YMMV / Star Trek: The Next Generation S2E15 "Pen Pals"

• Alternate Character Interpretation: Was Ensign Davies just being a petty Jerkass by trying to take over Wesley's first command and stonewalling his decisions? Or, was he doing this as a way to test Wesley's resolve, and/or helping him come to the understanding that a good leader takes advice from his knowledgeable subordinates but ultimately must make the final decision himself? The majority of the episode clearly plays it as the former, but Davies' cheerful compliance once Wesley makes the order firm might suggest the latter.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Wesley asks "What if it's something more important than a mineral survey? What if someone dies because I made a mistake?"
• Retroactive Recognition: Not that you'd actually recognize her, but Nikki Cox plays Sarjenka. It was her third role with dialogue.
• Vindicated by History: For many years after it was first aired this was seen as a pretty forgettable episode, overshadowed by the Wham Episode which directly followed it, and only really notable in retrospect for being one of Nikki Cox's first acting roles. However, the way the franchise treated the Prime Directive in subsequent entries — eventually culminating in the much-reviled Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Dear Doctor" — has caused many to look back on this episode much more fondly, since the characters actually discuss the ramifications of and ways around the Prime Directive to help the suffering, rather than treating it as some sacred law to remain unbroken even at the cost of lives.

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