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Wesley Crusher

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

Cadet Wesley Crusher in 2368

Gender: Male
Species: Human
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Rank: Lieutenant junior grade
Status: Active (2379)
Born: 2348
Father: Jack Crusher (deceased)
Mother: Beverly Crusher
Marital Status: Single
Other Relative(s): Paul Howard (grandfather),
Isabel Howard (grandmother),
Felisa Howard (great-grandmother)
Played by: Wil Wheaton,
William A. Wallace

Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher in 2365

Wesley Robert Crusher was the gifted son of Starfleet officers Lieutenant Commander Jack Crusher and Dr. Beverly Crusher, born in 2348. His promising Starfleet career was cut short, leading him to a unique life accompanying the transdimensional Tau Alphan dubbed The Traveler, last seen in 2370. He had returned to Starfleet by 2379.

Contents

[edit] Enterprise

When Wesley was only five, his father was killed while serving on the USS Stargazer under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Several years later, fifteen-year-old Wesley found himself living aboard the starship USS Enterprise-D when his mother became Captain Picard's chief medical officer. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

Wesley often was a challenge for the captain because of the captain's resentment toward children, though his early genius, extensive knowledge of engineering, and top grades on scientific examinations continuously impressed Picard. These same characteristics were, in part, the cause of Wesley suffering from loneliness when he was young as his peers were intimidated by his bright mind – he also showed a tendency to take his duties almost too seriously.

Wesley excelled at his studies aboard that vessel and through the primary school found himself participating in work-study programs alongside many of the Enterprise's senior officers.

When the crew of the Enterprise became infected with the polywater intoxication virus that caused loss of emotional control, Wesley also became infected. He took control of engineering and watched as Jim Shimoda pulled out most of the isolinear chips that controlled the navigational system of the ship, putting the ship in danger when a stellar core fragment was hurtling in their direction. However, the incident did allow Wesley to display his knowledge of the ship's inner workings. (TNG: "The Naked Now")

During a visit to the planet Rubicun III, Wesley violated one of their laws by disturbing new plants and was to be sentenced to death. Picard discovered that the people known as the Edo were controlled and provided for by a mysterious object in space. It was the inhabitants of this vessel who had passed judgment on the Enterprise crew. Picard ignored the Prime Directive and beamed Wesley to safety, preparing to battle the ship in space. Nothing happened and the ship faded away. (TNG: "Justice")

Wesley as he would appear at age 25, according to Riker with the power of Q

Wesley was given his wish of being ten years older after Commander Riker was given the power of the Q, but he rejected the offer stating that he wanted to get there on his own. (TNG: "Hide and Q")

In the attempt by Lore to hijack the Enterprise, it was Wesley who discovered that Lore was impersonating Data. Late that year, Wesley would take the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. Although he did not pass this time, his spirits were lifted by Picard who told him he too failed the first time. (TNG: "Datalore", "Coming of Age")

When the Aldeans kidnapped the children on the Enterprise because they were unable to procreate, Wesley led the children in acts of noncooperation. After the Enterprise offered to cure the Aldeans, they released the children. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")

In 2364, Wesley befriended The Traveler when he accompanied Kosinski aboard the Enterprise-D to assist with warp drive efficiency upgrade experiments. When the ship was transported millions of light years to the M-33 Galaxy, Wesley assisted The Traveler in returning the ship to known space. It was just before the Enterprise's return to its original position that the teen's Mozart-like genius potential was tapped into with the help of The Traveler and his destiny became known to Picard and Dr. Crusher. Captain Picard was so impressed with Wesley's contributions that he granted Wesley a field commission to acting ensign. (TNG: "Where No One Has Gone Before")

Crusher eventually met Salia, a young girl who was to be the ruler of Daled IV. Salia was tended to by Anya, an allasomorph who could change shapes. She threatened Wesley but was stopped by Salia. Although she, too, was smitten with Wesley, she chose to do her duty and left the Enterprise. (TNG: "The Dauphin")

In 2365, William Riker assigned Wesley command of a science team with the mission of investigating Selcundi Drema. Wesley chose Prixus, Alans, Hildebrant and Davies to serve on his team. (TNG: "Pen Pals")

Crusher promoted to full ensign

One of Wesley's experiments went wrong and almost destroyed the Enterprise. He had created nanites, small robots, that were replicating and becoming sentient. After a scientist on board Enterprise, Dr. Paul Stubbs, tried to kill them because they had interfered with his experiment, they attacked the ship. Data allowed them to enter his body in order to speak through him, and a solution was found. (TNG: "Evolution")

Wesley successfully completed his written exams for Starfleet Academy in 2366 but did not complete his oral exams that year when he failed to board the USS Bradbury for the journey to Earth. When reviewing his service record, Captain Picard felt that Wesley's service made him an acting ensign in name only, and promoted him to full ensign, with all responsibilities and privileges – including the right to wear a Starfleet uniform. Wesley served as ensign aboard the Enterprise for the next year before leaving to become a cadet. (TNG: "Ménage à Troi", "Final Mission")

[edit] Starfleet Academy

After being accepted to Starfleet Academy, Picard offered to travel with Wesley to the Academy, but first had to stop on Pentarus to mediate a dispute. The two were to travel with a representative of the planet named Dirgo. Their shuttle crashed and they were stranded on a desert planet. They found a water fountain in a cave but it was guarded by a force field. When Dirgo fired on the field, an electrical pulse discharged causing a rock slide that seriously injured Picard. Later Dirgo was killed by the same pulse. Wesley was able to disengage the force field and get water, saving Picard. They were rescued by the Enterprise. (TNG: "Final Mission")

A year later Wesley visited his mother on the Enterprise for vacation and discovered that the crew had come under the influence of a diabolical game that was really a mind control device. It was given to Riker on Risa in an attempt to capture the Enterprise. Wesley and Data were able to disable the devices and restore the crew to normal. (TNG: "The Game")

At the Academy Wesley became a member of the elite Nova Squadron. His graduation was troubled with a deadly accident with the Nova Squadron comrades, that precipitated an attempted cover up in which he participated, about the fact they were engaged in a dangerous and prohibited flight maneuver stunt called Kolvoord Starburst which caused the incident. He confessed after he was confronted by Captain Picard who deduced the truth and threatened to come forward with his evidence unless Wesley did. Wesley complied and as a result, he was spared expulsion, but his grades for that year were voided as punishment and he was required to repeat the course load. This penalty and the shame with it contributed to a significant loss of enthusiasm for a career in Starfleet. (TNG: "The First Duty")

Cadet Crusher resigned from Starfleet Academy in 2370 after The Traveler (posing as a villager on Dorvan V) guided Wesley to a vision of his deceased father telling him that his destiny lay somewhere other than with Starfleet. Wesley heeded the advice after which The Traveler revealed his true identity and promised to mentor the young man on his new journey, presumably to other planes of existence. (TNG: "Journey's End")

Attending the Rikers' wedding in 2379

Wesley attended the marriage of William Riker and Deanna Troi in a lieutenant's (junior grade) dress uniform. (Star Trek Nemesis)

It is possible that the uniform Wesley wore to the ceremony was merely decorative, in the same sense as Q would often appear in Starfleet uniform. Considering the abilities Wesley was exhibiting when last seen with The Traveler, this seems at least plausible.
In the non-canon novel A Time for War, A Time for Peace, Wesley's uniform was explained by him showing up for the wedding naked, expecting a Betazoid wedding, and the uniform was lent to him. In this scenario, Wesley was still a Traveler.
In a deleted scene in Nemesis, Picard is glad to see Wesley back in uniform, whereas Wesley states he has the night shift on the Titan. This scenario, which would be the more official scenario; Wesley returned to Starfleet at one point, possibly during the Dominion War.

In a parallel universe, Wesley Crusher served as a lieutenant on the USS Enterprise. (TNG: "Parallels")

[edit] Service Record

Flight controllers of the starships Enterprise
USS Enterprise-D: Allenby • Clancy • Crusher • Dern • Gates • Gibson • Graham • Haskell • Jae • La Forge • Lin • McKnight • Monroe • O'Brien • Rager • Reel • Ro • Solis • Torres • Wallace • Worf • Wright
USS Enterprise-E: Branson • Hawk • Perim
Operations officers of the starships Enterprise
USS Enterprise-C: Parker
USS Enterprise-D: Data • Worf • Crusher • T'Su • Wallace • Gleason • Mandel • Giusti • Sito • Lavelle
USS Enterprise-E: Data • Armstrong • Perim
Members of Nova Squadron
Nicholas Locarno • Jean Hajar • Sito Jaxa • Wesley Crusher • Joshua Albert

[edit] Appendices

[edit] Appearances

Wesley was a tactical officer in a parallel universe

[edit] Background

Wesley was played by Wil Wheaton. William A. Wallace played 25-year-old Wesley in TNG: "Hide and Q".

On the special The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation To The Next, in an interview with Gene Roddenberry, he says that Wesley was based on himself a little bit along his own memories of his youth although Roddenberry admits he was never the genius that Wesley was. (Gene's middle name was Wesley). In the early development of the series, the character was female, with the name "Leslie Crusher" (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion).

Wesley Crusher also has the distinction of being one of sci-fi's most hated characters. In a poll done by Maxim magazine only Star Wars' Jar Jar Binks topped Crusher's level of annoyance. The fans polled were mostly quoted as saying he was "forced down their throats."
(citation needed • edit)
The character of Wesley was accused of always saving the Enterprise, however Wil Wheaton, defends this aspect of the character during an interview on DVD special features, saying that Wesley only saved the ship 'one and a half times' although in his reviews of early TNG episodes, Wheaton understands where the fan's hatred comes from and lays the blame firmly at the feet of the writers for giving him such dialogue that makes Wesley seem so pretentious and (in the case of the episode TNG: "The Battle"), having Wesley deduce the answer from just "glancing" at sensor readings made everyone else (including in Wheaton's own words, "the hypersmart robot") look ridiculous and that even Wheaton hated Wesley after these kinds of scenes.

In a deleted scene from the Special Edition DVD of Star Trek Nemesis, Wesley explains at the wedding scene that he was being assigned to the USS Titan under Captain William Riker as part of the Engineering team. No explanation for his return from his journey with The Traveler was given. This scene is also featured in the novelization of Nemesis.

Crusher as Assistant Chief Engineer of the USS Titan

As part of Star Trek The Exhibition, Wesley appears as a Lieutenant Commander and assistant chief engineer on the USS Titan. This was first reported in January 2008 on Wil Wheaton's blog. [1]

Ronald D. Moore commented:

"I was the one who pushed to get Wesley out of the Academy and send him off with the Traveler. I felt that there was a built-in contradiction in a character that we'd said was like Mozart in his appreciation of higher mathematics and physics, yet was just on the same career path as any Starfleet cadet. I didn't get it – if Wes is truly special and gifted, what the hell is he doing at the Helm? It seemed like he was only going to the Academy to live up to the memory of his father and the expectations of Picard, not because it was his best destiny. "Journey's End" also seemed like an opportunity to see someone walk away from Starfleet with their head held high and just say "It's cool, but not for me." I was tired of everyone in the 24th century saying, "All I want to do is wear the uniform and serve on a starship." Hey, it's cool, but it's not for everyone. So I pushed to have Wes realize his destiny was elsewhere and have him walk away." (AOL chat, 1997)

In April 2002, ZENtertainment (a now-defunct Hollywood news source) reported [2] "Ashley Judd was on Letterman the other night to promote her new movie, High Crimes. Letterman surprised her with a clip of her appearance on TNG, where she went on a date with Wesley Crusher. Judd mentioned that she was reprising the role (of Robin Lefler) in Star Trek Nemesis as Wesley's wife." [3] This never happened, however.

This was also reported by About Sci-Fi, which added to the report "... Wil Wheaton, however, says he's heard nothing about that. Somehow, I'm not surprised Wesley doesn't know he’s married."

Later on, "Judd's spokesperson denied this cameo appearance." [4]

In August 2002, Wil Wheaton found out and reported [5] that his scene had been cut from Star Trek Nemesis. There was no mention (by him) about Judd or Lefler.

[edit] Apocrypha

In the "A Time To..." novel series, Wesley remained a traveler and was in a Starfleet uniform at Riker and Troi's wedding because he had appeared on Earth naked, expecting a Betazoid wedding and so Picard had a uniform beamed down from the Enterprise for Wesley.

In the Voyager novel Enemy of My Enemy, Wesley appeared during Chakotay's spirit walk.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Wesley_Crusher"
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