Up next is the Commodore
Wesley Crusher,
the ultimate computer-like trainee.
Okay, I'm done with the silly puns - at least for now, especially as those above pertained to TOS. Just no promises as to how many TNG-related ones I might make...
In season 1 - especially the first half or more - he's the worst possible plot crutch to use in how he can outdo every stinkin' adult on the ship at every turn. "Datalore" in particular is the nadir. At least we get "Coming of Age", which does him some genuine justice as a character. But, no worries, it does get better:
In comes season 2, for which the scripting for his character improves even more so. Any teens who (a) liked the show, (b) like the character, and (c) wanted to watch would see how to make the first moves in classics such as "The Dauphin". Actually, I like this one because of the hurdles that Salia has to endure, especially guardian Anya, who took a professional liking to Worf. There's a lot of fun little snippets in this episode. Shame it took me a few decades to fully appreciate it, but it's all good.
While TNG also made command more prominent than other divisions, the treatment for Wes in "Pen Pals" is also worthy of some praise.
The less said about his needing a potty break at just the right time in "Where Silence Has Lease" is that much the better. See, tv shows didn't talk about the toilet - unless they were refreshingly crude sitcoms or game shows - at the time, which is why we never see Wes ask Picard, who in turn would say it was okay for him to go to the potty. That, or such a scene might terrorize the 8-year-olds in the audience having to deal with second grade teachers and all.
But all is great until season 4, when he leaves, and then returns in season 5, where there's more season 1 material that's suited his character far better. Even "I'm with Starfleet, we don't lie" is leagues better than any post-season 4 Wesisms. There's no Weslonality left to this slick character for sure by the time season 7 comes along, never mind the nothingburger that's otherwise entitled "STAR TЯEK NEMESIS". Okay, I'll ditch the Wesley puns as you might wrongly think I'm Wespuning them or something just as grotesque.
Harking back to "Datalore", however, have you ever had a time where you tried to point out something no matter how simple to others who were so wound up on their topic and they wouldn't listen (and, for now, it doesn't matter what the reason is)? Even season 1 Wesley may have been a cringeworthy sledgehammer in terms of approach, but part of me wants to think there was an idea in those early scripts that were just let down by the execution. After all, some do say the TNG bridge crew feel like a clique, as exemplified by the treatment of Barclay, Ro, numerous guest planet people of the week, and others.
Who's left:
Arex
M'Ress
Beverly Crusher
Ezri Dax
Chakotay
B'Elanna Torres
Harry Kim
Tuvok
Kes
Jonathan Archer
Trip Tucker
Travis Mayweather
Hoshi Sato
Malcolm Reed
Paul Stamets
Mirror Philippa Georgiou
Voq/Ash Tyler
Hugh Culber
Cleveland "Book" Booker
D. Nhan
Adira Tal
Rayner
Agnes Jurati
Soji Asha
Narek
Cristóbal "Chris" Rios
Elnor
Laris
Adam Soong
Kore Soong
Tallinn
Guinan
Jack Crusher
Brad Boimler
Carol Freeman
Jack Ransom
Shaxs
T'Ana
Dal R'El
Gwyndala
Jankom Pog
Zero
Murf
Drednok
The Diviner
Hologram Janeway
Ascencia
