From the moment Star Trek Picard was announced, people asked me if Wesley Crusher would make an appearance. Until August of last year, I told the truth when I said that I would love to do that, but had no idea if it would actually happen. I’m pretty psyched that we were able to keep this secret as long as we did.
I want to take a minute and share why Wesley’s return to Star Trek is so deeply meaningful for me, why this is so much more than merely playing a fun cameo for two pages. I want to tell you what Wesley Crusher means to me, as an almost 50 year-old husband, father, and survivor.
I love Wesley Crusher. I cherish Wesley Crusher. I am fiercely proud of Wesley Crusher. It is an honor and a privilege to be the actor who played him. But that wasn’t always true. For far too long, I allowed my opinion of Wesley, and my opinion of myself, to be defined by others. And it hurt so much, I almost walked away from Star Trek entirely, just to get away from it.
Wesley’s fictional journey and my real life journey are remarkably similar. We were both incredibly smart kids who struggled to fit in with our peer group. Neither one of us had a relationship with our father (Wesley, because his father died when he was a baby, me because my father chose to be my bully instead of my dad). Both of us spent our entire lives on paths we did not choose, struggling every single minute of every single day to make the people who put us on that path proud of us. We both felt uncomfortable in our own skin, and ended up spending as much time in our intellect as we could, because that was a place that felt safe.
Our stories and paths diverge widely in our teens: he’s awkward and angsty, but genuinely loved and supported by the adults in his life, who encourage him to explore his interests. I’m awkward and angsty, but I’m invisible to my dad on a good day, and my mother does not see me. Instead, she only sees the kid from Teen Beat, and all the trappings that come with proximity to him that she can scrape up for herself. In my headcanon, Wesley felt alone because he didn’t get to regularly interact with kids his own age, and if his life mirrored my own at that time, a lot of kids he would have wanted to be friends with judged him before they knew him, because he was kind of famous. Let me tell you, when every room you walk into is filled with people who have already made up their mind about you before you even introduce yourself, you just stop walking into rooms. Or, at least, I did.
When Wesley saw his opportunity to forge his own path with the Travelers, his entire family supported him, they celebrated the end of one journey and the beginning of another. I did not get that support. When I was about 20 and left the series, followed quickly by leaving the entire entertainment industry, neither of my parents were there for me, at all. By this time in my life, my father had stopped trying to hide his contempt and disinterest for me, and my mother had essentially abandoned me to focus her energy on a friend of my sister’s, who was climbing the teen fame success ladder. My mom was always there when I was chasing her dream of acting fame, but when I needed a mom to help me figure out what I wanted to do with my life, she just did not show up at all. I was left entirely alone to try and figure out how to be an adult. It was terrifying. Luckily for me, when I was 23 I met the woman who would become my wife, and my journey toward discovering and realizing my dream began.
But let us go back to the moment when we each realized we were not on our paths, but someone else’s. Wesley and I both walked away from everything we knew, every expectation that was ever put on us, every person we ever cared about, because we both knew that something was not right in our lives, and if we were going to fix it, we had to figure out what it was. And to figure out what it was, we had to get off the paths we had been on since we were too young to know what a path even was.
Wesley was expected to be a Starfleet captain, or maybe a chief engineer. I was expected to be a famous film actor, or at least famous. We both accepted these expectations right until we didn’t. He got there before I did, but there was a moment when we both knew that we were pursuing dreams that were not ours, that they were more important to other people than they were to us. We needed time and space to find out who we were, and what our dream was.
When we had that time and space (or all of time and space, for Wesley), we could discover what was important to us, what we wanted to do with our lives and the time we had in this universe, who we were when we weren’t defining ourselves according to someone else’s expectations. During that time, I met more people than I can count who have told me how much Wesley means to them. They told me he inspired them, that they saw themselves in him at a time when they felt unseen by the people in their lives. They told me he helped them figure out what kind of person they wanted to choose for a partner in love and life.
For two decades I listened, while people told me the ways he was there for them. I never would have expected that he would also be there for me.
And yet.
Ron Moore wrote Wesley’s final episode, Journey’s End. Ron knew Wesley needed to do something different with his life. He knew that Starfleet wasn’t right for Wesley. He knew that Wesley couldn’t keep defining himself through someone else’s expectations. I don’t know if he knew that I also needed that (I didn’t even know it at the time), but like so many other people who watched Wesley’s story, I was inspired by Wesley’s courage and conviction. And I followed him out into the Great Unknown.
I was surprised to discover that as I got to know myself all over again for the first time, I also got to know Wesley. If Wesley could matter so much, to so many people, why couldn’t he matter that much to me, the actor who played him? It took a long time and a lot of work to find the answer to that question. I wrote a whole book about it, in fact. But what’s important is that much in the same way I had allowed myself to be defined by how I was measuring up to someone else’s expectations, I had allowed my relationship with Wesley Crusher to be defined the same way. And the end result of that was a lot of self-inflicted pain and sadness for me. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that around the same time I finally felt seen in the world, I was able to see Wesley the way so many others did. It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it. I was, and am, worth it. Getting to know Wesley Crusher, to see him the way he was seen by the people who loved him, to love him the way he always deserved to be loved … you can see the parallels, right? Believe me, it was all worth it.
Wesley and Kore may blink out of existence and never come back on camera again. Or they might go literally anywhere through all of space and time, from Strange New Worlds to Discovery to Lower Decks (but not to season three of Picard. Sorry, nerds.). I honestly don’t know what comes next for them in canon, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t spent some time thinking about it.
I may get to tell more of Wesley’s story at some point – his journey over the last 25 or so years is something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about – as a writer or as an actor. Maybe both. But even if that never happens, if I never get to be Wesley Crusher on camera again, I will have the privilege of hosting The Ready Room, where I get to be a Starfleet veteran, a member of the exclusive “Legacy Star Trek” club, and an unashamed superfan who gets to take other nerds into the Room Where It Happens. I get to celebrate everything we all love about Star Trek in all its incarnations, for my job.
I love the life I’ve built for myself. I love and am intensely grateful for the place in Star Trek that belongs to me, as the actor who played Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher, who now plays The Traveler Formerly Known as Wesley Crusher, who is the host of The Ready Room.
I and Wesley will always be part of The Next Generation for the rest of our lives, and that would absolutely have been enough. The fact that we both get to be part of not just The Next Generation, but also part of the larger Star Trek universe, is a privilege and a gift that I will never take for granted.
We talk about how Star Trek is so inspiring when it shows us what’s possible, what we can achieve for ourselves when we work hard and work together with compassion and empathy for each other. For me it goes deeper than that, because finding love and compassion for Wesley Crusher allowed me to find love and compassion for myself.
Welcome home, Wesley. I missed you so much. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you.
Picard is utter toss, you should never have returned for a fast buck. Lots of fans losing respect for you, hay at least you got paid to destroy startrek for the actual fans.
Picard is both a love letter to previous iterations of the franchise and a chance to see where life has taken one of the most beloved captains and his friends since we last checked in with them. Wil returned not for a fast buck but to say hello to his legions of fans and finally to make Wil’s headcannon that Wesley is off being a Timelord somewhere in the universe actual cannon. You in no way present your criticisms of Picard and instead eloquently suggest it is a “total toss.” This real fan loves and appreciates Picard, all of the actors and crew that give it life, Wesley, and Wil. I suspect that you are the sort of “fan” who is critical of Picard for its “wokeness” or some similar conservative BS, and to you, I say that the franchise was never meant for you and the fandom is better off without you. Good day, sir.
Go pound sand, you useless phlegm nozzle.
Interesting how “I didn’t like it and no longer respect you” somehow turns into “lots of fans.” You only speak for yourself, and if you can’t say something nice, keep your fingers off the keys.
So much anger over a television program, why? Please consider therapy.
Whatever you say, edgelord.
https://youtu.be/2sRS1dwCotw
Dude. Ever hear of that saying “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”?
I am glad to see Wesley again on Picard! But (and I will catch flak for this) you should have shaved the beard.
Almost cried… I burst into tears when I saw you back in star trek, I’m a little bit younger than you and looked up to your character as something to strive for when TTNG was on. So happy to see it come full circle.
Love will Wheaton and Wesley…Great!!!
I loved the character of Wesley Crusher as a young adult. He was smart, genuine, with a deep moral code and loyalty. I was one of those who always appreciated him and hoped I would have kids that turned out like him, because I looked way beyond the writers into this extraordinary character and his gifts.
Since that time, my husband and I have raised wonderful kids with character and gifts of their own, kids whom I hope know how much they are loved and appreciated, and how proud we are of their achievements and their journeys to overcome obstacles and discover themselves.
Really enjoyed with how you portrayed Wesley in this. An older Wesley who has seen some things and has the weight of his calling but with deep compassion. A Wesley who knows himself more.
Just finished Picard. Your appearance was one of my favorite moments. You made an old need happy. Thanks!
Your work and your openness are such gifts. Thank you for sharing all of your experience with us. I feel unworthy on many levels, but I also feel, as I read your words, “YES!” and “I understand this….it wasn’t my path, but I understand it and I get it.”
The daughter of a narcissistic mother and absent (until his final years) father, I was also awkward and angsty. Feelings I had were completely discounted. Ignored. Occasionally mocked and laughed at. The healing is worth it – and finding love has made the difference – I celebrate everything I see of you and your love enjoying life and laughing together. Your journey together gives me hope and helps me see that the journey can be a joy and is well worth it.
The moment last night when my love and I were watching Picard and you showed up on screen, I dropped my coffee and said, “BUT….I thought he was at Starfleet or something!” My husband told me Wesley’s story – couldn’t understand why I didn’t know and I had to remind him that I hadn’t watched all of TNG episodes so really had no clue! You made me want to watch them all – but knowing this, that Wesley found his peace and his place, it helped.
I wonder if you know how much your truth helps people? I once saw a video of you showing compassion to a little girl who had been bullied. You earned my respect and admiration with that. Please never stop doing what you do. You are saving lives just by being your joyful self. Please never lose that spark. It’s inspiring. Respect and love to you and yours. This is gratitude trying (badly) to find the words. Thank you.
Wil, I was so happy as a fan of your work and a fan of your character. It was my favorite scene in an episode that was so awesome. I really hope we see you reprise this role. As a kid when you were in the show, it brought greater interest for me in THG. Back then I really wanted to see you in more episodes and see how the characters story develop . But now, I put your appearance up there with Mark Hamil’s appearances in the Star Wars tv franchises. We WANT more Wesley! Congratulations.
Wil,
Since you are so obviously happy to be acting in Star Trek again, I am happy for you. You are fine actor and though I know that you could pull it off if you needed to, I can’t help but believe that your portrayal of Wesley practically radiating “I have the coolest job in the Universe” required very little of the skills that you’ve developed. There is not a moment of that scene that not evoke joy. I watched it three times. My only regret is that Wesley is such a powerful force, that he can’t be used very often.
p.s. My headcanon is now that Wesley sent Gary Seven to his Assignment: Earth.
What a fantastic surprise!
Thanks for doing such a great job keeping it a secret. A pure joy to see you back in Trek.
Congratulations!
I cannot WAIT to read “Still Just a Geek” — it’s on my library waitlist. I have been putting off watching the second Picard season though because the show is so intense I need to take some time afterwards to feel it and think about it. I will catch up now! I’m so happy for you and the life you’ve built. This post is beautiful and so touching. Thank you!
I hadn’t been paying attention and was surprised when Westley showed up. It was such a loving tribute to the boy that was and I cried.
I cried 6 or 7 times watching the season finale. I usually get choked up here and there in practically every episode (the low brass coming in at the end of the Discovery opening always gets me), but there was so much good stuff, I kept getting overwhelmed. It was fantasic! I was wondering recently what Wesley might be like as Traveler, so there was an additional satisfaction. Congratulations!
I can’t tell you how happy and excited I was to see Wesley Crusher again. I love all the TNG characters but Wesley was the most relatable. And I have so enjoyed watching Wil on the Ready Room that his appearance in Picard made it that much sweeter. What Wil said about being Wesley again nearly brought me to tears. It was so genuine. Very happy for where you are in life Wil Wheaton. Live long and prosper.
After your recent posts about not being in Picard, Wesley’s appearance completely blindsided me and I couldn’t be happier! For so many years, particularly since his never-explained background appearance in Nemesis, I’ve wanted to know how life went for Wesley. We got glimpses of most of the other characters, but even those we didn’t were adults with career paths and directions of travel we could feel reasonably confident about. Wesley never had that – he was, for so many of us a bit younger than you, a kind of avatar for all of our potential and all of our uncertainty about growing up. Not knowing how it worked our for him was actually a little bit traumatic because of that, so it feels great to finally know that he found his path and purpose, and seems to be living a happy and fulfilled life. May we all be so lucky.
A very unexpected and very welcome surprise. Wesley was important to me growing up. If I never see him on screen again this does bring some closure to the character I didn’t realize I needed.
I’m really happy for you that you got another appearance on Trek! Congratulations!
Soooo…..I saw this blog before I saw the episode. I saw the title and the pic and immediately closed the tab. I didn’t read the words. But yeah. I knew. The secret for so long no more for me. So I wasn’t surprised when I heard your voice and you sauntered in frame. I probably would have jumped out of my seat and cheered or at least gasped had I not known. But I did know, so I didn’t have that reaction. So, yeah. Spoiled. (We watch Thursday nights, as the episodes come out very early Thursday morning and then we are at work all day. I avoid Twitter, etc, but never thought to avoid here – it was a well-kept secret indeed.) But I still loved the exchange and was so, so happy for you. And TAPESTRY?! Really, Wil?! Pulling on the threads? I see what you did there in Chicago in your panel. LOL. Also, the response from my roommate, who did not know, was: “I approve of this.”
Agreed. We approve. Would love to have seen it unspoiled, but that’s ok. These things happen, and I get it. I had held out hope that maybe this was a promo pic from something else somehow (ie, next season, where I could just wait and see how it was going to happen and maybe still be a little suprised), but alas. I’m happy for and proud of your journey with this, Wil.
I was delighted to see you as Wesley on Star Trek Picard tonight. Such a brilliant way of rounding up a plot line: I hope this will lead to more in the future. Thank you!
I don’t know what happens next, but I have ideas and I like to write stories, so…
I loved your cameo on Picard. Even though you won’t be in season 3, I hope we get to see a Star Trek: Travelers series.
Either way, as a fellow survivor, I’m familiar with the pain you write about from your parents.
I’m glad you’re thriving – you’re an inspiration to us all.
Thank you for the work you’ve done and continue to do!
Even more importantly, thank you for sharing your inner thoughts with all of us. Your writings about mental illness and depression really helped me get through a dark time in my life.
You are truly a gift to the world. As a teenager, you were manipulated into giving us your gift. I’m grateful that, as an adult, you have now chosen to give the gift of Wil on your own terms.
I’m still squee-ing internally after seeing you (and Wesley) on screen last night. That was truly, insanely awesome, and I am so freaking happy for you. It was the PERFECT full circle for both of you, and on the tails of your becoming a NYT Best-Selling Author to boot… HOT DAMN!
Tonight we’re going to watch Strange New Worlds and Ready Room (after we return from seeing Dr. Strange!) and I’ll probably pass out from joy. Real tears. Much love.
Great post and great surprise!
Thanks for coming back to the Trek universe, Wil. At our house, a room full of jaws collectively hit the floor, with gasps, when you were revealed… then lots of excited screaming, after a period of dead silence as you performed your scene and we all froze in our seats to absorb it. So happy to see a reprisal of this role, for however long it may last. Wesley was the most relatable character for me growing up.
Thank you for representing us “geeks”. 😉
I cried through your entire scene. I was so, so happy to see you back. Congratulations, and thank you.
This scene was my single favorite moment in all of Paramount+-era Star Trek. Nothing that’s come before makes me as happy as seeing Wil – and Wesley – on Star Trek again. I’m so very, very glad for you, Mr. Wheaton.
Fantastic to see you appear in Picard, felt good to see Wesley back on screen and to know that it’s now possible for Wesley to make appearances elsewhere in the franchise too. Nearly finished the audiobook of Still Just a Geek and absolutely loving it – fantastic work.
It’s a pleasure and always interesting on many levels to follow your work, be it television, your writing or any of your other activities.
Hope to see, read and hear a lot more !
Regards
I was screaming “yes, hell yes!” at the top of my lungs at my T.V. the moment I saw Wesley on screen. It was great to see him back. And a fantastic secret kept.
I’m so glad you got to play as Wesley again, and this post has my eyes brimming with tears. Some of them happy for where you are, and some sad for the journey you had to go through. I hope Ron Moore did write that episode as a way to help you find your way out of the situation you were in; sort of a subconscious guidance implanted through playing the character.
Maybe you can write a novel (or series of them) to fill in some of Wesley’s offscreen adventures? Make it so, if you want to.
Thanks for sharing so much with us.
I gasped out loud when I saw Wesley walking up behind Kore, I was so happy for Wil/Wes and felt such a sense of a victory–finally, that’s what we wanted to see! Love the Ready Room and love your exuberance…thanks for being you!
I just read an article that came up in my newsfeed about your appearance on Picard and my heart was so glad for you that you were able to come back to his character after so long. Teenage me had always hoped Wesley would return someday. I don’t watch much TV these days or have any paid channel services, so it’s highly unlikely I will ever get to see it. It doesn’t make me any less glad for you. Congratulations!
I was one of those hoping for your return in season three, but knowing the way you (and Wesley) had been treated in the past I wasn’t holding out much hope. I’m currently listening to the audiobook version of ‘Still Just a Geek’ and enjoying it a great deal,(I’m the guy who keeps asking on Facebook to interview you) but I had no idea that you would be getting in on the action in this season. I normally avoid social media before I watch the latest series of Picard, so I was blown away by your appearance in the finale. It was so great to see Wesley (and you) again. I’m stoked (is that just an English term?) for you, man. Congratulations!
I was so happy to see you appear in Picard. So unexpected, I had to stop the episode for a minute to take it it. I thought Q was going to appear and it was Wesley. After a sleepless night where I on and off listened to Still Just a Geek as well, I had a Wil Wheaton 24 hours. I loved your cameo.
I love, love, loved seeing Wesley again! The joy on your face in that scene warmed my heart like you wouldn’t believe. I’m just about finished listening to Still Just a Geek and… words are failing me here. You’re one of my heroes, Wil. Keep on being awesome!
Best moment of the episode was the return of Wesley. You and I are the same age and you were my favorite character on the show. Well done.
I’m not entirely sure this will reach you. I’m not as technologically advanced as my son.
When StarTrek NG came out I was in my 20’s and a full fan.
A decade later after marriage and having a son of my own, who was very intelligent, precocious and never really fit in as the world had not caught up to him; I was so pleased he looked to your character as a role model.
When taking him for college tours nothing really spoke to him until we walked on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology and he saw in a dorm room – on one wall a Big Bang Theory poster, opposite of a Star Trek poster. He turned to me and said:” Mom, I’m home!”
This past week I watched the season finally of Star Trek-Picard. I literally cheered out loud when you appeared. I texted my now 29 year old son, who texted about abruptly “Mom, not now…Wesley Crusher just walked onto the scene!”
Your character was so calmly confident and posed, it was a thrill to know that your character had come into their own.
As a mother, I am warmed by the fact that there are many more male and female “Wesley Crushers” out there that have found their way and had such a wonderful role model. I am also pleased you were able to share in the “swan song” of the StarTrek NG saga. You earned your way there.
I know you have had challenges in your life and am so pleased you have come out the other side with grace and style.
Hope this finds you healthy and happy.
Thank you again for providing an outlet and role model to all those who are waiting for the world to catch up with them.
A thankful mother
I´m Spanish fan (42 yo) of Star Trek since start view TNG on TV when I was 9 or 10 ( i dont remember), and Wesley ever was one of my favorite characters, cause he es the dream of any smart kid….travel across the universe. I didnt want be a Police, Fireman, Soccer player…..i wanted to travel to the space. Today, many nights see to the night sky, stopping on every star….thinking about it. And Wesley its a part of my growing as a adult father, trying to make my sons to achieve his dreams. I like Wesley….but also like you, for teaching us that TV shows can make you dream… but they are not reality either.
The reality of your life is what you do every day, and that is the really hard work.
Thank you so much Will.
Acting was questionable, can you play tge character minus the constant smug look?
I don’t really need your notes, buddy. I’m good.
I don’t know why you needed to try to tear down someone who is celebrating something they care about, particularly in the context of that person sharing their abuse recovery as part of the celebration, but I’ve lived long enough to know that when someone does what you did, they are hurting for some reason or another. I hope whatever pain you’re in is healed sooner than later.
You don’t need my notes either – but for what it’s worth I loved how you played it.
So glad you resisted the temptation to play it spooky and mysterious (and Travelery).
Tbh I’d expect someone with transcendental power over time, space and thought and knowledge of all the secrets of the universe to be a little more smug if anything.
Instead I just felt Wesley’s joy and his undiminished humanity and that really hit the mark for me.
Loved seeing you in TNG. So I was so happy to see you in Picard that I actually jumped out of my chair, saying “Yes!” so many times. I will be looking for your books now that I know about them. 😊
The fact that you saw smug when I saw joy and excitement says a lot about you, not Wil’s acting.
I’m a few days behind, but managed to get to this without TOO MUCH of a spoiler.
Wil, I.AM.SO.HAPPY.FOR.YOU! What a fabulous way to come back full circle and celebrate EVERYTHING you brought to Star Trek (and maybe, everything Star Trek brought to you).
You sent yourself. <3
I’m so happy to see you return to star trek and the fact that it happened on Picard is perfect. I too was (still am) a lot like Wes and yourself it seems, mostly in ways I don’t want to go into. However I never really liked Wes, of course I didn’t like myself much either. Also I’ll admit I was jealous, “if some awkward kid is going to pilot the enterprise why the hell can’t it be me” kind of thing. Finally a character like Wes on Star Trek is a tough balancing act, you can very quickly go from being an awkward kid seeing yourself in Star Trek to being an awkward kid thinking so that’s how the writers of Star Trek see me and that can quickly magnify anything you don’t like in a character. So really my feelings about myself got transferred to Wesley, sorry about that. After star trek I didn’t see you in anything till Big bang theory and I’ll be honest my reaction was “really of everyone one on tng the got Wesley Crusher” and I freely admit I had to eat those words cause you were awesome on that show and one of my favorite character arc’s. I’d like to see more of you and Wes in Star Trek. For a while now I’ve thought it would be fun if Wes found kes out in the cosmos somewhere and the two of them get to have their own adventures and live their own story instead of trying to fit into someone else’s.
Hi. I have to be honest I was never a fan of Wesley on TNG but I became a fan of Wil watching The Ready Room. I’m a big fan of Discovery and Picard and was blown away with the first episode of Strange New Worlds. I watched the last episode of Picard and the first episode of Strange New Worlds back to back. I enjoyed both but I have to admit, seeing Wesley again was wonderful. I just seemed right.
Wil, I nearly jumped for joy when I saw your cameo. Genuinely the best surprise of the series. I thought foe sure that they over powered you so you couldn’t show up. But they found a way. I think the show runners and writers were trying to tell you something way back when.
It made me sooo happy to see you on Picard. I’m a huge fan and it was awesome to see again in the Trek universe.
I would love it to see you pop up as a Traveller in Discovery, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds, that would be fantastic too 🙂
A few days late, but … f*ckiing brilliant. Literally, a joy.
It is so good to see you – and Wesley – honored in a way that respects and celebrates the character and the man behind the character. Of all the wonderful, neat, and ‘yes!’ moments in recent Trek, this is the one that is most overdue and deserving of celebration.
Thank for you for saying ‘yes’ to the invitation (I imagine there were mixed feelings!). And thank you for giving us the opportunity to join in the celebration of you, Mr. Wheaton, both in Trek and in the many ways you have exceeded even that wonderful galaxy of stories through your story.