Synopsis: Wesley’s gone!  Wesley’s gone!

Memory Alpha Summary: Don’t let the door hit you.

Review:  The team who wrote and produced this episode universally loved it (and believe me, they’re not afraid to bash their own work), and for the life of me I don’t understand why.   Almost exactly like Samaritan Snare, there’s a very contrived subplot with Riker at the helm that prevents the crew from helping out Picard and Wesley.  This episode is better, but not by much.  Dirgo’s idiocy is obvious and only there to contrast the level-headedness of our perfect ensign, so when he dies it feels gross.   And while Wheaton does a fine job in his last episode, I am just not feeling this fatherly relationship that Picard is supposed to have towards Wesley.  Finally, the fact that after four seasons they couldn’t give Wesley even a modicum of social skills—not even politeness—is maddening.

Picard’s last quote, to Wesley:  You will be missed.  To borrow a phrase from the year this episode came out…not!

In case you haven’t noticed, this is the first episode from season four on this list.