Coming of Age

A good episode for season 1. But I want to talk about this Starfleet Academy admittance procedure. This episode explains that only 1 (one*!) person per year is admitted to Starfleet from this planet. Now unless admission is based on world population, with an appropriate ratio, the implication seems to be one person per planet per year. Wesley has no connection to this plant, he just seems to be around here when the test is happening. In fact, AT LEAST 3 of the 4 applicants are certainly not born on this world (1 Vulcan, 1 Benzite, Wesley and another human), so already the logistics are confusing.

Now, I looked this up and there are 183 member species, and 895 Billion individual lives in the Federation. Lets assume each of those species have on average a few different well colonized planets - populous enough to merit academy testing. Now this episode means to tell us, that only one person per planet is able to START the training for Starfleet. if we multiply 183 member species by 4 colonised planets we get about 730 worlds. that is slightly over a billion lives per world so probably its being generous. So Starfleet, which is responsible for hundreds of billions of lives, is allowing 700 people maximum per year to go to Starfleet academy? Surely not everyone passes. If 600 of them graduate each year, is that really enough personnel to staff an organisation that has influence and responsibility over a quarter of the galaxy? I think not.

Does this mean Earth gets one applicant per year? How outrageous. Imagine if every country on Earth only hired one new policeman, one new fireman, or one new solider every year. Laughable. They even sound remorseful at the end when they declare its too bad because they would all make good candidates. Why would this system ever exist? What if Earth had 1000 great applicants and Vulcan's best 10 were all lesser applicants?

By my numbers it is safe to assume that even with a more generous future retirement ages (humans live to be older in Star Trek), there are only about 50,000 total active Starfleet officers. 50,000 for 895 Billion lives! For reference there are almost 1 Million Police officers in the United States of America, for only 300+ Million people. To say nothing of other services.

It's season one and the universe had not been as fleshed out but come on Gene. You invented this intergalactic Federation, and you invented its intergalactic military/police/exploration/diplomacy arm. This system is bogus and I am pretty sure Wesley does something different later anyway.

Enterprise faces an internal review and Wesley goes through Starfleet recruitment tests.

This is a strong episode with an excellent story and a number of great character moments.

The story has two interesting plot threads that are similar in theme and unfold superbly with the lead characters coming together at the end for a nice moment of reflection. Another strength is that it displays good continuity with other episodes with a number references that help the Star Trek universe feel connected.

Several characters have moments to shine. Picard is especially strong as he displays great leadership throughout and one incredibly cool moment that impresses everyone.

It's enjoyable to see Riker's hostility to outside inspections. This is written in a way that brings out his pride in Enterprise and extreme loyalty to Picard.

Other crew members have solid moments under interrogation, such as Dr Crusher, Data, Troi, Worf and Geordie. These scenes are very well done, particularly the ones that seamlessly transition between each other.

Certain aspects of what happens are slightly predictable, but for me it does not diminish the level of entertainment.

The visuals are quite effective with some great makeup effects and costuming of one character. There are some action based moments that work well. The strongest aspect of the episode is the editing as there is a perfect balance between the two plots and generally great pacing.

Performances are great with Patrick Stewart and Will Wheaton leading their character arcs well. All the series regulars such as Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis and LeVar Burton contribute well.

In this TNG story the Enterprise is hosting a few visitors. Admiral Ward Costello and his aide Robert Schenkkman are on board, but the Admiral won't tell Patrick Stewart the reason for the visit. In the meantime Schenkkman who is an officious little twit goes around the ship poking his nose into a lot of places that don't concern him. That has the crew really annoyed and Jonathan Frakes duly reports said annoyance to the captain.

I think the subplot is stronger however. Commander Robert Ito and a few candidates for StarFleet Academy are also on board and the Enterprise is used as a training exercise field. That offers no advantage to Wil Wheaton who is one of those candidates. Some really interesting tests are given the candidates, especially the last one for Wesley Crusher who is reminded of the great family tragedy in his life.

Nicely done with both Costello and Schenkkman returning in the future in the same characters.

While watching this, or re-watching this, i recognized Robert Ito as someone who seemed sooooo familiar. Ahhh Robert Ito, from Quincy!!! Then I thought, wait, why does he have this heavy accent?

So I've found, after much hunting, ye olde Quincy episodes on the Tube. Yup, as Canadian as the toque is long.

So why, in future Pangaea Earth-governed dystopia, does he present with this oddball, nonsensical accent? So cringe. I'm guessing producers suggested it.

"Coming of Age," from Season 1 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," brings a refreshing focus on character development amidst its narrative of tests and trials. This episode cleverly intertwines two main plots: Wesley Crusher's attempt to join Starfleet Academy and Captain Picard's unexpected evaluation by Starfleet officials.

The episode shines in its portrayal of Wesley, providing him a chance to shine with his peers, adding depth to his character beyond the wunderkind stereotype. The interactions, especially with the alien Mordock, played by John Putch, are delightful, showcasing some of the best makeup work of the series to date (it even got an Emmy nomination!). Putch's performance under all that latex is commendable, bringing humanity to his character without overplaying.

On the other side, the subplot involving Captain Picard and the mysterious visit from Admiral Quinn and his aide, Remick, adds tension and intrigue. The crew's loyalty to Picard is tested, offering viewers a glimpse into the dynamics and trust within the ship. However, the conspiracy element feels somewhat underdeveloped, leaving one wanting more follow-through on this plot thread.

The episode does stumble in its pacing, taking a while to engage fully. Once it does, though, it delivers some memorable moments, particularly the scenes between Picard and the young Jake, and Wesley's interactions with the seasoned crew like Worf, giving us pivotal character moments that are both educational and heartfelt.

While the idea of only one slot available at Starfleet Academy seems a bit odd, it serves the story's purpose, emphasizing the competitive nature of the test and Wesley's eventual growth through failure. The episode's conclusion, with its lessons on resilience and the value of teamwork, gives it a feel-good quality that's quintessentially "Star Trek."

"Coming of Age" is a strong episode for its character focus and some standout performances. It might not push the boundaries of the "Star Trek" universe, but it solidifies the series' commitment to exploring personal growth and loyalty, making it a worthy watch for fans of the franchise.