The heart of the Universe
We have encountered extraordinary characters in the Star Trek universe over the last five decades. One of those amazing characters is none other than Dr. Beverly Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer of the Starship Enterprise-D. Not only was she an accomplished doctor and scientist, but she was also a mother. This is where her story showcases just what kind of person Beverly is.
Let's take a quick trip down memory lane, shall we?
Beverly didn't exactly have the most amazing upbringing. She was orphaned at a young age and was raised by the only family she knew; her Grandmother, Felisa. Beverly mentioned she was an awkward child, often lonely, and didn't have many friends. She survived a cataclysmic disaster on Arvada III before settling down in Caldos with her Grandmother. Beverly found solace in helping others and it gave her a sense of gratification and she decided to take those ambitions to Starfleet to become a Doctor. This is where she meets Jack Crusher, they marry and have a son named Wesley. Her new life with her family was a stark comparison to how she grew up and for Beverly, life couldn't be more perfect… or so she thought.
When Jack died in a Mission accident, Beverly was now a single mom of her 5-year-old son and was determined to make his life the best possible. She continued her career in Medicine and Science, even becoming a Commander. She also made sure Wesley had every opportunity to grow his interest and become who he needed to be. This leads them to Enterprise-D, where Beverly is now the Chief Medical Officer and her son can have hands-on experience with his interests. Though, her complicated relationship with the Captain, didn't deter her from doing what was best for not only Wesley but for herself. However, as Jean-Luc and Beverly grew closer, her relationship with Wesley grew apart.
As Wesley got older, he realized that following in his parent's footsteps and joining Starfleet was not the path he should be on. Wesley joined the Travelers, magical space and time beings, leaving Beverly behind. This was the hardest decision for Beverly because she always wanted to make sure to be there for Wesley and now that he was on a path she didn't fully understand, she was completely out of her element. This wasn't a typical empty nest syndrome, this was complete uncertainty about if she will ever see her son again. And sadly, she never really did…
Beverly's career and love life (to Jean-Luc Picard) was the only thing she had left in her life. Her family was now gone and all she had was her crew. She loved her crew of the Enterprise and they loved her just the same, but Beverly had a void in her she never thought she could fill. She wanted more children, but because the on-again off-again relationship she had with the Captain was uncertain, she didn't think it would happen. Especially because he made it very clear he didn't want to have a family. Yes, she could have moved on to someone else, but in typical "Beverly" fashion, she put others before herself and loved wholeheartedly and loved Jean-Luc very much to the point that it hurt. I do not believe she could have easily moved on and she wouldn't want a child just out of need. That part of her life was now over and she had to figure out what to do next.
After one last attempt at their relationship, Beverly and Jean-Luc broke up and she left the Enterprise. Even though Beverly was now alone and with only her career at hand, she was surprised to find out she was pregnant. Even though she attempted to tell Jean-Luc the news, she had a hard time getting it to him as he was always in some sort of danger. This is where Beverly's maternal instincts kicked in and she felt she had a second chance at being a mother and she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her child, not even the father. As much as she wanted to be a family with Jean-Luc, she couldn't in good conscience risk her child's life of the uncertainty of being the son of Jean-Luc Picard. It was bad enough that she had to endure the pain of his life being at risk, she couldn't do that to her unborn child. And after losing Wesley, she couldn't risk losing another child.
Beverly left her career and her entire life behind to raise and protect her son, Jack. This time was going to be different in Beverly's mind. With Wesley, she gave him the space he needed to grow and didn't hover over him, but she still lost him nonetheless. Since Jack was her second chance, she wanted to be a part of his life in a different way, expose him to many great things and share that experience with him. Though Jean-Luc was not far from her mind, she kept him close by telling Jack stories about him and playing songs that Jean-Luc shared. She made it clear his father was a wonderful man, even if he couldn't be there with them. Beverly would have never exposed Jack to being a fatherless child, but she never could shake the feeling that if the universe knew who Jack's father was, the consequences would be dire.
As we saw in the recent Star Trek: Picard installment, Beverly was right. Beverly could no longer protect Jack from the villainous beings that were now after him, and she had to turn to the only family she knew: The Crew of the Enterprise. Beverly felt she failed in protecting Jack, but after a week of letting the news that he is a father settle, and seeing just the kind of danger Jack was in, Jean-Luc reassured Beverly that it was a testament to her strength, love, and loyalty that kept Jack safe all this time.
Finding out that Jack was special with abilities beyond her comprehension, didn't help in the matter. Losing one son to an unpredictable cosmic journey, but both sons? Beverly was always the hardest on herself and so failure wasn't far from her mind. She had to endure the most difficult challenges while trying to save Jack but the end didn't happen like she expected. Her life had always ended in a heartbreaking manner, losing those she loves and leaving her behind. But instead, Jack was saved, Jean-Luc was saved, the universe was saved… It was a feeling Beverly never had experienced before: relief and gratification.
Many may think Beverly was wrong in keeping Jack away from Jean-Luc, and many are right. However, when you break down just what Beverly had gone through in her life and just what kind of man Jean-Luc was, it is only a human reaction to fall victim to fear. But it wasn't just fear she had, she had maternal instincts. Like Beverly said:
"As a mother, your whole being is about protecting your child"
She may have done the wrong thing but she did it for the right reasons. As much as we associate Beverly with her fierce determination, dedication, and empathy, we also must showcase the love she has for not only her children but the love of Jean-Luc, her friends, her crew, and her patients. This is what makes Beverly what fans call "The heart of the crew" -- But I want to take it a step further and say she is "The heart of the universe" -- willing to always put herself last, and as a mother, she is willing to sacrifice everything for her children no matter what the consequences that may be. Being a mother has always been Beverly's top priority since the day Wesley was born. It is that protective nature and unconditional love she has for her children that make her such an amazing character. That IS Beverly Crusher.
Beverly may be a flawed character but it is those flaws that fans love about her and understand her the most. We understand her drive, we understand her commitment and we understand that no matter the best intentions, it doesn't always come out the way we want it. Beverly is the fan's character, the most relatable. She has taught us that Love is always the most powerful and most rewarding gift of all.
Happy Mother's Day
J
This is so beautiful! 😭💕
