Why a Star Trek Traveler series is actually a good idea

Star Trek can break out into new areas without changing into something unrecognizable.

When Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) left the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation to join the Traveler on his journeys, we never knew if we’d see him again. We didn’t know what he was doing, where he was going, and if he would simply become part of the galaxy. Thanks to Wheaton’s surprise appearance on the season two finale of Star Trek: Picard, we got to see that Wesley looked just like Wesley. He was alive and well and recruited Kore (Isa Briones) to come travel the galaxy with him. That’s all we knew, but a recent comic written by Wheaton has given us a bit more information.

Travelers don’t have immortality, but with Wesley telling Admiral Picard that he had about 150 more years of life left, we know that their lives are extraordinarily long. He wasn’t supposed to seek out Picard for advice as Travelers aren’t supposed to visit the past. So they do have some rules. And they aren’t know-it-alls like Q as Wesley wanted Picard’s input about Kore. Those little tidbits of information, along with Briones interest and willingness in a series about the Travelers opens up a door of possibilities.

Star Trek doesn’t just have to be about starships, space exploration, and meeting new life.

For over fifty-six years, Star Trek has been about space. That doesn’t need to change if the franchise were to stretch its wings and direct a series in another direction. In a Travelers’ series, there would still be plenty of traversing the galaxy. It would just be in a different format. Maybe something like Quantum Leap.

Maybe those aging Admirals won’t have to see the end of their lives if they chose to become a Traveler. Their adventures wouldn’t have to stop. Or perhaps the Travelers could help those who are struggling with a future they don’t want to face, like Captain Pike from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

What we don’t know about the Travelers is so much more than what we do know. And going on a journey with them would open the doors of space a little more for they can see and do things that captains of starships can’t. And the upcoming series in development (or at least in talks) include Section 31 and Starfleet Academy, both of which aren’t set on a starship. (Okay, I can’t say that 100% about Section 31.) So we know the powers-that-be are open to changing things up a bit in the universe. So why not take that change with the Travelers? They literally can go where no one has gone before.