What happened to Wesley Crusher? They hyped him up for 7 years.
Posted by handlerofdrones@reddit | TNG | View on Reddit | 141 comments
This is coming from a point of view of someone who never disliked Wesley crusher, in fact, I always thought he was really cool as a kid because he was a kid doing what I would want to do. But they built up a really great character and in the end of the seventh season they basically just did away with them aside for a couple of appearances that led to absolutely nothing. Yes I know he went with the traveler but why did they never expand on that? They hyped up one story, killed it, then created another and never expanded on it?
MovieFan1984@reddit
Wesley Crusher
TNG S1-3 = main cast
TNG S4 = left about 9 episodes in
TNG S5 = returned for 2 episodes
TNG S6 = absent
TNG S7 = returned for 2 episodes, the 2nd being the Wesley-finale.
Movies = absent (GEN, FC, INS), returned for Nemesis cameo (deleted scene)
Picard = pointless cameo in S2 finale
Prodigy = returned mid-S2 and remains front and center until the S2 (and series) finale.
Krimreaper1@reddit
Really strange the wasn’t in Picard s3 it would have added to the dynamic with Jack, JL and Beverly; instead we got a pointless cameo completely disconnected from the main story.
MovieFan1984@reddit
They blew the budget on S3, there were lots of characters they wanted to include but couldn't, because they ran out of money. The S2 cameo could have worked, but he just came off as a creepy smiley kidnapper. The problem in that is the writing, not Wil Wheaton. He's almost always awesome in every acting role he does. He did his best with what he was given in writing and directing. Prodigy showed how to PROPERLY use his Wesley character. Listening to the voice of Wil, I think he had too much fun on Prodigy.
Krimreaper1@reddit
Yeah I saw that Janeway, and Barclay cameos were cut. And they were going to show that Ro and everyone else on that show were alive and captured. But they ran out of money. But have Tuvok promote 7 was a nice moment.
MovieFan1984@reddit
Yeah, it was fun to see that they could at least port over Tuvok. My main frustration is that the S1-2 cast got dropped, and we got a lot of Janeway name dropping as if we were building up to her showing up, only to get nothing.
Imagine if the Titan-A were joined by the original Voyager under Admiral Janeway.
Krimreaper1@reddit
And those twins were Data’s kids. I think She was also cut from making a cameo.
MovieFan1984@reddit
Technically, all of the synthetic residents of Coppulus are Data's offspring. No? Picard himself owes his resurrection to Max Murrdock, A.I. Soong, and Data.
Extra_Elevator9534@reddit
In Nemesis I think he showed up in one shot, maybe two. There was a bit more interaction that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Wesley was significantly involved as a Traveler in Season 2 of Prodigy. In the Prodigy finale, Wes blips in to visit his mother, and is introduced to his infant half brother.
Krimreaper1@reddit
Oh that’s interesting. Lois like there a lot of good stuff going on over there, I only saw an episode or two. The animation shows hasn’t hit with me. I did love with Boelmer showed up on Strange New Worlds
Extra_Elevator9534@reddit
Wheaton's work in both Picard S3 and through a 1/2 season of Prodigy were kept absolutely secret for quite a while.
This was at the same time that Wil was running his post-trek-episodes talk show "The Ready Room".
He was ALWAYS getting his friends from TNG on the show, all of them were saying 'we really need to get you in on an episode or two' ... and Wil couldn't say ANYTHING.
AnthonyfromPhoenix@reddit
He's on the ship in the holodeck in generations
MovieFan1984@reddit
Nope, his only film appearance was in Nemesis.
TiredCeresian@reddit
I wouldn't call the Picard cameo pointless. He revealed that he's been functioning as a Traveler, as set up in TNG, and he's offering Kore the chance to be a Traveler, too.
MovieFan1984@reddit
I call it pointless, because it contributed absolutely nothing to the episode. It's 100% random. The better ending for Kore would have been to just go out into the world and live a normal life. The whole Traveler thing was thoroughly explored on Prodigy S2, so we didn't need the Picard cameo.
TiredCeresian@reddit
Prodigy S2 hadn't happened yet.
MovieFan1984@reddit
That's not the point.
Wesley in Picard S2 finale = pointless, exists only because they had no idea how to end Kore Soong's story.
Wesley in Prodigy S2 = deeply connected to the main cast and the overall plot of the season. He's effectively main cast for half the season.
Tough_Dish_4485@reddit
Also brining back classic TNG characters was one of the show’s goals
MovieFan1984@reddit
True, but the S1-2 rule was only characters who fit into the story. Wesley's there for like 10 seconds just to whisp Kore away. It's random. LOL
tauri123@reddit
I just looked up that deleted scene on YouTube, what the hell why would they ever delete that that was fantastic
MovieFan1984@reddit
Director Stuart Baird didn't care. He was treating Nemesis as a stand-alone space film and didn't care about it being the finale film to a 15-year TV/movie saga.
Icecold_Antihero@reddit
I love Prodigy Wesley.
Siryeswecan@reddit
was about to say YEAH he gets a decent presence in Prodigy. Love that they can basically have him show up whenever they want in future series because of the traveler stuff. LOVE THAT FOR US
strangway@reddit
This is the definitive Wesley guide
MovieFan1984@reddit
pacard@reddit
https://i.redd.it/lggzq363we3h1.gif
MovieFan1984@reddit
pacard@reddit
Steely-Dave@reddit
colmatrix33@reddit
https://i.redd.it/kvwoc9bjch3h1.gif
snuggl3ninja@reddit
This guy shuts up
Steely-Dave@reddit
FooDogg86@reddit
Crusher:- “My names Wesley.”
Picard:- “He knows, Boy! Now shut up!”
Always made me laugh😂
pete_darby@reddit
In my head canon, Wesley rescued Voyager. It makes a darn sight more sense than the actual finale.
Informal-Business308@reddit
He became Dr Who
BuckyRainbowCat@reddit
TNG is a very idealized version of the future, and Wesley's storyline fails to or declines to interrogate things like the strong role that nepotism plays in his career trajectory as a young officer, or the psychological effects of putting a teenager on the bridge/at the helm of a ship of the line. To me (and perhaps may other fans) that makes him less engaging or relatable as a character.
DS9 as the "darker and edgier" counterpart, had a handful of much better episodes about young cadets facing the stresses of being on the front lines of battle, running a ship of the line, etc., and the physical and psychological tolls it can take. Nog has less nepotism going for him in his career, but unlike Wesley we see that Nog is aware of the advantages and disadvantages that he has in his network and is prepared to use them (a) to get into the academy and (b) while at the academy, to make the most of whatever opportunities he can. Lower Decks also takes the time to interrogate the role of nepotism in Starfleet.
Bassoobaru@reddit
Great points about how DS9 has a more realistic take. Nog’s story arc was really good. What does “ship of the line” mean? Ship on the front lines of battle?
z500@reddit
In the olden days it meant big ships that fired at each other as they passed each other in big lines. Not sure what it's supposed to mean in Star Trek
ManicRobotWizard@reddit
I think in ST parlance it’s meant to mean a ship of the main line. So, galaxy class ships would be ships of the line.
kometman@reddit
Pretty much that. It's an old navel term from days of sail. Look at those old sailing warships and think on how to best utilize them in a group action; the term makes sense then.
Patient-01@reddit
Promoted him and took away his ranking
poumonsauvage@reddit
Wesley was a Gene Roddenberry Gary Stu that faded out after Gene's death because he was the only one to really want that character and the writers did not want to focus that much attention and storylines on a teenager (besides, underage actors have stricter working hours).
That being said, I went to a con a couple of years ago which had a number of Star Trek TNG and DS9 actors and Wil Wheaton's table was the most popular one of them.
ilDuceVita@reddit
Gene Roddenberry's middle name is Wesley
Optimaximal@reddit
Big Rod did love the self-insert...
JohnLuckPickered@reddit
Its in his genes to be a rod and berries
itishowitisanditbad@reddit
Helps he has gone on to do a bunch of other stuff that nerdy people might have interest in too, where as some others are solely 'known' for their primary roles only.
I'd be willing to bet that a bunch of people lining up for him hadn't even seen TNG, or possibly star trek at all.
TheDrunkestofMonkeys@reddit
He does a lot of audio books. Great voice for it.
poumonsauvage@reddit
For sure, he's done a lot of other things, including Big Bang Theory which would draw some people. I just thought it was interesting that possibly the least popular former main cast character had the longest line.
Riri004@reddit
It always boggled my mind how they presented his character. He was presented as very childish but also allegedly super smart. I think at the end the character was exhausting poorly written and presented 5ey weren’t left with much of a choice. The actor also wanted to leave the show I believe.
skittlesaddict@reddit
My understanding is it had next to nothing to do with writing him off or any public polling results. His personal life was a complete disaster - namely, his parents - who made it impossible for him to continue in any meaningful capacity. Behind the scenes there was a lot of trauma.
Optimaximal@reddit
He's been pretty open about how most of the cast of TNG became his surrogate/found family whilst he was on the show, because his real family was toxic. I suspect if he had stayed in movies the pressure from his parents might have sent him down the same route as River Phoenix or something...
majin_melmo@reddit
“Most” of the cast… were some members of the cast mean to him? :(
Optimaximal@reddit
No.
TrekChris@reddit
Or Jake Lloyd.
TrekChris@reddit
He didn't even want to be an actor, his parents forced him into it. It was a lot like Macaulay Culkin.
RolandMT32@reddit
Who are "them"? Do you mean Wesley?
Wesley eventually left with The Traveler (the mysterious alien character who has knowledge about controlling time & space with your mind). I heard that behind the scenes, Wil Wheaton wanted to leave the show.
A quick Google search revealed this:
BaconConnoisseur@reddit
He was a prodigy and everyone knew it. Eventually the pressure from everyone’s ridiculous expectations broke him and he decided to become a space hobo. Now he just he just hops on ships and drifts from system to system.
IAmBadAtInternet@reddit
He’s the Trek version of “I could have gone pro at basketball but I blew out my knee”
aspazmodic@reddit
Skyrim'd
rockPaperKaniBasami@reddit
"..Maybee tomorrow I'll wanna settle down! Maybe tomorrow I'll just keep moving on.. doot doo do do .."
Extension-Concept940@reddit
I loved The Littlest Hobo!!
rkorgn@reddit
As a New Zealander so did I!
nthensome@reddit
How do you do, fellow Canadian?
rockPaperKaniBasami@reddit
I am well, fellow Canadian. Good to see you.
66Hslackerpro@reddit
Mainer here. Woodstock NB just across the border from me. The littlest hobo and the Beachcombers. Great to be a kid back then.
Sea_Positive_480@reddit
I got everything I need. Livin' free on trash booty. No, I don't suspect a thing. Blabloo blablooblee, hobo dreams!
AnAnonymousParty@reddit
"Coming this fall on the WB, from the makers of Roswell and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, you won't want to miss Space Hobo, starring Wil Wheaton and Neal Patrick Harris."
JTX35@reddit
He entered the gifted kid to burnt out adult pipeline
thomasmfd@reddit
TxCoastal@reddit
he's playing table top games now lol
longjumpingtote@reddit
Because he had left the show.
handlerofdrones@reddit (OP)
OK, but they brought him back in Picard and they never expanded on that either. Perhaps there’s a book or something out there? But there’s been a ton of other Star Trek shows as far as I’m aware none of them ever touched base on Wesley crusher
Ciserus@reddit
But understand that the Traveler story was TNG's version of sending Wesley to go live on a farm. They did the story because they wanted to write him out of the show, not the other way around.
There was never any intention of following up on that plot.
Then decades later Wesley had a brief cameo on Picard, but that was because Wil Wheaton is still a fan favorite (Wesley not so much).
drgath@reddit
Show? What show? I only know of the historical documents.
rickelzy@reddit
Surely you don't think Gilligan's Island is a...
Big_Geek4@reddit
Oh, those poor people…
MolybdenumBlu@reddit
Those poor people.
Imaginary-Clock6626@reddit
The details of Wesley and the traveler are in the Epstein files.
KoA07@reddit
They flew away on the USS Little St. James
zzupdown@reddit
My guess is that the writers couldn't conceive of what traveling the universe with the traveler would really be like.
Optimaximal@reddit
To be fair, Vash did shed some light on what that was like in Q-Less
anotherdamnscorpio@reddit
Will Wheaton went off saying a bunch of dumb shit about Kamala and Netanyahu yesterday and all I could think was "shut up wesley."
brachus12@reddit
that’s not old Wesley, this is
Garguyal@reddit
It's a shame he went all "cosmic being" on us. I would have loved seeing beardy Captain Crusher following in Riker's footsteps.
err404@reddit
Watch Prodigy for more Wesley
TAG08th@reddit
Honestly, that was a really satisfying story for him.
DeltaV-Mzero@reddit
Prodigy is good Star Trek writing
Someone give those guys the next series
LarkinEndorser@reddit
I would like more lower decks. Maybe we could call it the upper decks or something
CumulativeHazard@reddit
I just watched lower decks for the first time and have already started a rewatch! So good!
FerengiWithCoupons@reddit
upper decker
anapunas@reddit
Mid Decker? They aren't the high ranking staff.
FerengiWithCoupons@reddit
joke on words.
upper decker is when you shit in the top part of the toilet.
Marquar234@reddit
AKA Picard Season 2.
TAG08th@reddit
Prodigy was fantastic. I fully agree.
TomCBC@reddit
My second favorite of the current era. Prodigy was a little rough at first, but by the end of Time Amok it was f**king brilliant. Prodigy got better and better. Season 2 with Wesley was fantastic.
Choice_Chocolate5866@reddit
Why would I add a heaping pile of shit on a snooze fest?
Key-Engineering-3090@reddit
You mean all Trek?
void_method@reddit
He got off Picard's bridge.
BreakerFresh@reddit
Doesn’t he suffer from depression or something like that? I know he was into making beer.
jxd73@reddit
BTW it'd help if you know what he looks like now: https://imgur.com/a/tJSy9cu, and not go by that horrible AI generated aged up photo.
WideEntertainment942@reddit
talon5233@reddit
So, did he steal the idea of wearing a Trek uniform to a SW movie from when he appeared on The Big Bang Theory, or did they steal it from him?
WhiteKnightAlpha@reddit
Neither invented that idea. It's been around for a while, especially at conventions, so it's more of a tradition that both were following rather than theft.
talon5233@reddit
Well, I learned something today. Thanks.
Wahjahbvious@reddit
I'm pretty sure that episode of BBT predates The Last Jedi by rather a lot. That's not definitive proof of who did it first, but if I were guessing, I'd take it into consideration.
Peas-Of-Wrath@reddit
He snitched on Tom Paris. I can’t forget this.
mike_complaining@reddit
He sits inside a warp bubble with the traveller breathing his own farts for eternity.
Storyteller-Hero@reddit
Wesley became a time wizard -- he can warp reality and convert matter into other things with the power of his mind
Adult Wesley also belongs to the same organization as Gary Seven, and is possibly part of administration since he is seen doing recruitment.
RodinKnox@reddit
Wait, really? I did not know that Gary Seven connection. That is just delightful to me lol
Joe_Bob_2000@reddit
ViruliferousBadger@reddit
"When Wil Wheaton left Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1990, he was only 18 years old. In his recently updated memoir, Still Just a Geek, he recalls being a 16-year-old and thinking: "I'm going to prove to everyone that I can do more with my life than just be on Star Trek." Wheaton has been open about the emotional abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents. His mother lived vicariously through his fame and his father didn't care that acting wasn't how child Wil wanted to spend all of his time. His parents spent the money he earned and, as Wheaton notes in his book, he "felt like the only way [he] could earn their attention and approval was to be the best in the world at acting." So he left Star Trek to become a movie star, to prove his worth, and to make his parents proud.
Before jumping aboard the Enterprise, Wheaton was known from Stand By Me's cast, but commitments to Star Trek meant turning down sizable movie roles. Wheaton was cast in 1989's Valmont and only needed to be written out of a single The Next Generation episode to accommodate shooting in France. Wheaton believes that arrangement would've been no problem under Gene Roddenberry, but The Next Generation's newly appointed leadership allegedly claimed the episode in question was pivotal to Wesley, and simply couldn't happen without his involvement, causing the actor to begrudgingly turn Valmont down. Wheaton was then dismayed to discover he'd been written out of the episode he actually requested leave from — something the actor interpreted as a "message.""
Source: https://screenrant.com/star-trek-wil-wheaton-wesley-crusher-left-season-4/
Also, as one who found him really, really annoying in everything he did and felt he was ruining an otherwise great series:
Sorry, not sorry. :P
Ainz-Ooal-Gown@reddit
They tried to make him work and he just wasnt well recieved. So they started writing him off the show and gave him a plausible way to leave but made it so he could return if required.
criscodisco6618@reddit
When I was a kid there was a contest on Pop-Tart boxes to win a walk-on spot on TNG. Somewhere I got confused and for years believed that Wil Wheaton was the winner and that was how he got to be Wesley Crusher, and words can't express how much I resented him as a kid for winning when I had entered the contest, too.
SMc1701@reddit
Shave off a few pounds and he's the f'n same. He must have a picture aging in his attic at home.
danno49@reddit
He became Time Boy!
SnarlingLittleSnail@reddit
He was sold by Picard to the Time Rapist
SignificantPop4188@reddit
Epstein's Galaxy.
KoA07@reddit
Sidekick to The Traveler ™️
MFCoopRustyPetrillo@reddit
I’d love to hear from u/Wil himself.
Naive_Adagio_6396@reddit
Wheaton WORKS! he might be unlikeable to some, but few people get work at creative things they enjoy and are passionate about.
This video is when he worked at Video Toaster. https://youtu.be/fH3keLuj9OI?t=113
Site-Staff@reddit
His story was expanded greatly in the final season of Star Trek Prodigy.
majin_melmo@reddit
I always liked Wesley and Wil did a good job. I really don’t care if he’s a “self-insert” character 🤷🏻♀️
Negative-Fun1985@reddit
Wesley is and will forever be “Sam Rockwell” to me. He should have been in every scene of Picard asking if their was air before the landed anywhere. With Picard telling him to shut up before walking into biohazards blindly.
_Beatnick_@reddit
Ganntak@reddit
He was annoying and if Picard wasn't banging his mum he would never have been allowed anywhere near the bridge.
ansamnus@reddit
Not entirely true, he still wouldn't have let him on the bridge. It was the Traveller that changed his mind, and nothing else. He wanted to make sure he would be a good representative of Starfleet when he joined that group
WasabiZone13@reddit
No one liked him
0penetrator0@reddit
I like him in Big Bang Theory.
sladereacher@reddit
I liked his character, i never had a problem with him. I wish he could of been a full time character.
and1984@reddit
I liked him as the host on Tabletop Games in YouTube. He and his guests did some deep dives into board games.
mlmaas@reddit
That show was fantastic! I've used episodes to introduce games with my middle school students over the years.
and1984@reddit
Do you have a list of favorite games? I've been trying to find suitable games for my 5 year old (not middle School obviously).
mlmaas@reddit
I would tie the games to the grade level curricula. 6th grade was Amun-Re and Incan Gold; 7th was Settlers of Catan and Carcassone; 8th was Pandemic. I would also occasionally play some card games with them--Sushi Go! was and is a favorite. I'd say try that with your kid. The rules are simple, the mechanics are simple, and the graphics are cute!
and1984@reddit
Sushi Go is fun. The other one very close in spirit was "Go Nuts for Do Nuts." Thank you for your list. I appreciate it.
sorotomotor@reddit
Wesley was a missed opportunity for a Star Trek: Maquis Insurgency spin-off show. Hear me out:
In Preemptive Strike, Ro Laren is ordered to infiltrate the Maquis, but instead defects and joins the Maquis.
Meanwhile, Wesley graduates from Starfleet Academy. Starfleet Intelligence approaches Wesley with Ro Laren's original mission to infiltrate the Maquis. The training accident, Cadet Albert's death, and the court-martial from The First Duty is used a verifiable cover story to create credibility: Wesley is not fit for Starfleet and he is dissatisfied, so he wants to join the Maquis.
Wesley infiltrates the Maquis, discovers Nick Locarno has joined the Maquis. Nick Locarno confirms the training accident but does not trust Wesley. Wesley's intelligence-gathering mission is further complicated by Ro Laren who also suspects Wesley is working for SFI. Wesley discovers communications between Ro Laren, Locarno, and a third unknown Maquis: Wesley is being set up to test his loyalty and will be killed if he fails.
Wesley and Locarno are sent to attack a Cardassian supply depot but they are ambushed. During their escape, a firefight ensues: Locarno kills three Cardassian soldiers and Wesley is wounded. Wesley allows to Locarno to be severely wounded, then uses a Cardassian's weapon to kill Locarno and returns to the Maquis with Locarno's body as proof of his loyalty.
Maquis command believes Wesley but Ro is unconvinced and suspects Wesley murdered Locarno; Wesley believes their mission was sabotaged and the ambush was set up by the third unknown Maquis who Wesley now believes is a double agent.
Wesley struggles with his intelligence-gathering mission, the Maquis double agent trying to kill him, and his guilt for murdering Locarno.
Seriously, Paramount? Get at me. My number's in the book.
ValosAtredum@reddit
That’s a cool idea, but it is very much a modern-style show with a large overarching plot developing over an entire season. TV shows were still largely very episodic in the 1990s.
kathakana@reddit
He was having a lot of family issues outside of the show which impacted on his mental health and self confidence. He also went down the root of writing and podcasts and YouTube stuff like the table top gaming stuff. His writing is very good.
ModernDayHector@reddit
he saved the universe in one of the books
Greedy_Researcher_34@reddit
Didn’t he really hate Rick Berman? Word was he won the part for some movie, but Berman refused to release Wil claiming they were going to film a Wesley episode at that time, only to rewrite Wesley out of the story altogether.
fnordius@reddit
That's easy to believe, since by most accounts Rick Berman was not a good person: sexist, dismissive, and saw the franchise as a"comfort food" cash cow rather than as a way to tell compelling stories.
radioactive_walrus@reddit
Gene Roddenberry died and his special little boy self insert character was not interesting to the writers. That's what happened
FooBarU2@reddit
Ohhhh yeah!!
Learned on YouTube videos about this:
Eugene "Gene" Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991)
I italized the TIL the middle name.
An actor (?) early in, was talking about that young new character and why in Heavens name were they even in the script. A show runner like told them about the middle name.
The actor being interviewed presented a resting batch face for a moment..