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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S1.E18
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Coming of Age

  • Episode aired Mar 12, 1988
  • TV-PG
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
Wil Wheaton and John Putch in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
ActionAdventureSci-Fi

Picard finds himself facing a strenuous test of his loyalty to Starfleet, one which the other members of the crew are struggling to cope with, whilst Wesley faces an equally challenging entr... Read allPicard finds himself facing a strenuous test of his loyalty to Starfleet, one which the other members of the crew are struggling to cope with, whilst Wesley faces an equally challenging entrance exam at Starfleet Academy.Picard finds himself facing a strenuous test of his loyalty to Starfleet, one which the other members of the crew are struggling to cope with, whilst Wesley faces an equally challenging entrance exam at Starfleet Academy.

  • Director
    • Michael Vejar
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Sandy Fries
    • Hans Beimler
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    3.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Vejar
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Sandy Fries
      • Hans Beimler
    • Stars
      • Patrick Stewart
      • Jonathan Frakes
      • LeVar Burton
    • 17User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Tasia Valenza in Coming of Age (1988)
    Estee Chandler and Tasia Valenza in Coming of Age (1988)
    Wil Wheaton and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner and Robert Schenkkan in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Stephen Gregory in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Robert Schenkkan in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Denise Crosby, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Wil Wheaton in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Captain Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lieutenant Geordi La Forge
    Denise Crosby
    Denise Crosby
    • Lieutenant Natasha 'Tasha' Yar
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lieutenant Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Doctor Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lieutenant Commander Data
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Wesley Crusher
    Ward Costello
    • Adm. Gregory Quinn
    Robert Schenkkan
    Robert Schenkkan
    • Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick
    John Putch
    John Putch
    • Mordock
    Robert Ito
    Robert Ito
    • Lt. Chang
    Stephen Gregory
    Stephen Gregory
    • Jake Kurland
    Tasia Valenza
    Tasia Valenza
    • T'Shanik
    Estee Chandler
    Estee Chandler
    • Oliana Mirren
    Brendan McKane
    • Technician #1
    Wyatt Knight
    Wyatt Knight
    • Technician #2
    • Director
      • Michael Vejar
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Sandy Fries
      • Hans Beimler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Starting with this episode, Maurice Hurley took over the job of showrunner from Gene Roddenberry. Hurley was concerned that the show's writing process had stalled under Roddenberry's leadership, and so personally paid for a holiday for Roddenberry and Majel Barrett on the understanding that he would take over while they were gone. Upon his eventual return, Roddenberry opted to leave Hurley in charge of the writing staff.
    • Goofs
      The crew informs Capt. Picard that the wayward shuttle is out of transporter range, but that simply isn't possible. If the Enterprise can use the transporter to transport people to and from the surface of the planet, how could it not be able to transport someone from a shuttle that is between the planet's atmosphere and the Enterprise?

      Even if the shuttle were, for some reason, out of the transporter range, the Enterprise is much faster than any of its shuttles, so it could very easily maneuver into transporter range or, if the transporter isn't functional, into tractor-beam range.

      It makes absolutely no sense that Capt. Picard doesn't immediately give the command to chase the shuttle once it is in danger. Maintaining a standard orbit in the face of this emergency serves no purpose.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick: You don't like me very much, do you?

      Lieutenant Worf: Is it required - sir?

    • Connections
      Featured in Mr. Plinkett's Star Trek 2009 Review (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Evaluation, that's the name of the game
    In this TNG story the Enterprise is hosting a few visitors. Admiral Ward Costello and his aide Robert Schenkkman are on board, but the Admiral won't tell Patrick Stewart the reason for the visit. In the meantime Schenkkman who is an officious little twit goes around the ship poking his nose into a lot of places that don't concern him. That has the crew really annoyed and Jonathan Frakes duly reports said annoyance to the captain.

    I think the subplot is stronger however. Commander Robert Ito and a few candidates for StarFleet Academy are also on board and the Enterprise is used as a training exercise field. That offers no advantage to Wil Wheaton who is one of those candidates. Some really interesting tests are given the candidates, especially the last one for Wesley Crusher who is reminded of the great family tragedy in his life.

    Nicely done with both Costello and Schenkkman returning in the future in the same characters.
    helpful•6
    2
    • bkoganbing
    • Oct 8, 2018

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 12, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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