Once upon the late 90s, there was a super awesome kids' show that tragically ended after a mere two seasons. That show, was Space Cases.
If you did not watch this show (in which case, you were very deprived and I am very very sorry), here's a bit of background. We begin at the Starcademy, an elite school that orbits Pluto and trains kids to be Stardogs. A bunch of kids failed their classes and were unable to join the others in field training, leaving them in a summer school-type situation. They sneak out and get on board a ship called the Christina, which then sped through a spatial rip and started them off on a long strange trip.
Harlan Band from Earth, he's the cocky leader type.
Catalina from Saturn. She has sonic scream and is connected to her best friend Suzee from another dimension through brainwaves. Everyone thinks she's imaginary until Suzee appears in season two and takes Catalina's place.
Suzee is from Yensid and is vastly intelligent, can read minds, and has gills.
Radu is from Andromeda and has super hearing and super strength, and is also the cause for my sexual awakening.
Bova is from Uranus and is all sullen and pessimistic but can blast electricity from his forehead antennae.
Rosie Ianni is from Mercury and is all cheerful and optimistic, and can heat anything.
In addition to the students, there's also the two teachers who catch up with the kids before the ship blasts off. Commander Seth Goddard and Vice Principal T.J. Davenport. But I wasn't really interested in them, so moving on...
The ship is connected to Thelma, a malfunctioning android who takes every suggestion or command very literally and is responsible for most of the show's slapstick comedy moments.
There are many reasons as to why this show was so supremely awesome. First off, GEORGE TAKEI guest starred as Warlord Shank, a lizard-like Spung commander who tries to destroy the Christina and its crew.
It also stars an itty bitty Jewel Staite before she was on the (again) short-lived Firefly, and a not-so-itty-bitty Walter Emanuel Jones after he hung up his Black Ranger power suit. So I mean, those are reasons enough to watch it.
More reasons to watch (if you haven't fallen in love already) is the underlying messages and lessons behind the episodes and characters. Unlike the kids shows of today, Space Cases wasn't about preteen relationships or popularity or fashion. Each character had their flaws and, despite being from different planets, acted like normal kids. They were stubborn and made mistakes and were headstrong and confused. Like NORMAL tweens.
They teamed together to help pilot the spaceship and fight off enemies. Elmira, a Spung oracle and Warlord Shank's defiant daughter, ran away from her planet because she didn't agree with her father's villainy or her society's treatment of women. Harlan, who grew up thinking Andromedans were the sole reason of his father's death, learned to quit his prejudice and befriended Radu.
And they were in OUTER SPACE. That's just awesome.
Look at these lovable aliens.
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