Traditionally scholars have assumed that Thucydides approves of Pericles.  We have, after all, a complex endorsement in 2.65.9.  In the past thirty years folks have become more aware of chinks in the armor of this Athenian leader.   Here are some perspectives:

Pericles and Theseus. From about 525 BCE onward, Theseus was the paradigmatic Athenian mythic leader.  The portrayal of Theseus in literature of the Periclean era seems to stress a resemblance between the two characters:

Pericles’ speeches:

Thucydides give Pericles three speeches, at 1.140-144 (where he urges a declaration of war), 2.35-46 (Funeral Speech), 2.60-64 (last speech before his death).  There is also an indirect speech at 2.13.

Was Pericles "right"?

Recently historians have found flaws in Pericles’ confident predictions of victory, in his handling of finances (he underestimated the expense of the war [Hornblower, Davies, Kagan]), his denial that the enemy can create a fleet (Connor, a complex claim) or lure away Athenian sailors,  and in his strategy of moving all Athenians within the walls of Athens (which exacerbated the effect of the Plague).  Debate is ongoing as to how crippling these "errors" were.
Sources: Flashar, Allison, Connors, Hornblower, Davies, Kagan

There is also the challenge posed by the Plague, which comes immediately after the Funeral Speech and portrays Athenians acting in ways far different the idealized portrait provided  in that speech.