Final Mission (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S4 E9) was recommended by Tsuyoto Wolfe (They/Them), who said: I have so many favorites I thought of recommending. But I was also inspired to find the joy in one I hadn’t liked before. When Netflix started streaming Star Trek series back in 2011, I would wtch through TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT, then start over again with TNG. I would skip most of season 1 and 2, as well as a few later episodes. For my recommendation, I went back to the ones I skipped and I rewatched TNG: Final Mission. I had chocked it off as a filler episode with Wesley being annoying. But I found more in it, it a transition from Wesley fanboying over Picard, to seeing him vulnerable, to taking the responsibility for both their lives. The alien shuttle captain still feels like a thin character meant only to be fodder for Wesley’s growth, but I appreciate the episode more now.

Final Mission first aired on November 19, 1990, written by story by Kacey Arnold-Ince, teleplay by Kacey Arnold-Ince & Jeri Taylor, and directed by Corey Allen

Wesley sets off on his final mission with the Enterprise accompanied by Picard. They become stranded on a desert planet.

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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