Random Star Trek thoughts

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I can see why Wesley Crusher was so hated. I'm making my way for the first season, and he's almost always right about everything, and everything else is wrong. I think the character would have been received if they'd had him make mistakes and occasionally be wrong because of inexperience, while still having moments where his underestimated because of his age. From what I've read, it sounds like they "fix" the character in later seasons. Would that be accurate?

[The Cat]

I can see why Wesley Crusher was so hated. I'm making my way for the first season, and he's almost always right about everything, and everything else is wrong. I think the character would have been received if they'd had him make mistakes and occasionally be wrong because of inexperience, while still having moments where his underestimated because of his age. From what I've read, it sounds like they "fix" the character in later seasons. Would that be accurate?

I dont think they ever really "knew" what to do with him. I always got the sense that he was sort of shoehorned in to try to draw kids to the franchise.

[Totenkindly]

I can see why Wesley Crusher was so hated. I'm making my way for the first season, and he's almost always right about everything, and everything else is wrong. I think the character would have been received if they'd had him make mistakes and occasionally be wrong because of inexperience, while still having moments where his underestimated because of his age. From what I've read, it sounds like they "fix" the character in later seasons. Would that be accurate?

Been a long time since I have watched TNG so my memory is vague... but I think your overall impression is correct.

First season, Wesley was notorious for being the wunderkin who would solve a lot of the problems despite being a mewling twerp. "Wesley saves the ship" is the standard joke cliche, annoying the rest of the other bridge crew. They did not have much nuance with it either -- but Star Trek TV never was that nuanced honestly, so what did people expect? It didn't really want to get into the weeds with character, it was happier to have more archetypal characters and tell weekly stories through that.

They tried to tone this down in later seasons, even by reducing Wheaton's appearances / role, although he still had some episodes focused on him. So yes, it did improve. There's a lot of first season stuff they were "testing out" -- for example, the Ferengi were being promoted as the next big bad race but were kind of a joke, I think DSN really locked into how to play the Ferengi. And so on.

- - - Updated - - -

I have been watching Lower Decks.

I don't think it's a game changer, but I find it amusing typically. And it's nice that it's an "official" thing, so it's like Trek making fun of Trek rather than taking itself so seriously.

[Tactical Turtleneck]

Wesley is much more tolerable in season 2.

They even give him some decent character growth. Oddly enough, his best episodes were the three return guest appearances. The Game, The First Duty, and Journey’s End. All top tier episodes

If only they’d devoted such attention to his character during his tenure. That Jonathan Brandis character from SeaQuest was way more relatable and interesting

[Tactical Turtleneck]

I dont think they ever really "knew" what to do with him. I always got the sense that he was sort of shoehorned in to try to draw kids to the franchise.

Make kids relate by giving them a kid they’d want to sucker punch after 5 minutes in the same room

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Tasha Yar's death really is quite lame. I've thought that many of the later episodes in season 1 were vast improvements. The characters were better defined and they seemed to have stopped relying on Wesley to save the day despite nobody listening to him at first. But this episode, "Skin of Evil" wasn't that good. The concept itself didn't feel that Star Trek.... it seemed like something that belonged in the fantasy genre.. or perhaps Star Wars. It just didn't seem to really belong in this universe. The one good thing about this episode was that I felt like it gave a decent amount of stuff for Troi to do; she was pretty well handled here.

I also got really tired of watching the ooze slowly form a goo man.

[The Cat]

Tasha Yar's death really is quite lame. I've thought that many of the later episodes in season 1 were vast improvements. The characters were better defined and they seemed to have stopped relying on Wesley to save the day despite nobody listening to him at first. But this episode, "Skin of Evil" wasn't that good. The concept itself didn't feel that Star Trek.... it seemed like something that belonged in the fantasy genre.. or perhaps Star Wars. It just didn't seem to really belong in this universe. The one good thing about this episode was that I felt like it gave a decent amount of stuff for Troi to do.

they try to "fix" it later.

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

they try to "fix" it later.

Oh, I've actually seen that episode. I think it had the Enterprise C?

[The Cat]

Oh, I've actually seen that episode. I think it had the Enterprise C?

with captain Fraisure Craine

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

with captain Fraisure Craine

Well, the Enterprise B captain was Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off...