that holds up thematically even if the sets look like cardboard

⚠

What to Watch For

Pacing is glacial by 2025 standards—lots of talking, technobabble, and conference room scenes
Some episodes feature phaser battles, Borg body horror, and emotionally heavy themes (war, death, trauma)
Production design screams 1987: beige jumpsuits, clunky computers, questionable special effects
Best for kids who already love sci-fi or can handle slow, dialogue-heavy storytelling

Conversation Starters

"Picard decided not to interfere with that civilization even though people were suffering. Do you think that was the right call?"
"If you could meet any alien species from the show, which one would you choose and why?"
"Data is an android trying to become more human. What do you think makes someone 'human'?"
"The crew uses the holodeck to relax. If you had one, what would you create?"

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