Kids in Trek (aka Recovering Wesley's battered reputation)

Stevexoc · Post by **Stevexoc** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:03 pm

I know that this has been a topic much discussed among TNG lovers, and while I must say that Wesley was incredibly annoying early on, I thought that the writers managed to salvage his character development somewhat. We might even say that they learned their lesson since Jake is such a better "Trek-child" than Wesley ever was (or will be). So what do people think about Wesley...and what about the handling of children in the Star Trek universe in general?

Blackstar the Chakat · Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:08 pm

I think Wesley should wear a redshirt and go on every away mission. As for kids in general, they've done well since then.

Thorin · Post by **Thorin** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:10 pm

In TOS they don't exist, in TNG there's Wesley, in DS9 there's Jake (and maybe Nog), and in Voyager there's Naomi Wildman.

Realistically the only two comparable ones are Wesley and Jake, and there's a definitive "yes" that the writers got it better second time round. Wesley is a very poorly written character - a sixteen year old boy can save a starship, when a crew with a combined age of around 20,000, full training at Starfleet academy, and a vast experience, including an android who has practically unlimited capability, and the best captain in Starfleet, are unable to. There's just no logic. No excuses at all. It's not like they can even say "you have to sometimes give some leeway to facts for entertainment". ITS NOT ENTERTAINING!

Rant over.

Jake is better than Wesley. In all ways.

Tiberius · Post by **Tiberius** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:37 am

Wesley Sue Crusher?

Post by **Mikey** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:41 am

Wesley annoyed me because, as Thorin wrote, he seemed to be an ubermensch - he should have just been told to go stay in his quarters!

Jake, on the other hand, was written as a real pre-teen, then teen, boy. Sometimes annoying, sometimes scared, sometimes uncannily insightful. Instead of trying to make him a force on the show, Jake was allowed to be portrayed simply as Sisko's son.

Post by **Teaos** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:44 am

Wesley over all was annoying. Not just what he did but his over all personality.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:04 pm

Wesley ->

My opinions on him have been made clear...

Granitehewer · Post by **Granitehewer** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:59 pm

Wesley, would have been alright, had he been a gawking, spotty, socially inept, inneundo spouting teen, with a squeaking undulating voice, rampant mood swings and a secret stash of 'penthouse featuring: the duras sisters' padds

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:29 pm

Wesley would have been allright if he had just been some kid.
Instead, we get Superman JR.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:30 pm

No, what we got was another Adric. If only Final Mission had been a few years earlier and been more like Earthshock.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:31 pm

Indeed.

Thorin · Post by **Thorin** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:50 pm

Wesley ain't the one with the axe.

celeritas · Post by **celeritas** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:13 pm

i have to say, while i was not impressed with wesley, i was rather impressed with jake and nog. they could have turned out far worse...

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:22 pm

Indeed, it apears they actually took note of why everyone hated Wesley.

Captain Peabody · Post by **Captain Peabody** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:31 pm

Ah...Wesley. The Jar-Jar Binks of Star Trek...

I think the main problem with him was that he really didn't act like a kid most of the time. It's like they took the diaulogue for Geordi, changed a few words, and stuck it in Wesley's mouth...with little or no regard for how kids actually think and talk. And, just when the writers started to get the hang of the character, he left the show!

But really, other than the occasional episode, he really wasn't that bad. Wil Wheaton's acting was likeable enough, and Wesley's guest appearances in later season were almost all good and well-written (except for Journey's End ; man, does that episode stink).
And yeah, Jake and Nog were 100% less annoying, for the main reason that they actually changed over the course of the show, as Jake became a hippy journalist dude, and Nog everyone's favorite Ensign. Yet another reason DS9 is the best Trek show out there...