I've been rewatching TNG and can't help but feel that Wesley Crusher doesn't get the credit he deserves. Yes, he was young and occasionally overstepped, but let's not forget the numerous times he saved the Enterprise with his ingenuity. Episodes like 'The Naked Now' and 'The Battle' showcase his quick thinking and technical prowess.
However, I know many fans found him annoying or felt he was given undue prominence. Some argue that his character was a 'Mary Sue,' solving problems too easily. But isn't that the essence of Star Trek? Celebrating individuals who excel and push the boundaries of what's possible?
What do you guys think? Was Wesley an essential part of the crew who brought a unique perspective, or did his character overshadow others unjustly?
I think that they ruined Wesley Crusher.
He was a good character and should have become what he was meant to be from the beginning.
OK, I must admit that he actually was a bit annoying sometimes. It was simply too much of "Wesley saves the day" and sometimes also too much of "Wesley mess up another of his experiments and endagers the ship" like the incident with the nanites or that time he almost exterminated his mother with that "warp bubble" project.
But he was likeable in some way too. The wonderkid bound to be a great Starfleet officer. I wish that he had developed into that.
It was actually sad that he was dumped in season 4 when he finally was about to become something. OK, logically he was out because he'd entered Starfleet Academy but they could still have had him as a main character, showing up from time to time.
He was actually very good in
The Game and some other episodes too.
And then they totally ruined him!
OK,
The First Duty was actually a good episode. He screwed up, but everyone can make a mistake which have worse consequences than expected. With a little help from Picard, he actually realized what was wrong and then he was brave enough to step forward andstand up for what he and his buddies had done.
Of course, he was punished for that but he could still have a great career ahead of him.
But
Journey's End actually destroyed the character. I mean, he comes back to the Enterprise as a spoiled brat, behaves like an idiot and interfere in things he shouldn't have interfered in. Then he sneak off with that slimy Traveler to "explore space" in some weird mumbo-jumbo way.
And ther have been no attempts to restore the character in following movies or series. Wasn't his participation in the movie
Insurrection cut before the movie was finished?
I would actually like to see Wesley return to Starfleet in some future 24th century series.
As for my own opinion of Wesley, I wasn't that fond of him in the beginning due to that "Wonderboy Wesley fixes everything" syndrome.
But when I got access to the internet and saw all the hatred which was directed at him on many forums, then I actually started to like him! I could never understand that hate.
