Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Picard Season 3Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended with Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) doing something that Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) never could. Jack is the son of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), which makes him Wesley’s younger half-brother. Both Crusher boys are children of cosmic destiny: Wesley became a Traveler who defies space and time while Jack was born with organic Borg DNA that turned him into Vox of Borg, a transmitter that briefly assimilated Starfleet. And, when it comes to Starfleet, Jack’s achievement bettered his big brother Wesley.
Unlike Wesley, who came of age aboard the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jack didn’t know his father, Jean-Luc, until Crusher was in his early 20s. To keep Jack safe from Picard’s myriad enemies, Beverly raised him far from Starfleet’s reach. Together, Jack and Beverly performed Doctors Without Borders-like missions in regions of space untouched by the United Federation of Planets. After a brief encounter with Admiral Picard when he was 18, where Jean-Luc didn’t realize he was speaking to his son, Jack came away disillusioned with Starfleet and the legendary former Captain of the Enterprise. But Jack ended up a chip off the old block after all by the time Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended.
Star Trek: Picard’s Jack Crusher Did What Wesley Crusher Never Could
Unlike Wesley Crusher, Jack Crusher successfully graduated from Starfleet Academy and became a Starfleet Officer. Ensign Jack Crusher even received an appointment aboard the new USS Enterprise-G. Similarly, Wesley served as an Acting Ensign aboard the Enterprise-D under Captain Picard’s mentorship in Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, when it came to his time at Starfleet Academy, Wesley wasn’t nearly as successful as Jack, who completed a one-year accelerated program to gain his commission. Although, Jack also credits his fast-track rise to “nepotism” thanks to his father, one of the most famous men in the galaxy, which likely has a ring of truth to it.
Wesley was a boy genius who also had Captain Picard’s backing, but his Starfleet Academy career was marked by scandal. Wesley joined Starfleet Academy’s elite Nova Squadron, but his participation in the coverup of his classmate’s death left him in disgrace. Wesley never completed his Academy tenure; he resigned and became a Traveler after a vision of Wes’ father, Jack R. Crusher (Doug Wert), showed him he had a destiny beyond Starfleet. Confusingly, Wesley reappeared in uniform with Lieutenant’s pips at the wedding of Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) in Star Trek: Nemesis. However, in Star Trek: Picard season 2’s finale, Wesley returned as a full-fledged Traveler and no longer considers himself to be the human Wesley Crusher.
Will Wesley & Jack Crusher Meet In Star Trek: Legacy?
Jack and Wesley Crusher did not meet in Star Trek: Picard season 3, which was one of the final season’s few disappointments. Although, Ed Speleers was a guest of Wil Wheaton’s in his Star Trek after-show, The Ready Room. However, Jack and Wesley meeting is a potential event that Star Trek: Legacy, the proposed spinoff of Star Trek: Picard season 3, can deliver. According to Wil Wheaton’s Traveler headcanon, Travelers are never supposed to interact with their former lives, but Jack could be a rare exception since he is a fellow being of cosmic import.
Even though Jack’s destiny to assimilate Starfleet as Vox of Borg was averted, Q (John de Lancie) has transferred his fascination with Jack’s father, Jean-Luc Picard, to his son. According to Q, Jack can impact the fate of the galaxy, and this could possibly draw the attention of the Travelers, specifically Wesley Crusher. Star Trek: Legacy could not only finally show Jack and Wesley meeting, but it could also define the powers of the Travelers against the omnipotence of the Q Continuum. Meanwhile, Ensign Jack Crusher will enjoy the Starfleet career aboard the Enterprise his brother Wesley turned his back on by quitting Starfleet Academy.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is available to stream on Paramount+.
