Wesley Crusher is a fictional character from the Star Trek universe, played by actor Wil Wheaton. Wesley is a recurring character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, from the show’s premiere in 1987 until the end of the fourth season in 1991.
While some viewers found Wesley to be a petulant and unpleasant figure, others admired him for his wit and enthusiasm for science. Despite the conflicting opinions on the character, Wesley Crusher has a devoted fan following that values his brilliance, curiosity, and ambition.
Over the years, there have been countless rumors that Wesley Crusher has died, and some fans also speculate that the character’s death was mentioned in a deleted episode that never aired, hence claiming that the death of Wesley was a part of the storyline. But what actually happened to Wesley? Is he dead or alive? Let’s explore it. But first, we’ll understand the prominence of this character.
Junior grade Lieutenant Wesley R. Crusher was the talented child of Lieutenant Commander Jack R. Crusher and Doctor Beverly Crusher, both Starfleet officers. Wesley Crusher and his motherboard the Enterprise-D for the first time in Star Trek: The Next Generation shortly after Captain Jean-Luc Picard takes over as captain.
Picard informs Wesley and his mother, Beverly, that Crusher’s father has been killed under his command. Wesley then spent three years in the Starfleet Academy.
However, his Starfleet career was cut short when he renounced ties with UFP and became a part of trans-dimensional Tau Alphan, known as The Traveler, to travel across space and time, along with a group of interdimensional beings who possess powerful psychic abilities.
He then meets Kore Soong in the year 2024 and tells that he and his fellow travelers were in charge of creating the supervisors and the watchers to assist in safeguarding the existence of the entire universe.
Wesley returns to Starfleet Academy after his time with the Travelers, and by 2379, he finally joins Starfleet as a full-fledged officer. He is given the leadership of the USS Titan, which William Riker, a former captain of the USS Enterprise, is in charge of.
However, later on, Wesley departs the Enterprise, quits Star Fleet Academy, and joins the Traveler in the television episode Journey’s End of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This is the last episode where Wesley makes a prominent appearance on the show.
Even though Wesley Crusher is still active in the Star Trek universe, persistent rumors that the character has died have been circulating over time. How true is it?
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Is Wesley Crusher Dead?
In the episode of Justice (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Wesley is sentenced to death after inadvertently breaking the law on an alien planet. In order to save Wesley’s life, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) must deal with the planet’s ruthless and powerful defender while weighing his options over whether to go against the Prime Directive.
Hence, many fans speculate that Wesley was decapitated after this, in an unaired episode.
However, these rumors are not supported by any proof. In fact, Wil Wheaton himself has addressed the claims on numerous occasions and has declared that Wesley Crusher did not pass away in the series.
Well, busting these claims, Wesley was recently seen in Star Trek: Picard (2022), season 2, episode Farewell, which retconned the Travelers as a group aiming to keep the timeline in order. The Supervisors, who first appeared in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode Assignment: Earth and centered on Gary Seven (Robert Lansing) as their central figure, were later revealed to be the Travelers.
Wesley traveled to the 21st century with the Travelers to recruit Kore Soong (Isa Briones), the evil geneticist Adam Soong’s (Brent Spiner) daughter. Although he did say that he couldn’t ensure her safety, he still offered Kore the position. However, Kore gladly accepted the offer.
It seems like Wesley is still on the same cosmic mission as Season 3 of Picard begins. So, in short, Wesley Crusher did not die in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series or any other series.
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