Rating: 5
Picard is subjected to brutal mental and physical torture in the belief that he possseses knowledge of Federation defense plans in the sector. Meanwhile, Riker is relieved of duty when he questions Jellico’s decision to turn down an offer by the Cardassians to return Picard to the Enterprise if Starfleet will leave the sector.
Comments
As I alluded to in the review of Chain of Command Part 1, all of the sub-plotting is mere window dressing for the powerful scenes between Gul Madred and Jean-Luc Picard. These brutal scenes of mental and physical torture feature perhaps the best acting of the entire series.
Nits
It isn’t good practice for torturers to allow their chidren to see them at work, or to tell stories about how they had their arms broken by bigger boys who stole their food. Madred invites his daughter in, and though the scene is effective at showing how warped Madred is, it also gives Picard someone to attack (verbally). Likewise, Madred’s story about his vulnerability as a child gives Picard an opening. It’s likely the writers wanted to let Picard land some blows, even though in most torture situations these chances would not exist.
Memorable Moments
• Picard getting the upper hand on Madred.
• Riker getting the upper hand on Jellico.
• Picard’s final defiant words to Madred brought tears to my eyes.
• The subtle nods and looks that accompanied Picard’s return to the bridge – the way he makes an almost imperceptible nod to Troi to let her know he wants to talk to her in his ready room, and the way Troi looks at Riker.
Quotable Quotes
"From this point on, you will enjoy no privileges of rank, no privilege of person! From now on, I will refer to you only as…human! You have no other identity!"
- Gul Madred to Picard
"Her belly may be full, but her spirit will be empty."
- Picard to Madred, regarding his daughter
Madred: Shall we begin again? How many lights?
Picard: What lights?
"There…are…four…lights!"
- Picard’s final words to Madred
I agree the acting was great, really. And I really loved this episode. The only thing that irks me is that Star Trek has very short term memory. I would have liked to see this experience of being tortured have residual effects on Picard in subsequent episodes. I would've liked to see more open bitterness and anger toward the Cardassians. The next episode with teh Cardassians was in The Chase, which was a dumb episode BTW, and he treated the cardassian like any other guest on his ship. There needed to me more lip biting and teeth gritting there. He was tortured for along time, and you would never know in the very next episode...
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