Wil Wheaton’s Wesley Crusher was one ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’s most divisive characters, but he has made some truly great contributions to modernStar Trek. Introduced as a child prodigy-type character inTNG’sfirst season, Wesley was, in part, a self-insert character forStar Trekcreator Gene Roddenberry. Despite being one the youngest people on the USS Enterprise-D, Wesley often solved problems that stumped even the most senior officers on the ship. This led some fans to dislike the character, even though the young Wil Wheaton consistently delivered a solid performance.
Aside from his role as Wes, Wil Wheaton has become a staple in theStar Trekfandom and hosted the officialStar Trekafter show,The Ready Roomon Paramount+. Wheaton ultimately leftStar Trek: The Next Generationduring the show’s fourth season, but later returned for four more episodes. After brief appearances inStar Trek: NemesisandStar Trek: Picard,Wesley Crusher came crashing back into theStar Trekuniverse inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2.After a visit from the mysterious Traveler (Eric Menyuk) inTNGseason 1,Wesley later became a Traveler himself, gaining abilities that became vital in the fight to save the multiverse.
Wesley Crusher’s Childhood Before Star Trek: TNG (2348-2364)
Wesley Was Born In 2348 To Jack & Beverly Crusher
Wesley Crusher was born in 2348 to Starfleet Officers Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Lt, Commander Jack R. Crusher (Doug Wert). Whileserving on the USS Stargazerunder the command of his good friend, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Jack was killed in an away mission in 2353, when Wesley was only five years old.
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Even as a teenager, Wes still remembered the look on Picard’s face when he delivered the news of Jack’s death. Wesley remained angry at Picard for years after the incident. Wes also feared that he would one day face a similar decision to the one Picard had faced when the Stargazer captain chose to save another crew member instead of Jack.
Wesley Crusher’s Life On Star Trek: TNG’s USS Enterprise-D (2364-2367)
Wesley Appeared In 68 Episodes Of TNG
Dr. Beverly Crusher joined the crew of theUSS Enterprise-D in 2364 as the ship’s Chief Medical Officer. She and Wesley then took up residence on the Galaxy Class starship, which housed numerous families. AlthoughCaptain Picard was impressed by Wesley’s science and engineering knowledge,his discomfort around children often made his interactions with Wes awkward. Picard allowed Wes to take on projects alongside the Enterprise-D’s senior officers, and the young prodigy regularly helped find solutions to problems that arose.
“Coming of Age”
Season 7, Episode 20
“Journey’s End”
Wesley kept himself apart from many of the other children on the Enterprise, sometimes taking his duties aboard the ship too seriously. A mysterious being known as the Traveler visited the Enterprise in 2364 and informed Picard that Wesley was destined for greatness. Picard then made Wes an acting ensign to help him prepare for the Starfleet entrance exam.Wesley completed the written portion of his Starfleet exam in 2366and Captain Picard made him a full ensign. In 2367, Wesley left the Enterprise to attend Starfleet Academy (andWil Wheaton leftTNGas a series regular).
Wesley Crusher’s Brief Starfleet Academy & Officer Career (2367-2370)
Wesley Ultimately Decided To Pursue A Future Beyond Starfleet
In his final episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generationas a series regular, “Final Mission,” Wesley left the Enterprise to travel to Earth accompanied by Captain Picard. When Wes ended up stranded on a desert planet with an injured Picard, he helped keep Picard and himself alive long enough for help to arrive. Wesley then spent the next year studying at the Academy.He returned to the Enterprise in 2368 to visit his mother,only to find that the crew had become addicted to a strange mind-controlling game. With some help fromEnsign Robin Lefler (Ashley Judd), Wes reactivated Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and restored the crew to normal.
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While at Starfleet Academy, Wesley joined an elite group of pilots called the Nova Squadron and was involved in an incident that almost got him kicked out of Starfleet. In 2368, one of Wesley’s fellow Squadron members was killed while the group was practicing a dangerous and illegal flight maneuver. The surviving Squadron members then tried to cover up the truth behind the accident, althoughPicard eventually convinced Wesley to confess.Wes had to repeat the last year of his Starfleet courses, butNova Squadron leader Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill)took full responsibility for the incident.
Wil Wheaton voiced Wesley Crusher at Starfleet Academy inStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 4, episode 9, “The Inner Fight.”
When Wesley visited the Enterprise again in 2370, he had grown depressed and unhappy with his path at Starfleet Academy. While visiting Dorvan V, Wesley encountered the Traveler again, who helped the young cadet see that his destiny lay elsewhere.Wes ultimately chose to resign from Starfleet,leaving to explore the universe with the Traveler. Although Dr. Crusher and Picard were disappointed in Wesley’s decision, they supported him regardless. Wes briefly appeared inStar Trek: Nemesisat the wedding of William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), but he remained with the Travelers in his laterTrekappearances.
Wesley Crusher Became A Traveler In Star Trek: Picard & Star Trek: Prodigy (2370-∞)
Wesley Returned To Save The Universe In Star Trek: Prodigy
After popping up briefly inStar Trek: Picardseason 2 to recruit Kore Soong (Isa Briones) to join the Travelers, Wesley made a full comeback inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2. In 2384, Wesley began communicating with Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) to lead her and the former USS Protostar crew to meet with him. He revealed more about his ability to travel throughout time and dimensions, explaining that the Travelers typically avoided interfering.Wesley, however, could not stand by and watch his universe be destroyed,so he set about helping the Protostar kids fix the paradox they had inadvertently created.
Wil Wheaton Breaks Down His Wesley Crusher Comeback In Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2
Screen Rant interviews Wil Wheaton about keeping his return as Wesley Crusher secret and saving the multiverse as Star Trek: Prodigy’s Traveler.
Wesley searched for a way to restore the proper timeline while fighting against multiverse scavengers known as the Loom. After Ascencia (Jameela Jamil) extracted information from Wesley’s mind, he struggled to regain his Traveler abilities and had to rely on the knowledge he had gained as a Starfleet officer. After helping the Protostar kids saveStar Trek’sPrime Universe, Wes visited his mother, who introduced him to his young half-brother, Jack Crusher. Wesley Crusher may not have beenStar Trek: The Next Generation’smost popular character, but he left a positive mark on the franchise and made a triumphant return inStar Trek: Prodigy.
