Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) "Coming of Age" is the 18th episode of the American science fiction television series "". It first aired in broadcast syndication on March 14, 1988. Sandy Fries originally wrote the episode, but Hannah Louise Shearer performed an uncredited re-write. It is the only episode of the series directed by Mike Vejar, who went on to direct episodes of "", "" and "". Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship "Enterprise"-D. In the episode, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) takes a Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: The Next Generation Farpoint" with 15.7, and "Justice" with 12.7. The season ran from 1987 to 1988. The series underwent significant changes during its second season. Beverly Crusher was replaced as Chief Medical Officer by Katherine Pulaski, played by Diana Muldaur, who had been a guest star in "Return to Tomorrow" and "Is There in Truth No Beauty?", two episodes from the original "Star Trek" series. The ship's recreational area, Ten-Forward, and its mysterious bartender/advisor, Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg, appeared for the first time. Owing to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, the number of episodes produced was cut from 26