Star Trek fans react to the return of the “most despised character” in the Paramount series

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Star Trek fans react to the return of the franchise’s most controversial character.

In recent years, fans have been treated to several spin-offs, including Star Trek: Discovery And Star Trek: The Next Generationstarring Sir Patrick Stewart. Star Trek: Prodigy – an animated series by Kevin and Dan Hageman – whets the appetite of Trekkies.

The series follows a group of young aliens in the 24th century who find the abandoned spaceship Protostar and learn more about Starfleet. The ninth episode of the second season, released on Paramount+ earlier this month, included a surprise in the form of an unexpected cameo.

*Spoilers follow – you have been warned*

In the episode entitled “The Devourer of All Things, Part 1,” Wesley Crusher (Stand by Me Actor Wil Wheaton) returns.

Wheaton first appeared as a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation when he was 15, and returned in 2002 in the film Star Trek: Nemesis.

Wesley faced criticism from Star Trek fans, with some calling his character, a child prodigy who actively resented Jean-Luc Picard, “the most despised character” in the franchise’s history.

Wheaton himself commented on the negative reactions to his character: “When I was younger, people gave me so much trouble because of Wesley Crusher. There was a time in my late teens and early twenties when I detested Star Trek.

“It seemed so unfair that people who had never met me were so cruel and hateful to me just because they didn’t like a character I played on a television show. I wanted to put Star Trek behind me and forget that it had ever been a part of my life.”

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However, the reaction to the Starfleet officer turned traveler has changed in recent years, and many fans are happy to see Wheaton in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation – but the excitement was short-lived, as Wheaton was not invited back for the third and final season of the series.

Fortunately, Trekkies didn’t have to wait long to see Wesley again: he plays an important role in a rescue mission depicted in the animated spin-off. Star Trek: Prodigy – and one scene shows him visiting his mother, fan-favorite character Beverly (Gates McFadden).

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Fans are celebrating his return – shocking longtime fans who don’t yet realize that the fan base is now supporting Wesley.

One fan wrote: “We were all disappointed that Wesley Crusher wasn’t in #StarTrekPicard Season 3 after his cameo in the Season 2 finale. Thank the Travelers, #StarTrekProdigy had something much better in the works!

Another confused viewer wrote: “Crazy to say that Wesley Crusher is in Wonder had the best subplot with legacy characters than any other TNG Characters have in Picard.”

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One Trekkie echoed this, writing on X/Twitter: “Imagine if someone had told you 10 years ago that the best new season of Star Trek would be about Wesley Crusher helping a group of kids save Chakotay from being erased from the timeline.