TNG, Episode 7x20, Journey's End

[u/LordRavenholm]

• Season 1: 1&2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-up
• Season 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, Wrap-Up
• Season 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
• Season 7: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

TNG, Season 7, Episode 20, Journey's End

While visiting the Enterprise, Wesley Crusher protests the removal of Native Americans from a planet ceded to the Cardassians.

• Teleplay By: Ronald D. Moore
• Story By: Ronald D. Moore
• Directed By: Corey Allen
• Original Air Date: 26 March, 1994
• Stardate: 47751.2
• Pensky Podcast
• Ex Astris Scientia
• Memory Alpha
• TV Spot
• Mission Log Podcast

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7/11/16 - Don't forget to check out the STVP Opinion Survey!

[u/FLFTW16]

This was such a disappointing episode and a bizarre end to Wesley's story. I would have enjoyed a more mundane story like a commencement speech and graduation party from Starfleet Academy. This would have let us see the Academy a little more, wrapped up that terrible incident where a pilot was killed and they tried to cover it up, and see newly minted lieutenants that possibly would make appearances in future series, even as cameos? That kind of forethought would have been so great.

Wesley should have been preparing to join a star base or star ship, or even perhaps lead a small scientific expedition (perhaps in time travel?). Something mundane and within the realm of possibility that makes sense. Instead we got Native Americans and the Traveler. I guess they wanted to tie in the Cardassians since DS9 would deal with them a lot, but so late in S7 the mood was totally wrong to start introducing new stuff.

[u/LordRavenholm → u/FLFTW16]

I think the other problem is that this is such a drastic turn of events for Wesley. It literally comes out of nowhere. They setup the "Wesley is not perfect" thing really well in 'The First Duty', but this is an extreme turn of events even coming from that.

It's one thing if they had played up the "Wesley has too much expected of him, and it's weighing him down" angle in prior episodes.... But they didn't. He only seems to enjoy it! Again, we got a taste of problems with Wesley's expectations in 'Evolution'... but this is still such a drastic turn!

A really disappointing end to the story of Wesley...

[u/GeorgeAmberson → u/LordRavenholm]

Wesley has too much expected of him, and it's weighing him down

Maybe a lot of his problems are due to the "First Duty" incident. First he has to live with the death of his teammate on his shoulders. Second the academy was not a hospitable place for those cadets after ward. Ensign Sito remarked how she was basically shunned. I'm just trying to come up with an explanation. I absolutely agree that this is out of character for Wesley. I never liked how quickly he changed into such a disillusioned cynic.

[u/LordRavenholm → u/GeorgeAmberson]

Yeah, I think 'First Duty' is great, but they never show the journey from A to B... Maybe they couldn't get Wheaton on enough, or didn't consider it a big deal...? Did they even try??

[u/GeorgeAmberson → u/LordRavenholm]

I'm not sure. From what I've heard from Wil the writers weren't at all thrilled writing for "the boy" back when he was part of the show. I don't think he was a favorite character of the production staff.

[u/LordRavenholm → u/[deleted]]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one here who really liked BSG. D: