Cowboy diplomacy!

I've been watching TOS again recently, and he emphasizes the importance of the prime directive a lot more than I remembered.

However, he's always like "Let's just go talk to them - see what they're like. We won't tell them anything."

situation occurs

"Ok, the only way out is if we tell you everything."

In regard to following rules and making the “right” choice, he is the worst captain.

Of course he always wins, but sometimes he should just say, “This is too risky.” Or “This is completely against protocol.”

"So anyway, I incited a gang war, had my ship conduct an orbital bombardment on a densely urban area, then established myself as the new leader.

Then I left."

"HE'S PULLING HIS COCK OUT!"

Fuck the prime directive. Most amoral thing I ever heard of. Any officer who actually respects it is suspect.

Picard (who I love dearly) is written SO BADLY around the prime directive that episodes involving it are difficult to watch.

Fuck the prime directive.