Star Trek: The Next Generation
Summary
Star Trek : The Next Generation ’s Ensign Wesley Crusher ( Wil Wheaton ) seemed destined to have an accomplished vocation in Starfleet , but was this truly his dream ? Much to the annoyance of someStar Trekfans , Wesley was introduced in earlyTNGas a child prodigy who on a regular basis found solutions to problems that stumped the adult around him . Wes devoted himself to analyse thing like science and engineering , and cognise almost as much about starship engines and warp drive as the experient officer on the USS Enterprise - D.
Wesley ’s Father of the Church , Lt . Commander Jack Crusher ( Doug Wert ) , was an completed Starfleet ship’s officer before his death , and his mother , Dr. Beverly Crusher ( Gates McFadden ) served as the Chief Medical Officer on the Enterprise - D. AlthoughCaptain Jean - Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) disliked children , he develop a mentor - similar family relationship with Wesley . The unseasoned Crusher came to see Jean - Luc as a father figure , and he wanted more than anything to make Captain Picard proud . Since both his parents and his mentor were career - drive Starfleet officers , Wes seemed destined for a exchangeable path .
Because of Wesley ’s intelligence and clear love of starships , Picard indulged him by making Wes an acting national flag before he ever take care Starfleet Academy .
Captain Picard & Enterprise Crew Just Assumed Wesley Crusher Would Join Starfleet
InStar Trek : The Next Generationseason 1 , episode 19 , " Coming of Age , " Wesley acquire the Starfleet Academy entrance exam for the first time . While he performs admirably , another candidate receives a high score , intend Wes will have to retake the examination . Although clearly disappoint by this development , Wesley seems more upset that he will let down Captain Picard than he is about not live to the Academy . No one ever really sits down and asks Wesley what he want to do with his life , just bear that he will join Starfleet . Wes , too , assumes that this will be his journey , not necessarily because it is what he wants most , but because he has never weigh any other course .
Wesley Crusher was a baffling character for Star Trek : The Next Generation as the writer did n’t know how to best represent a boy genius .
After Wesley fails to get into the Academy , he dramatically tells Picard:“I give out you and I failed the go-ahead . “Picard encourages him by asking:“When you test next twelvemonth , and you will examine next year , do you think your carrying out will improve?“Wes answer yes , and Picard tells him that he should measure his own success from within and worry less about what others think . Picard never once suggests that Wesley might be intend for a different way . On the reverse , Picard tells Wes that he"will"take the incoming test again the following yr . Neither Picard nor Wesley cease to view all of the other possibilities that remain open for Wesley ’s future tense .
Wesley Crusher Was Always Destined For A Different Star Trek Path
Wesley subsequently passes the Starfleet entrance exam and leaves themain cast ofStar Trek : The Next Generationto attend the Academy . Wes ' abbreviated Starfleet career gets off to a rocky start , as he is affect in an accident with Nova Squadron that results in the last of a fellow schoolmate . As a result of this tragedy and subsequent effort to cover it up , Wes receive a reproof and has to retake a twelvemonth of class . When Wesley visits the Enterprise again inTNGseason 7 , sequence 20 , " Journey ’s End , " he is moody and infelicitous . Wesley subsequently realizes that he never question his Starfleet future , and he feared let down everyone if he pick out a unlike track .
In " Journey ’s End , " Wesley encounters a vision of his father , who tell him:“You set up out on a journey that was n’t your own . Now it ’s time to regain a way that is truly yours . Do n’t follow me any further . "
After Wesley ’s revelation in " Journey ’s ending , " one of the tribesmen on the major planet reveals himself to be the Traveler ( Eric Menyuk ) first introduced inTNGseason 1 , episode 6 , " Where No One Has Gone Before . " The Traveler then offer to conduct Wesley on his next journey . eld later , Wesley - now a Travler himself - makes this same offer to Kore Soong ( Isa Briones ) inStar Trek : Picardseason 2 . Even though Wesley did n’t see it until later in hisStar Trek : The Next Generationjourney , he was always specify for greater thing than Starfleet .
Star Trek : The Next Generationis available to stream on Paramount+ .
