Chain of Command, Part II

In this second part of a two part TNG story we learn a bit of Cardassian history and culture. Turns out they weren't always the ruthless warriors TNG fans came to know. In fact they were at one time a planet of poets and philosophers.

All that's changed now as Patrick Stewart learns that the tip about Cardassians building biological weapons is a hoax. It was all to lure Jean Luc Picard into hands that would deliver him to the Cardassians. They want information on Starfleet defenses and aren't to squeamish on how they get it.

As for the Enterprise the crew grumbles under Ronny Cox but in the end he proves to be a wily adversary for the Cardassians.

One of the better TNG stories out there.

This is the second part of a two-part adventure involving the Cardassians--the new villains for the spin-off series, "Star Trek: Deep Space 9". It begins with Captain Picard in custody after a screwed up mission falls apart. Now the Cardassians are going to torture him to try to get him to betray secrets. At the same time, the Enterprise's new captain, Jellico (Ronnie Cox), is trying to somehow take a total screw-up and turn it into a Federation victory...something which seems impossible.

This is a gritty episode and much of it consists of Picard stripped naked and being tortured. There is some nudity but it isn't gratuitous and the show is very compelling--and occasionally tough to watch.

Torture is a common plot device in American media. It is powerfully provocative. But while most media portray torture, falsely, as effective and fast though messy, TNG portrayts it truthfully as unreliable and spoiling of potential intelligence as well as a horrible crime.

Besides the incredible integrity shown in this episode so characteristic of the Star Trek franchise, and TNG especially, this episode contains superb acting and writing. The primary characters all appear to have depth and aren't easily distinguished as the "evil enemy" and the "great hero". It really goes to show that expensive production costs are not required for great dramatic performance.

"There are 4 lights."

A 4 second performance. The last time Captain Picard / Patrick Stewart pronounces the words has to be one of the greatest acting performances ever. He must have spoken to a P.O.W. before he did this bit to know what it's like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1npL-TNFOAQ

Now this is exactly the reason people remember "Chain of Command"; the superior second part. And right from minute one, it's hard to watch because of the subject matter: Captain Picard being tortured by a Cardassian officer (David Warner) while Jellico (Ronny Cox) is gumming up the works on the Enterprise. But it's not the physical abuse that's so effective here, rather the psychological results. It's miserable to see Picard's systematic dehumanization and just as hard to see him in such a weakened state. It's the acting here that really sells this' Warner offers up one of the great TNG villains in a performance that varies from affectionate to sheer menace. And Stewart is his equal, no question. Even Ronny Cox turns the one-note Jellico into someone interesting.

I've seen this before (several times) and it never once fails to suck me right in. It's cold, vicious and undeniably powerful.

10/10