Synopsis: Wesley gets to order around his superiors for the first time while sober, and Data violates the prime directive not once, but twice.
Memory Alpha Summary: Friends don’t let friends watch this
Review: I could talk about how nobody really knows how to direct Wil Wheaton, or write good lines for Wesley, or that the really boring Prime Directive debate ends with Picard more or less saying, “Fuck it, go ahead.” But I want to talk about Miles O’Brien.
At this point in the series, he’s been a supporting character only, mainly just transporting people on and off the ship. But it’s easy to see why they eventually featured him more prominently and then gave him a starring role on Deep Space Nine. Colm Meaney is a superb actor, and he can brighten up a simple scene with a quip and a smirk. He can do serious, he can do sad, he can do funny. When Riker not-so-subtly makes it known he’s about to violate the Prime Directive and orders O’Brien to take a nap, the latter delivers two perfect lines. “Right sir, I’ll just be standing over here dozing off.” When Riker needs him later, O’Brien quips, “Just woke up, sir.” They’re good lines, but Meaney handles them masterfully.
O’Brien, I adore you.
Death By Troggles 
“I could talk about how nobody really knows how to direct Wil Wheaton”
I take it you don’t watch “Big Bang Theory”.
If you’ve never seen “The Snapper”, let me tell you, Colm Meaney shines.
Are you referring to poorly directed actors on that show?
I think you’ve mentioned that movie before. It’s still in my queue.
What I meant is that when you say nobody really knows how to direct Wil Wheaton, you’re talking about within the scope of ST:tNG, right? Because he’s a great “nemesis” on BBT, so SOMEBODY knows what they’re doing.
btw, Snapper wasn’t my cup of tea, but I recognize folks that can act when given the chance.
That’s what I thought you meant at first, but his IMDb page mysteriously leaves out his BBT appearance.
And honestly, Wheaton isn’t poorly directed in every episode of TNG, just 75% of them. I think he even said there were times when he felt directors were intentionally making him look bad because they didn’t want to work with him and/or the character.
Well, I can certainly understand why with the character, at least
I remember reading that he was kind of a spoiled brat for a while, way back when. I don’t remember where I read it though, so maybe it’s just b.s. Obviously he’s become a pretty self-aware guy now, so good for him.
A lot of directors claim that young actors are spoiled brats, even when they aren’t. Is it jealousy? I don’t know, but some directors will say it about basically any kid they have to direct.