I always liked Wesley, because in my family, I was Wesley. I was the smart kid who had to deal with grownups that weren’t always able to keep up with me. My classmates were usually upset when teachers “graded on the curve,” because I set the curve high.

Wes was the friend I needed but didn’t have. And when he finally developed his ability to travel, I didn’t blame him for leaving the adults behind.

Wil Wheaton was incredibly unhappy in those days because of his home situation. He did the best he could with a dysfunctional family, poor scripts, and writers who didn’t know what to do with his character. I’m so glad he came back for Picard and Prodigy! I hope we see more of him.