Kid's Guide: TOS Episodes 1-5

Welcome to the first of many posts detailing recommendations for when and if Star Trek episodes are appropriate for kids. I have 5 year-old and 2 year-old sons, and I am very keen on introducing them to Star Trek. I also want to do it before other lesser forms of popular entertainment make inroads that are too deep. With that said, I don't think a sequential watch-through is called for at this point. For one thing, it's too much screen time. But for another, which episodes are appropriate? Which ones are entertaining enough to hold the attention of a youngster?

So I'm going to rate these episodes on a few axes and then spit-ball an age that I think is appropriate for each. The axes will be: Violence and Scariness, Sexual Content, Big Ideas, and Entertainment Value.

So, here goes!

TOS Season 1 Episode 1: The Man Trap

 HI KIDS!!! Want to watch some Star Trek?!?!

Violence and Scariness
This episode doesn't have much in the way of violence between characters (with the exception of Spock's frankly silly attempted beat-down of Nancy Crater), but it does have a salt-sucking monster that kills a number of crew members, and threatens both Kirk and McCoy. So kids who are afraid of monsters, especially ones that can cloak themselves as regular people, might be pretty frightened.

Sexual Content

The redshirt at the beginning reminisces about an encounter he had with a prostitute at Wrigley's Pleasure Planet. McCoy speaks wistfully of a lost love affair with Nancy.

Big Ideas

The notion of allowing sentient creatures to do what comes naturally to them without judgment is broached, but then is basically dismissed when humans are under threat. The ability of a lonely human to tolerate and even love such a monster is given a bit of play in dialogue.

Entertainment Value

I do think this episode, if it didn't scare a kid, would entertain them, since it involves a hidden threat that the audience knows while the characters do not.

Conclusion

I think age 7 is probably where I'd start with this one. A lot of the drama hinges on relationships that younger kids might not get, with a smattering of mild sexual references. Also, the monster aspect might freak out the little ones, so care should be taken to show this to kids with a solid sense of boundary between fantasy and reality.

TOS Season 1 Episode 2: Charlie X

Didn't your parents ever tell you your face might stick that way?

Violence and Scariness

There is not a lot of outright fighting, but there is some scary "Twilight Zone" type stuff, in which Charlie X makes people disappear, turns them old, makes their faces go blank, or turns them into lizards. I would say the blank face is the freakiest.

Sexual Content

Charlie is a teen-aged boy who wants to nail Yeoman Rand. The other characters speak knowingly (but not explicitly) about the hormonal state he's in. Charlie swats Rand on the rear-end, but he is chastised for it.

Big Ideas

Being isolated for years and its attending psychological consequences. Next stages in human evolution, with super powers and such.

Entertainment Value

This is an entertaining show with a strong adolescent/grown-up dynamic, which would probably be interesting to a kid.

Conclusion

The mild sexual content here, along with the bizarre freaky punishments, probably puts this at a 7 or 8 age range for kids. On the other hand, I have noticed that episodes with children, while they may annoy adults, tend to entertain kids more.

TOS Season 1 Episode 3: Where No Man Has Gone Before

A teachable moment about the dangers of cosmetic contact lenses in the making...

Violence and ScarinessThis one is rather violent. A man gets strangles by a psychokinetic cable. Kirk and Mitchell have a knock-down, drag out fight that bloodies Kirk and ends in a grave with tombstone.

Sexual Content
Gary Mitchell is a bit of a rake, but there is nothing terribly overt here.

Big Ideas

Absolute power corrupting absolutely, the nature of godhood. ESP ability. I think kids might be fascinated with the question of what they might do if suddenly granted vast power.

Entertainment Value

The entertainment value is quite high here, with a lot of big ideas and derring do. With that said, it might be more interesting to grown-ups than kids.

Conclusion

I'd go with 8 years old on this one. It's a great episode, but it's got big themes and some pretty aggressive action. Really, though, I think this might just bore a kid without a bit more seasoning.

TOS Season 1 Episode 4: The Naked Time 

Anyone up for some oiled-up sword-fighting?

Violence and Scariness

A man commits suicide with a butter knife after a struggle with his crew mates, but it results in decidedly purple, unrealistic blood. Nonetheless, he does die. A shirtless Sulu chases his fellow crewmen down the hallway with a fencing foil. Kirk and Spock have a slap fight and shouting match.

Sexual Content

Nurse Chapel professes her love for Spock in a relatively sexless scene. A crewman sexually harasses Yeoman Rand by blocking her path and serenading her despite her clear objections.

Big Ideas

Biohazard contamination and the difficulty in containing an outbreak. Acting under the influence of a psychotropic compound and trying to overcome them through willpower. Probably some nice teachable moments with regard to substance abuse or drunkenness.

Entertainment Value

Grownups acting silly is always good for a laugh. The transmission method of the virus makes for good drama that kids might find exciting.

Conclusion

Only the suicide scene pushes this particularly far as age appropriateness goes, and I'd peg it around 6 years old. Generally it's a pretty fun episode without anything too terrible going on.



TOS Season1 Episode 5: The Enemy Within

Starfleet open container regulations are lax.

Violence and Scariness

I think adults losing their minds tends to be a bit scary for kids, especially if the adults in question have been established as heroes. As pictured above, Kirk exhibits open drunkenness and abusive behavior towards the crew, and gets scratched on the face by one of his victims. We also have the freezing crew on the planet, and it's portrayed as being quite painful. The episode ends with an extended fistfight between the two captains.


Sexual Content

The worst aspect of this episode for kids involves Evil-Kirk's violent rape attempt against Yeoman Rand. It's quite graphic, especially for the time, and then it concludes with Rand seeming meek and averring that she doesn't want to get Kirk in trouble. Yikes. 

Big Ideas

Duality of personality and what makes for strong leadership. Probably some nice teachable moments with regard to having negative feelings and incorporating them fruitfully into your life.

Entertainment Value

The entertainment value is quite high here. Evil versions of heroes are tropes for a reason. I doubt many kids will be bored.

Conclusion 

There is an attempted rape in this episode. Captain Kirk drinks to the point of surly inebriation. That and some extensive fistfights put the appropriate age for this at 9+ in my opinion.