Wesley Crusher: How Star Trek: Prodigy Redeemed The TNG Character at Last
Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) sometimes had conflicting opinions of Wesley Crusher's performance. Though his intelligence and inventiveness were clear-cut, his behavior sometimes seemed out of line for his age and experience. Targeted for younger viewers, Star Trek: Prodigy has unexpectedly become the venue for Wesley's atonement, so addressing the long-standing objections over his character.
Why Star Trek: The Next Generation Fans Hated Wesley Crusher?
Wesley's presence on the USS Enterprise-D infuriated many of the fans. Even in fields where he had no official training, his young impulsiveness and apparently limitless knowledge caused circumstances whereby he, a teenager, regularly outshined seasoned Starfleet officials.
Wesley's privileged background—that of the late Starfleet officer Lt. Commander Jack Crusher (played by Doug Wert) and the ship's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Beverly Crusher (played by Gates McFadden), only served to heighten the negative aspects. Viewers felt unfair advantage in his access to portions of the ship, including the bridge, which was usually off-limits to children.
The creators of the show battled to fairly depict a "boy genius" character. Although Wesley's actor Wil Wheaton gave his best, the writing sometimes produced forced, infantile narratives. Wesley further alienated his supporters with his relentless heroics, which seemed to surpass his experience and aptitudes.
Time in Khalid for Wesley Crusher: A Short-Lived Dream
Though apparently a logical progression, Wesley's route to join Starfleet Academy felt more like Captain Jean-luc Picard's (played by Patrick Stewart) personal ambition than Wesley's actual desire. Wesley first failed the entrance test, but he passed the following year. Still, his stay at the Academy turned out to be less than rewarding. Wesley felt disconnected, suggesting that Starfleet was not his actual calling even if he excelled in several areas.
A scandal involving Nova Squadron, a top-notch Starfleet cadet group, sapped Wesley's excitement for the fleet. His life underwent a major turning point when he came upon the enigmatic Travelers in TNG season 1. Eventually, he left Starfleet and turned Traveler himself, evidence that Starfleet was never his actual calling.
Redemption of Wesley Crusher by Star Trek: Prodigy
After a fleeting visit in Star Trek: Picard season 2, Wesley's comeback in Star Trek: Prodigy offered the character much-needed atonement. The show highlighted Wesley's Traveler powers, so enabling his abilities to be finally consistent and believable. Usually eclipsed by unrealistic heroics in TNG, his teenage innocence is now replaced with the knowledge and experience of a seasoned Traveler. Being a mentor to the young USS Protostar crew helps him to properly use his abilities, which at last makes him a credible and fun character.
Wesley's path in Star Trek: Prodigy reveals a more sophisticated and mature side to the character, so enabling him to transcend the constraints placed on his TNG portrayal. Proving that sometimes a second chance is all it takes to redeem even the most controversial characters, he has developed from a frustrating and inconsistent character into a fascinating and relevant figure.
Star Trek: Superb
An interesting addition to the Star Trek series, Prodigy is an animated series geared at younger viewers. The show centers on a group of young aliens who discover they are aboard a stolen Starfleet ship, USS Protostar. Rising from their prison colony, the Tars Lamora, they set off a mission to alert the Federation of a forthcoming danger.
Under the direction of a holographic Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), the Protostar crew must negotiate galactic hazards and find their place in the expanse of space. Offering a fresh and interesting interpretation of the Star Trek universe, the series is evidence of the strength of friendship, tenacity, and teamwork.
