This is an episode of two distinct halves; the first focuses on Wesley Crusher attempting to enter Starfleet, the second plot line is a good old fashioned 'the admiral wants an inspection done because something stinks on the Enterprise' story. To be honest, I find 'Coming of Age' a real curate's egg...good in some parts, ordinary in others. And then there is the foreshadowing of a latter episode in the story of Remmick's investigation.
Three Reasons To Watch this Episode
The candidate's exam that Wes sits throws together some interesting characters (and one female character who seems to be there just to give Wes's heart a flutter). Although the make-up is a little clunky, I quite enjoy watching Mordock the Benzite. We also get our first Vulcan (with dialogue) on 'TNG', and seeing veteran TV actor Robert Ito in the role of Lieutenant Chang is rewarding as well. And whilst this may be considered a spoiler (red alert), Wes actually fails the exam...indicating that finally as the writers should have noticed many episodes before just because he is a boy genius doesn't mean he should always save the NCC-1701D etc.
Remmick stirs up some grief amongst the chosen ones that are the officers of the USS Enterprise D. Character conflict is not exactly a common feature of TNG full stop, let alone in the first series episodes. For all his obnoxiousness (and this is achieved relatively well by the actor Robert Schenkkan), Lt.Comm. Remmick makes a few of the stoic and serene bridge crew get a bit hot and flustered as he tries to dig the dirt on Picard. Then, to top it off he even pisses off Picard, and when you think all is going to end in nasty words if not worse, Remmick turns around and has the gall to ask for a posting to the Enterprise after his term on the JAG staff. Character conflict actually drives a story forward (as shown to far better effect on 'Star Trek DS9').
Picard's back story gets widened. When the two plot lines come together, we see Jean-Luc Picard reveal he failed at his first entry attempt into Starfleet. Okay, it's a minor point. But the more you find out about Picard the more you enjoy his character. And also we are again presented with Picard in a semi-paternalistic manner. The first series writers obviously wanted to show the incongruity of a man who had an unwillingness to deal with children, yet when he does have to face up to his responsibilities for the children on his ship he shows great care and kindness.
Three Reasons Not To Watch This Episode
The whole 'Admiral Quinn thinks something's gone awry with the Federation' basis for his decision to launch an inquisition of the Enterprise's crew, so in turn he can reinforce his own belief in the reliability of Picard. Paranoia is one thing, but introducing the germ of a conspiracy plot without any previous establishing episodes, and then to leave it hanging for resolution a few episodes down the track is fairly weak. If you're going to present a continuing story such as this, better episode construction and juxtaposition would have wrought a better effect.
Jake Kurland and Oliana Mirren. One is a teenager on the Enterprise beaten by Wes to get a shot at Starfleet Academy, the other takes on Wes at the exam and is (gush, blush, sigh) a pretty teenage girl. Frankly, both characters and their respective actors are flat and uninteresting.
Wes's 'psych test'. So...his biggest fear is having to choose who lives and who dies. Frankly, facing a Klingon with a disruptor and a dak'tagh sounds more frightening that leaving someone behind in a blown up lab.
Best Moment
Worf talking to Wesley about his own experience of the Starfleet psych test. It's a minor moment, but anything that helps develop Worf's character (alongside Data and Picard) is usually of benefit to the whole 'TNG' environment.
Worst Moment
I'm torn between Beverley getting into a snit at Remmick asking if she has issues with Picard, Wes going into 'I'm culturally aware mode' when he picks up on a Zeldan's webbed hand, and the turnaround in Quinn from admiral on a witch-hunt to 'trust me Jean-Luc, I'm gonna make you Starfleet Academy Commandant'. None of these moments really get the blood pumping, the emotions working or the brain ticking over. And in the case of Quinn and his offer, how ludicrous to think that Picard will leave the Enterprise after only 18 episodes!
"Gee Mordock...I thought my acne was bad! And why the Bob Dylan harmonica look?"
A serious Trekker who believes that in TNG and DS9 the whole Trek universe reached its apogee. Not as big a fan of TOS, and thinks Voyager & Enterprise to be lesser works.
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