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Final Mission (TNG S4 E09)

Published on: 5th November, 2024

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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About the Podcast

The Joy of Trek
Every Star Trek story is somebody's favorite, and that might as well be us!
Two lifelong besties (and their trusty engineer) adventure through the vast constellations of Star Trek's decades on TV, especially the lesser-loved stories.

But instead of bitching about why they’re bad, we’re going to find the joy in each of them, because everybody loves the great episodes, but it takes dedication, insight, and hard-working fools to love the clunkers too.

And by Jove, we are those fools!

Positive, inclusive and optimistic (though not uncritical!) we try to find the brilliance even in the least-loved episodes of our favorite TV shows!