Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Coming of Age"
Star Trek: The Next Generation episode
LtCdr. Remmick of Starfleet's Inspector General office conducts an interview aboard Enterprise.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 19
Directed by	Mike Vejar
Written by	Sandy Fries
Featured music	Dennis McCarthy
Production code	119
Original air date	March 14, 1988 (1988-03-14)
Guest stars
Ward Costello – Adm. Gregory Quinn Robert Schenkkan – Lt. Cdr. Dexter Remmick John Putch – Mordock Robert Ito – Lt. Chang Stephen Gregory – Jake Kurland Tasia Valenza – T'Shanik Estee Chandler – Oliana Mirren Brendan McKane – Technician No. 1 Wyatt Knight – Technician No. 2 Daniel Riordan – Rondon
Episode chronology
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List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes

"Coming of Age" is the 19th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Overview

While Wesley takes a Starfleet Academy entrance exam, the senior staff of the Enterprise are subjected to an enigmatic investigation.

Plot

The Enterprise arrives at Revla VII so that Wesley Crusher can take the rigorous Starfleet Academy entrance examination. While Wesley meets his fellow cadets who will be taking the exam with him, Captain Picard greets his personal friend Admiral Quinn and his assistant Lieutenant Commander Remmick aboard the Enterprise. Quinn has ordered Remmick to perform an investigation of the Enterprise and its crew for classified reasons, and expects Picard to fully cooperate with the investigation. Remmick's thorough manner raises the tension of the crew, particularly when he questions the trustworthiness of the senior staff based on their personal logs and past actions. A young cadet, having failed the entrance examination, attempts to run away in a shuttlecraft but ends up drifting towards a planet. Picard is able to give the cadet confidence to pilot the shuttle away from the planet by bouncing off its atmosphere so they can retrieve him. Despite this deed, Remmick challenges Picard's command of his crew. The investigation is eventually completed, and Remmick informs both Picard and Quinn that there is no sign of wrongdoing aboard the Enterprise and expresses his interest in joining its crew at a later date. Quinn tells Picard that he feels there is an unknown force that has infiltrated Starfleet, and he was seeking to assure himself of his trust in Picard and the Enterprise crew. To help combat this threat, Quinn offers Picard a promotion to Admiral and to oversee Starfleet Academy, which would place Picard near Quinn at all times. Picard mulls the offer for some time, but eventually declines.

Meanwhile, Wesley has succeeded in passing several parts of the entrance exam, including both knowledge-based tests and social skills. He has further helped a fellow participant, Mordock, a highly talented Benzite, to solve one difficult problem so that both may advance. Wesley is aware of the "dreaded" psychological test that is part of the exam, and worried when he is directed to a room to wait for the test to start. While waiting, he hears an explosion nearby, and though told not to leave the room, does so anyway to investigate. He finds two men trapped by fallen components in a fire-engulfed room. As Wesley helps to release one man wounded under a heavy pipe, he attempts to coax the other man to brave the flames and leave the room, but the man refuses to budge. Wesley is forced to leave the scared man inside and drags the other man out of the room. Outside, he soon realizes this was just the psychological test, the accident simply a simulated one, and is congratulated by both men on his performance. Eventually, the cadets are told of their success, and Mordock is granted admission into Starfleet Academy, while Wesley is encouraged to try again next year. Mordock, surprised, thanks Wesley for his help and continued success. When Wesley returns to the Enterprise, Picard confides in him that he too failed the entrance examination the first time, and continues to encourage him to perform well.

References

• Star Trek The Next Generation DVD set, volume 1, disc 5, selection 3.

External links

• Coming of Age at the Internet Movie Database
• "Coming of Age" at TV.com
• Coming of Age at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• Coming of Age at StarTrek.com
• Coming of Age rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido