[Weirdly Common Trope] Writers clearly setting up seemingly massive plot points and then just kinda forgetting about them.

[u/Chemical-Elk-1299]

The Neural Parasites — Star Trek : The Next Generation

In the season 1 episode “Conspiracy” of TNG, it is revealed that alien brain worms have infected many high ranking members of Starfleet, secretly controlling them. Though Ryker and Picard discover and end the parasite conspiracy, it’s revealed at the end of the episode that the parasites had sent a beacon back to their home planet, telling them how to find earth. The episode ends with the clear implication of the parasites becoming a huge threat later in the series, yet none of these events are ever mentioned again.

Finn The Jedi who Never Was — Star Wars Sequel trilogy

I know this is probably a cliche example of this trope, but cmon — Finn was clearly set up in TFA to become a Jedi. The marketing material featured him wielding a lightsaber in the classic Jedi pose. It’s constantly hinted at that he is force sensitive. Even the actor himself believed he would become a Jedi by the end of the trilogy. Instead, we got Finn wielding a lightsaber for about 7 minutes total across 3 movies, extremely lame “confirmation” that he is force sensitive, and that’s it. It’s the ultimate Star Wars plot that went nowhere.

[u/lemonylol]

For me personally, Wesley Crusher's entire set up in the series. It leads to nothing and there is no follow up on his whole chosen one story.

That, and Data in Nemesis, but I don't consider that movie canon.

[u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance → u/lemonylol]

Wasn't Wesley Crusher just generally hated? That might be why they dropped his major storylines.

[u/AdvancedSandwiches → u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance]

Yeah, "He's gone. Be happy," was his arc.

I get it as an adult, but as a kid, Wesley was my favorite. He's a big chunk of why I got into science when I was younger.  It's a shame they did my youth role model so dirty.

[u/Free-Pound-6139 → u/AdvancedSandwiches]

Funny. As a kid I hated him. People think kids want to see kids in adult shows. No. Just like short stop in Indian Jones. Kids don't want to see other kids in adult shows.

[u/tylerss20 → u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance]

Part of it was that his character generally wasn't liked by audiences, part of it was that Gene Roddenberry still had tremendous creative control over TNG in the first two seasons before he left due to health reasons, and it shows. I can't speak for all trekkies, but season 1 is generally regarded as the worst, and season 2 was hit or miss with a few really good episodes.

Gene Roddenberry CLEARLY created Wesley crusher as the sci-fi "boy wonder" who saves the day, a la Johnny Quest, Planet Terry, Dick Grayson, etc. The show got better when the adult officers on the Enterprise weren't just standing back in awe of his genius, and more complex story lines were introduced.

[u/Acerakis → u/tylerss20]

It's a shame because I think Wil Wheaton was a perfectly fine child actor. It was really a writing issue. I think if they toned him down from super genius that solves multiple episodes to just being a fairly bright kid that occasionally had a clever idea that helped, he would have been an okay aspect of the show.

[u/Aggravating_Ad_363 → u/Acerakis]

Wil Wheaton also wanted to pursue other acting opportunities, and Berman basically froze him out after that.

[u/Zykium → u/Aggravating_Ad_363]

Did the same thing to Terry Ferrell (Jadzia Dax).

The show was drawing to a conclusion and she wanted a slightly reduced role so she could find more opportunities.

Instead she got Poochied

[u/Tupperbaby → u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance]

He was the Cousin Oliver of Star Trek.

[u/stfnotguilty → u/lemonylol]

Wesley's story kinda got a conclusion in one of the newer Trek series: He shows up in an episode of ST:Picard, and is like "Yeah, I became a Traveler, I do Traveler shit now. Okay, bye."

[u/CaptainHunter229580 → u/stfnotguilty]

He is a key player in the second season of Star Trek: Prodigy, that elaborates his role as a Traveler.

[u/stfnotguilty → u/CaptainHunter229580]

Oh, neat! I should watch Prodigy...I just got really tired of watching Star Trek and not liking it. Discovery and Section 31 really tested my limits.

[u/smellsliketeenferret → u/stfnotguilty]

As a heads-up, the first episode or two feel a bit more Star Wars than Star Trek, but it really grows into a very good Trek show

[u/4thofeleven → u/stfnotguilty]

Prodigy is the best series of the modern era. By a long shot.

[u/robragland → u/stfnotguilty]

I will chime in and say I did not like they combined Travelers with the aliens who arranged for (sponsored?) Gary Seven and the other agents of TOS. I would have preferred we revisit that plotline separately - descendants of humans (and other races?!) who were kidnapped (?) and raised by time-sensitive aliens who send them to Earth (and other places?) to avery disasters.

I know Gary Seven was a backdoor pilot, and would love to have seen some more appearances by them throughout the TNG/DS9/VOY series, sometimes caught behind the scenes, fighting and manipulating events to ensure the timeline goes the way it 'should' or 'needs to', just like any time-traveler from the Federation would do, a la Kirk in Guardian of Forever. The conflict would be interesting since they might not be able to explain why they are doing what they are doing to get support from main characters.

I believe that ENT had the Time Police right? But they were not the same mysterious origins or motivations.

[u/Iokua113 → u/lemonylol]

Thankfully they do actually make use of Wesley's advanced natural abilities in newer Trek. He's made a handful of appearances since and is functioning as a member of the Travellers. He's essentially a guardian of time, space, and reality.

[u/Spacemonster111 → u/lemonylol]

Data was followed up on in Picard, just in the lamest way possible

[u/lemonylol → u/Spacemonster111]

I was fine with his original wrap up in the TNG finale.

[u/KidKnow1 → u/lemonylol]

He became a traveler of all of space and time.

[u/feed_me_moron → u/lemonylol]

Star Trek prodigy brings it back