Star Trek Shares Doctor Crusher's Heartbreaking Starfleet Secret That Nobody Saw Coming

Star Trek shares Doctor Crusher’s heartbreaking Starfleet secret that no one saw coming. Doctor Crusher is one of Starfleet’s best Chief Medical Officers, and even headed up Starfleet Medical. However, these achievements come with a tragic backstory: she lost her husband in an accident, leaving her a single mom. While Crusher has overcome this loss, it still haunts her, and she makes a stunning confession in Star Trek #27.

Star Trek #27 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Mike Feehan and Tess Fowler. As the Theseus’ crew struggles to hold it together in the wake of Lore’s destruction of the multiverse, Doctor Crusher and Captain Sisko have a discussion about their pasts. Crusher equates her late husband, Jack, with Sisko’s deceased wife, Jennifer. Crusher then confesses that after Jack’s death, she had trouble trusting Starfleet, saying “they took everything from me.” Instead, Doctor Crusher learned to lean on her friends. Crusher then relates her dilemma to Sisko’s ongoing tempestuous relationship with the Bajoran Prophets.

Doctor Crusher's Tragic Star Trek Arc, Explained

Doctor Crusher Has Lost A Great Deal While Serving in Starfleet

Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) in Star Trek TNG (1)

For six of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s seven seasons, Doctor Crusher safeguarded the physical well-being of the Enterprise’s crew. After stints on the Enterprise as well as Starfleet Medical, Doctor Crusher signed on board the USS Theseus, under the command of Captain Sisko. During the course of her service, Sisko promoted her to Theseus’ first officer, a major career move. She was reunited, briefly, with her son Wesley at the Pleroma, the “Realm of the Gods.” Tragically, Lore destroyed the Pleroma, which created a ripple effect across space and time, destroying all creation.

Given Doctor Crusher’s extensive service record, it would seem safe to assume she is loyal to Starfleet, which makes her confession to Captain Sisko in Star Trek #27 a bit jarring.

Given Doctor Crusher’s extensive service record, it would seem safe to assume she is loyal to Starfleet, which makes her confession to Captain Sisko in Star Trek #27 a bit jarring. Her husband Jack, also a Starfleet officer, died while serving with Picard on the Stargazer. It was a freak accident, and nothing could have saved him. Doctor Crusher could have walked away from Starfleet right there, but chose instead to stay. Starfleet personnel accept that risk, and death, are parts of the job, and Doctor Crusher seemingly embodied this philosophy by continuing to carry out the organization’s mission.

Losing Wesley Affected Doctor Crusher More Than Fans Thought

It Is Not Hard to Understand Why Doctor Crusher Does Not Trust Starfleet

Star Trek #22, an aged looking Wesley Crusher stands in front of a cosmic swirl with images of his younger self.

In the years since Jack’s death, Doctor Crusher has experienced even more loss, namely her son Wesley. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Wesley enrolled at Starfleet Academy. Initially excelling in his studies, Wesley grew disillusioned with the lifestyle. Salvation for Wesley came in the form of the Travelers, a mysterious organization who safeguarded reality. Sensing something special in Wesley, the Travelers recruited him. He accepted the offer, but was forced to leave both his friends and his mother behind. When she met Wesley, she had not seen him in several years.

When the loss of her son is coupled with her husband’s death, it becomes clearer why she does not trust Starfleet. Jack gave his life, literally and figuratively, to Starfleet. While what happened was an accident, it can be hard not to blame Starfleet for it. Star Trek has hinted at Doctor Crusher’s years between her husband’s death and coming to the Enterprise, meaning fans did not see the immediate anguish she felt in the wake of his passing. Wesley departed her life at the end of The Next Generation’s run, thus leaving her feelings about it up in the air.

Doctor Crusher is a Survivor

The Pain Over Her Husband's Death Disillusioned Doctor Crusher

Dr. Beverly Crusher looking displeased on Star Trek: The Next Generation. — Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Yet IDW’s Star Trek comics have made it clear that Doctor Crusher did feel pain in the wake of Wesley’s departure, one compounded by the rules of the Travelers, which state they cannot visit family and friends. It is another loss Doctor Crusher has suffered, yet she continues to serve in Starfleet. Her confession to Sisko in Star Trek #27 gives insight into how she survived both the loss of her husband and son. It is heartbreaking to hear Doctor Crusher say she does not trust Starfleet, but her arc shows she is justified in saying so.

Star Trek #27 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!