EPISODES 14-12
# 14. THE WOUNDED
The Next Generation, Season 4 |
| Episode Number 86 |
| - |
| Info and General Credits |
| Directed by Chip Chalmers |
| Written by Jeri Taylor, Stuart Charno, Sara Charno, and Cy Chermak |
| Aired Jan 1991 |
| Stardate 444429.6 |
| Guest Cast |
| Cap. Benjamin Maxwell Bob Gunton |
| Lt. Miles O'Brien Colm Meaney |
| Keiko O'Brien Rosalind Chao |
| Gul Macet Marc Alaimo |
| Glinn Telle Marco Rodriguez |
| Glinn Daro Time Winters |
| Admiral Haden John Hancock |
Premise
Highly decorated and respected
Captain, Benjamin Maxwell, goes on the rampage in Cardassian space. The
Cardassians are re-arming themselves, and Maxwell is compelled to launch a lone
campaign against them, partly as a Starfleet Captain, and partly out of
vengeance for the death of his family, brutally murdered by Cardassian soldiers on
Setlik III. But with his ship, the Phoenix, on silent running Picard must use every resource available,
including inviting a Cardassian delegation of observers aboard, to track Maxwell
down and bring him to justice.
Comments
This is the first appearance
of the Cardassians in Star Trek. At first, Picard's log says the Enterprise is on
the border of the "the Cardassian Sector", indicating this new race of
adversaries is a limited, minor race of antagonists, such as the Talarians or Sheliak (in
truth we don't know much about either of them). But the Cardassians developed
over time, and we learn that they are a much larger player on the Galactic field
than we were first led to believe, having an Empire (sometimes called The Cardassian
Union), much on the same scale as the Romulan and Klingon Empires.
Anyway, this was probably intended to be one of those Vietnam type allegories, saying: "the war is over man!!" But in reality, here, it kind of wasn't. Maxwell may have been on the verge of cracking, but he was right, the Cardassians were arming again, and maybe in his own way he was justified in taking the matter into his own hands, having had enough of Starfleet's bureaucrats. But also it was a touching portrayal of a man trying to wrestle with his commitment to duty and the painful memories of the loss of his family, at the hands of the Cardassians during the war. The unsung hero of all this has to be O'Brien, who successfully deflated the situation by beaming across to the Phoenix and managing, against the odds in a tense situation, to talk Maxwell down. Had he not, we have to ask ourselves: would Maxwell have destroyed the Cardassian supply ship? And would Picard have defended it? It had the potential of being a very messy situation indeed. This whole uncomfortable scenario makes this episode a classic.
Trekmania Image Archive:
Soundbites:
| Over time the Galor Class ship would become more powerful: |
Picard: "Gul Macet, the Federation and the Cardassians have struggled too hard for peace to abandon it so easily." |
| Gul Macet: "....We are not the ones who have abandoned it, Captain." |
| Picard: "Let me talk to my superiors, find out what is behind this. Give me one hour. The alternative is for us to continue firing at one another. And in such a contest you would be at a distinct disadvantage." |
| - |
| 'Um, I don't like you': |
| Glinn Daro: "...We're going to your Ten Forward, will you join us?" |
| O'Brien: "If my Commander tells me to discuss the Transporter with you, I will. If Captain Picard orders me to tell you everything I know about Ben Maxwell, I will. But who I choose to spend my free time with, that's my business!" |
| - |
| Macet is disappointed, but he soon gets his way: |
| Gul Macet: "We have a number of ships in Sector 21505. If you will give us more precise coordinates, and the ship's coded transponder frequency we will be able to intercept Maxwell far more quickly than you." |
| Picard: "I'm sure that's true. However, given the circumstances I would prefer to make the initial contact myself. I'm sure you would if the situation was reversed." |
| Gul Macet: "Captain, time is crucial. You have a dangerous man out there with a huge arsenal at his command. If he is intent on revenge against my people he must be stopped before he can do more damage." |
| Picard: "Captain, so far we have an isolated incident. If I can reach him first then perhaps diplomacy can prevail, but if one of your ships should decide to retaliate there is a danger we could lose control of the situation." |
| Gul Macet: "Then you will not give us the means to find his precise location?" |
| Picard: "No I won't." |
| - |
| Picard makes the tough decision: |
| Picard: "Mr Worf, has there been any response to our hails?" |
| Worf: "No Captain." |
| Picard: "Mr Worf.....relay the prefix codes of the Phoenix to the Cardassian warship." |
| Worf: "Sir, they will be able to dismantle its shields....the Phoenix will not have a chance!" |
| Picard: "I cannot allow Maxwell to ambush that Supply Ship......Mr Worf, now!" |
| - |
| Via long range sensor telemetry the action unfolds on the viewscreen: |
| Data: "The warship is three hundred thousand kilometres from the Phoenix. It is opening fire. The Phoenix has taken a direct hit. The Phoenix is beginning evasive manoeuvres. It has positioned itself outside the weapons range of the opposing ship. The Phoenix has powered up both Phasers and Photon Torpedoes. The Phoenix is firing Photon Torpedoes." |
| Gul Macet: ".....He has destroyed our warship." |
| Picard: "Does the Supply Ship have any weapons?" |
| Gul Macet: "Very limited. Certainly not enough to defeat a Nebula Class starship." |
| Data: "Sir, the Phoenix is firing on the......" |
| Gul Macet: "....The warship carried a crew of 600, the Supply Ship 50." |
| Picard: "Mr Data, estimated time to intercept the Phoenix?" |
| Data: "At our present speed of Warp 4, sixteen hours, 44 minutes." |
| Picard: "Ensign, increase to Warp 9." |
| - |
| O'Brien's lament: |
| O'Brien: "It's not you I hate, Cardassian, it's what I became because of you." |
| - |
| Maxwell presents his case: |
| Maxwell: "Now listen to this: The Cardassians are arming again. That so called science station - military supply port." |
| Picard: "How do you know this?" |
| Maxwell: "Information comes my way..." |
| Picard: "From who? Where is your documentation?" |
| Maxwell: "I know what they're doing! I can smell it.... There's no good reason for a science station in the Cuellar System! But it's a hell of a strategic site for a military transport station. A jumping off point into three Federation sectors. They're running supply ships back and forth and nobody's going to tell me it's for scientific research!" |
| Picard: "No matter what circumstances you encountered why didn't you notify Starfleet?" |
| Maxwell: "And wait six months while the bureaucrats sit around reading reports trying to figure out what to do! They don't know what's going on out here....But you should Picard, you know what it's like to be under fire." |
| Picard: "You weren't under fire..." |
| Maxwell: "Lives were at stake....we had to act now!!" |
# 13. CHAIN OF COMMAND (Parts 1 & 2)
|
The Next Generation, Season 6 |
| Episode Numbers 136 and 137 |
| - |
| Info and General Credits |
| Part 1 Directed by Robert Scheerer |
| Part 2 Directed by Les Landau |
| Part 1 Written by Ronald D Moore |
| Part 2 Written by Frank Abatemarco |
| Story by Frank Abatemarco |
| Aired Dec 1992 |
| Stardate 46357.4 |
| Guest Cast |
| Cap. Edward Jellico Ronny Cox |
| Vice Ad. Nechayev Natalija Nogulich |
| Gul Lemec John Durbin |
| DaiMon Solok Lou Wagner |
| Gul Madred David Warner |
| Part 2 Guest Cast Additions |
| Jil Orra Heather Lauren Olsen |
Premise
Due to his prior experience with
Theta Band emissions Picard and a small team from his crew are assigned to
investigate reports of a secret Cardassian lab on Celtris III. There, it is
believed, the Cardassians are constructing a metagenic weapon, a devastating
device capable of wiping out all life on a planet's surface. In his place
Captain Edward Jellico is given command of the Enterprise, and he must do his
best to ensure emergency negotiations with the Cardassians go smoothly or the
building tension along the border may erupt into all out war. Meanwhile, on
Celtris all is not as it seems as the mission meets with a dramatic failure and
Picard is captured. Playing right into the Cardassian ruse Picard is subjected
to interrogation and torture.
Comments
Season six kicked into high
gear with a real emotional tour de force instalment. With Picard
seemingly gone and Jellico in charge it elicited yet further rumours that
Stewart wanted out, and Ronny Cox was taking the big chair for the duration of
TNG's remaining season and a half. Of course that was all rubbish. It could have
been interesting though, with Jellico's character being in stark contrast to Picard.
His catchphrase of 'Get it done' was enough to make any Ensign pull a muscle as
he stood up straight to reply: 'yes sir!'. His insensitive, no nonsense approach
was quite a refresher. It was fun to see the crew squirm a little for a couple
of episodes.
But how one begins to comment on the melting pot that was Madred and Picard is another matter. It really was a play within a play. I can say little more than 'this was incredible.' These are two wonderful actors anyway and it was a joy to see them work together. But Picard's slow and torturous deconstruction of Madred was nothing short of stunning television. Yes, Picard was the one being tortured, but in another way Picard was torturing Madred. After a while it was no longer important whether Picard knew Starfleet's defence plans for Minos Korva, it instead became a game of psychological chess between the two of them, a war of spirit and endurance. Madred clearly wanted to exert his dominance and superiority by simply breaking Picard's spirit. But it would be far from a simple exercise, for Picard, Captain of the Federation flagship, was no ordinary detainee... Madred failed and the tables were turned, and Picard's stoicism would almost bring Madred to his knees at the end.
This whole two part instalment was shear quality from start to finish. This kind of serious drama and conflict had been lacking in TNG, this fact perhaps being its only flaw, for indeed, even Riker on the Enterprise had his own battles to fight. He was standing up to a kind of oppression of his own when he risked being confined to quarters when he shouted Jellico down. There was a whole series of riveting confrontations in this one....
Trekmania Image Archive:
Approximate 320x240 resolution only. Because this is from an older, now poorer copy of the episode I'm going to wait until I get the DVD of this episode as well as some of the others, (and a far superior capture card) before I recapture them, which will result in much better quality...
Soundbites:
| "Welcome to the Hotel Gul Madred...such a lovely place...": |
| Madred: "You should prove an interesting challenge.....Possibly the most interesting to come through that door in many years." |
| Picard: "What do you want?" |
| Madred: "Why you of course. Picard, Jean-Luc, serial number SP-dash-937-dash-215. Son of Maurice and Yvette Picard, born in Labarre, France, formerly Captain of the Stargazer - where you did extensive studies on theta band subspace carrier waves.....Don't look so surprised. How could we have designed a lure for the Captain of the Federation flagship unless we knew something about his background?" |
| Picard: "So you concocted an elaborate ruse to bring me here. Why!?" |
| Madred: "In this room you do not ask questions. I ask them, you answer. If I am not satisfied with your answers, you will die." |
| - |
| Riker stretches his pecks and squares up to Jellico: |
| Riker: "What about Captain Picard...?" |
| Jellico: (shakes head) |
| Riker: "I'm not suggesting you trade an entire Star System for one man's life, but you've got to acknowledge these were Federation orders and he is a prisoner of war!!" |
| Jellico: "No!" |
| Riker: "He will have the protection of the Seldonis Convention!!" |
| Jellico: "That will play right into Gul Lemec's hand. He's just waiting for some sign of weakness on our part before he starts making more demands!!" |
| Riker: "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE CAPTAIN PICARD'S LIFE AS A NEGOTIATION TACTIC!!" |
| Jellico: "ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY JUDGEMENT COMMANDER?!" |
| Riker: "As First Officer it is my responsibility to point out any actions that may be mistakes by the Commanding Officer, SIR!" |
| Jellico: "Then maybe it's time you found other responsibilities. You're relieved....Don't make me confine you to quarters as well." |
| - |
| What a despicable man: |
| Madred: "We will get what we need from the Human female..." |
| Picard: "What female are you referring to...?" |
| Madred: "The human who was part of your abortive assault team of course - Doctor Beverley Crusher." |
| Picard: "What have you done to her?" |
| Madred: "Not a thing. She's quite safe. I wanted to finish my interviews with you before I interrogated her. I had hoped it might not be necessary." |
| Picard: "And Lieutenant Worf?" |
| Madred: "He left us few options. We had to kill him. I am more optimistic about getting what we need from the woman." |
| Picard: "Doctor Crusher has no knowledge of any Starfleet operations. She's a medical officer." |
| Madred: "You might be right, I'll have to determine that for myself.............. Are you choosing to stay with me....... Excellent, I can't tell you how pleased that makes me." |
# 12. CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER
|
The Original Series, Season 1 |
| Episode Number 27 |
| - |
| Info and General Credits |
| Directed by Joseph Pevney |
| Written by Harlan Ellison |
| Aired April 1967 |
| Stardate unknown |
| Guest Cast |
| Edith Keeler Joan Collins |
| Lt. Galloway David L. Ross |
| Lt. DeSalle Michael Barrier |
| Rodent John Harmon |
Premise
A mad and delirious McCoy, who,
after being accidentally administered with a high dose of Cordrazine, dives
through the portal of the Guardian of Forever and back into history. To protect
the future, Kirk and Spock must go back and retrieve him before any serious
damage is done.
Comments
Whilst
watching the re-runs of Star Trek when I was growing up (see About), this was certainly one of my favourite episodes. I
was always fond of time travel and the weird and wonderful effects
it can have. So to see Kirk and Spock walking around in the 1930's was certainly
a new and interesting twist, of course time travel has been done to death since
then. Here, we get to see plenty of humour, and indeed humility in this
episode, as well as entertainment, and Kirk's explanation to a Police Officer
regarding Spock's ears is a classic (apparently he'd caught his head in a
mechanical rice picker as a child !). The fact that Kirk had to let the woman he
loved (Edith Keeler - played by a young Joan Collins) die to protect time is a poignant moment, but doesn't
convey a huge impact as she was just one amongst many Kirk held a candle
for throughout the series. And indeed, he was over the loss by the next episode. But this is still a classic, and I'm sure will continue
to endure for generations to come.
Image Archive:
Pictures courtesy of primarily STinSV
Soundbite:
| Spock is dismayed at his primitive surroundings: |
| Spock: "I am endeavouring Ma'am, to construct a mnemonic memory circuit using stone knives and bearskins." |
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