Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2
Summary
I was one of the millions of fans who was disappointed thatStar Trek: Picardseason 3 didn’t reunite Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) with his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and let Wesley meet his half-brother, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), but now I’m glad it didn’t happen that way. Instead,Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 brought back Wesley as the Traveler, and it far exceeded a cameo inPicardseason 3. Even better,Wil Wheaton got to play the best version of Wesley CrusherStar Trekhas ever seeninStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2.
Wil Wheaton hadn’t played Wesley Crusher sinceStar Trek: Nemesis, when Wes was inexplicably back in a Starfleet uniform at Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Counselor Deanna Troi’s (Marina Sirtis) wedding. ConsideringWesley has cosmic powers as a Traveler, it seemed glaring that Crusher didn’t pop into Star Trek on Paramount+ shows likeStar Trek: DiscoveryorStar Trek: Lower Decks. Wesley unexpectedly appeared in a brief scene inStar Trek: Picardseason 2’s finale. Viewers like myselfexpected Wesley to appear inStar Trek: Picardseason 3 to complete the Crusher family,but it never happeneddue to stated budgetary issues. Joyfully,Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 topped anyPicardcameo.
Wesley Crusher recruited Kore Soong (Isa Briones) to become one of the Travelers inStar Trek: Picardseason 2’s finale.
Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 Ending & Shocking Season 3 Set Up Explained
Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 brings the time travel saga of the USS Protostar full circle. Here’s what happened and what it all means for season 3.
Wesley Crusher In Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 Is Better Than A Picard Season 3 Cameo
Wesley helped save every Star Trek reality
Wil Wheaton’s return as Wesley Crusher was one of the greatest things aboutStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2. Even better, Wesley was in full bloom and at the height of his powers as a Traveler. Motor-mouthed and scatterbrained, Wesley was juggling the dire straights of countless realities in his head, but he was the ideal mentor for the young Starfleet hopefuls of the USS Protostar. Implementing a complex and perilously unsteady plan to save everyStar Trektimelinefrom the reality-eating Loom, Wesley risked everything to save the universe. Best of all, Wil Wheaton clearly had a blast playingStar Trek: Prodigy’s Wesley Crusher, and got to explore the full scope of Wesley’s responsibilities as a Traveler.
Wesley got to mean so much more to Star Trek: Prodigy than a walk-on fan-service moment in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
If Wesley had appeared inStar Trek: Picardseason 3, the best they likely could have delivered is a brief scene with Wes, Beverly, and Jack - which would have been great to see. Wesley and Jack commiserating as adults in live-action is somethingStar Trekstill needs to make happen. ButWesley reuniting with Beverly inStar Trek: Prodigy -and meeting a very young Jack (pre-British accent) - was still emotional and heartwarming.It finally answered the question,“Why didn’t Wesley ever visit his mother as the Traveler?“Yet Wesley got to mean so much more toStar Trek: Prodigythan a walk-on fan-service moment inStar Trek: Picardseason 3.
Wesley Belonged In Star Trek: Prodigy All Along
Wesley is better than ever in Star Trek: Prodigy
AsStar Trek: Prodigy’s executive producersKevin and Dan Hageman toldScreen Rant,Wesley belongs in their show because he is"the original Prodigy.“OnStar Trek: The Next Generation, Wesley was the boy genius who saved the USS Enterprise-D more than once.TNGdid not depict Wesley Crusher advantageously, butStar Trek: Prodigydidn’t repeat the mistakes Star Trek: The Next Generationmade 35 years ago.Star Trek: Prodigy’s Wesley is an irrepressible mix of"Doctor Who and Willy Wonka,“and there is no one better to guide Dal R’El (Brett Gray), Gwyndala (Ella Purnell), and their friends throughStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2’s"timey-wimey"crisis.
Wesley knows a thing or two about having a cosmic destiny, and he prodded the USS Protostar’s crew to stay together because the future is literally in their hands as a group.
Kevin and Dan Hageman were deep intoStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2’s production whenStar Trek: Picardshowrunner Terry Matalas inquired about Wesley Crusher, who Terry knew was a pivotal part ofProdigy.The three showrunners agreed to Wesley’s cameo inPicardseason 2’s finale, but they also settled on Wesley’s visit with Beverly and Jack happening inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2’s finale - a moment they kept top secret for years.Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 finally gave us the best version of Wesley Crusher, and left the Traveler better than how they found him. I hope Wesley Crusher will return if there’s aStar Trek: Legacyand/or aStar Trek: Prodigyseason 3.
