Why did the writers make Wesley that way?

[SmoothieX]

I didn't mind the idea of a child prodigy type character who despite how smart he is, still has to do some growing up along the way.

What I didn't like was the "after school special", "one to grown on" moments they kept throwing at us early in the series.

But whatever the character of Wesley was, he was never as irratiting to me as Troi's mother.

Jumping in a snake filled pit would be less irritating than her. I couldn't stand her for the most part either.

 

[cultcross]

Nebusj said:

cultcross said:
basically its a variation of a Mary Sue character - it's how Gene wanted to be at that age, the perfect boy wonder protégé who only did wrong when it was a perfectly understandable mistake he could learn and grow from. Nice for Gene to see in the flesh on TV but not a character that fits interestingly into a drama series.

I have seen it alleged that part of the plan for the series was that Wesley Crusher, William Riker, and Jean-Luc Picard were meant to in a sort of abstract English-major way represent the same personality at three points in his life. Now and then it kind of comes through, particularly in Picard's relationship with Wesley, and I have to say that's a sound idea.

At least, I can certainly believe that the young Picard was a somewhat over-competent-for-his-age overly enthusiastic kid who drove everyone around him up the walls. Whether Roddenberry realized his prescription for Wesley was that personality type, he did pick a reasonable one, I think.

that's an interesting way of looking at things, I can see that myself actually - starting out as Wesley, going to the academy and losing a bit of his wonder-child angle, having a bit of a rebellion as Riker (Tapestry), then mellowing like later-Riker, overdoing it, overcompensating and become the Picard of Seasons 1 and two, then finally find a happy medium in his advancing years. One man's journey, viewed all at once through 3 characters.
i like it

 

[Spot's Meow]

I've always liked Wesley. He is my third favorite character behind Data and Picard. I can understand why some people don't like him, but I guess his overachieving attitude never bothered me. I could relate to him in a lot of ways.