Part two of one of my favorite two-parters. Both parts were intense and gripping. But this twin episode stands out because it takes a twist that nobody expected.
It starts where it left off with Picard in the interrogation room. Gul Madred drugs him and he answers honestly about being sent to find a biological weapon. Then Madred questions him about the Federation's defense plans for Minos Korva which is a planet that was caught in a border dispute during the war between the Cardassians and the Federation. The Cardassians intend to have this planet and planned the weapon ruse to lure Picard in since the Enterprise would be in command of that sector. But Picard doesn't know what the defensive plans are and honestly says so - he's been drugged after all. So Madred ups his dose of the drug and they start all over again. I erred on Tuesday when I said I'd forgotten to mention in my Part 1 review that Jellico relieved Riker of command because he hadn't yet. The negotiations with Gul Lemec are still going on in rounds. This time when Lemec comes back he lays out all of his cards claiming to know for a fact that the Federation had sent Picard to a Cardassian planet with others. He also embellishes the story by saying that they killed over 50 people including women and children. When asked to prove it he drops the bomb that Picard has been captured. Jellico remains indifferent but after Lemec is gone he tells Riker that they've been ordered to meet with Picard's away team in 8 hours. He sends Riker to get them in a shuttle craft since negotiations are taking longer than expected. Back in the interrogation room. Madred talks archeology with Picard. The man that plays Gul Madred is so impressive. He was only given three days notice that he got the part and didn't have time to learn his lines. So he had to read it all off cue cards behind or above Stewart. But you'd never know it as he plows through all the made up words and places like it's his home. Picard is understandably tired of the situation and demands to be returned to his ship. Madred points out that he's a criminal because of his trespassing mission but promises him a civilized trial and punishment if he gives him the information he wants about Minos Korva. He can't answer so Madred gets angry and his goons get physical with Picard. Picard warns Madred that torture is a violation of the treatment of prisoners of war. But, he's ignored, stripped, suspended on a rack over the floor, and left there overnight. This is a fair demonstration of how bad guys don't follow the rules.
Riker gets back with Worf and Crusher and they explain what happened. Jellico orders Riker to analyze the data they brought back with Geordi, but he defiantly recommends planning a rescue mission for Picard. Jellico immediately tamps this down as foolish. This is the unexpected twist. This is what makes this episode so backwards from what we've been used to. Up to now any time there's been the threat of something horrible happening to a character or characters, they are rescued at the last minute before the worst can happen. But not this time. The torture of Picard has already begun and instead getting to watch a daring rescue in progress we see a darker reality that involves having to plan for other factors, people, and situations. It's understandable that the crew and the audience would be gobsmacked at this point, but Jellico is right. The next day Madred takes Picard down and turns on four blinding lights behind his desk while he questions him again about Minos Korva. He tells him that while he was asleep a device was implanted in his chest. Then we come to the homage to 1984 where Madred asks Picard how many lights are behind him. He tries to condition him into saying five lights by shocking the device in his chest which is nearly overwhelming on the lowest setting. This is the one snag in the story for me. Much ado had been made of the
fact that Picard had an artificial heart. Presumably the Cardassians
knew as well since they knew his other personal information (and Madred
had asked him about medical conditions in the last episode.) I just
don't see an artificial heart being able to take a lot of abuse even in
the 24th century, but he was only there a couple days, so I guess I could be wrong. Back at the negotiations Lemec shows a picture of Picard that was taken after he was first taken to Madred's facility as proof that they have him captive. Jellico maintains that he wasn't sent there on his orders and they have no knowledge of his mission. Lemec ups the ante by threatening his execution. Riker steps in at that point citing the same accord that Picard did regarding torture to warn Lemec that killing Picard would be an act of war. So Lemec smugly agrees to release him if the Federation clears out of that area. Jellico says they'll consider it but once Lemec leaves he makes it clear that he won't recommend this compromise to the admiral. That's when Riker gets angry at Jellico for heartlessly sacrificing Picard and is relieved of duty. But after he's working with emotionless Data and the less combative Geordi, you see that he's not abandoning anyone. He troubleshoots the entire situation including why the Cardassians would want Picard. They hit on the Minos Korva issue together since nobody is behaving like a child. Then, after telling Geordi to surreptitiously scan the Cardassian ship, they discover that it is weakened from a nebula near Minos Korva and guess that the rest of the fleet is hiding there, so they go there immediately. Jellico is actually as cool under pressure as Picard. There just hasn't been as much to take into consideration before.
Picard is now robed while Madred has his daughter in the room with them. He's helping her feed her pet and talking about humans as if they were animals... do they have parents? etc. He also boasts of the strong military ensuring his daughter's safety and happiness. It's meant to put you in the mind of the Nazi mentality and how they looked on Jews as sub-human since that's the relationship that the Cardassians and Bajorans is based on. It also makes Madred extra creepy and the situation even more frightening. Picard still has some fight in him and insists on correctly counting four lights. He's then shocked again into unconsciousness, dreaming of France. Madred also employs psychological torture. When Picard awakes he tells him that he's free to go and as he's walking away assures him that he'll just get the information he needs out of Crusher. Since Picard has no way of knowing for sure if he's bluffing he heroically and sadly stays. Jellico assembles the senior staff and unfolds his plan for mining the nebula that the Cardassians are in to give them the advantage in what appears to be an inevitable conflict. Everyone is against it, naturally, because they want the audience to hate Jellico. But the crew even goes as far to suggest that the Cardassians may be there on a mission of scientific study. Really? This is almost too much. They were so determined to make Jellico look like a "war monger" that they only made the rest of the cast look naïve and stupid. How is any thinking person supposed to take their backlash at Jellico seriously after that? Picard meanwhile opts to eat a disgusting egg rather than starve. Then the show dutifully has him tow the Liberal party line by explaining to Madred that torture is not an effective means of extracting information. First of all, it is. Second of all, Madred is insane. He knows Picard doesn't know anything about Minos Korva at this point. He's not even asking him about it anymore. He's focused on forcing him to count five lights; just indulging his desire to inflict pain on him because he's a psychopath. He shares more personal stories about his childhood with Picard which Picard uses to aggravate him even more to the point that Madred calls him by his name instead of just "human." Madred uses his torture device out of anger now, losing his cool and Picard, although completely overwhelmed now, still counts the four lights and sings in French as he writhes in pain.
So while they're preparing the shuttle to drop mines, Geordi recommends that Riker pilot the mission. It's also a mark of Jellico's good character that he takes this advice. He could've said "no" and rightfully so. He could've assumed that Geordi was trying to push Riker on him but Geordi is level headed and honest. He wouldn't recommend Riker if it wasn't the truth. So Jellico has to give in and be condescended to by Riker. And this is what makes this episode so special. Up to now the only way the team achieves victory is though liberal and socialistic ideals and practices. In this episode you have a military captain who isn't a touchy-feely diplomat, but a strategist that is interested in protecting the Federation even if he seems intolerant in the process. He can be compared with patriotic Americans that actually like the country and wish to protect it rather than assume that the enemy is just doing scientific research (think Iran nukes) so that they don't seem intolerant. These are typically "Conservatives" and for the first time, they allowed this view to be presented on the show as a legitimate viewpoint. It's legitimate because - and this is vitally important - although Jellico is portrayed as a cruel jerk, he is not actually in the wrong about anything. He's right in his handling of the negotiations which would've worked but for that fateful twist. He's right in protecting the Enterprise and Federation from Picard's situation even though it's the hardest choice to make. He's right about the Cardassians hiding in the nebula. He's right in using a show of force with the mine field, not just words or bluffs, to make the Cardassians disarm (eject their phaser coils) and leave to stop the conflict before it starts. That also allows him to demand the return of Picard since the Federation now has the upper hand. He wins. It's every bit as good of a "gotcha" moment as we've had numerous times with Picard in the lead. Ultimately, he has to humble himself to Riker to establish that the Liberal viewpoint is still the superior one, but nevertheless, he is effective as he is. It's an honest examination of a differing viewpoint and this is how DS9 turned into the most complex series of the five since it continued in this vein. Back on Celtris III, word of the Cardassians defeat hasn't reached them yet. Madred continues to work on Picard and tells him that the worst case scenario has happened. That they've taken Minos Korva, the Enterprise is destroyed and he's been given up as a casualty. He says he'll give him the opportunity to live the rest of his life on Cardassia basically under house arrest, in comfort, and free to study archeology and anything else he likes if he only tells him that there are five lights. He also notes that a group of Cardassians are coming to get him and if they get to him first, the offer is void. Picard says nothing but stares at the lights while the audience holds their breath.
However it's Lemec and company that have come to give Picard back. Lemec starts berating Madred for not having Picard cleaned up and ready to return to the Enterprise. Now Picard knows he's been lied to and defiantly identifies the four lights one more time before he's led away. Madred is impressed. Back on the bridge Jellico transfers the commands back to Picard happily and honorably. No hint that he was enjoying some kind of power trip - just saying. Troi takes him to his ready room and says that she's read his report. Picard tells her that what wasn't in the report was the bribe of a comfortable life if he were to tell Madred that he saw five lights. He didn't put it in there because he was ready to say there were five lights and that he could even almost see five lights, so broken as he was. So begins another long healing process for Picard, who still comes off as the strongest captain in the episode for all he endured.
Love these episodes! A perfect slow build to lots of action and tension. A turning point in the evolution of Star Trek. Wrath of Khan transitioned Star Trek into adulthood. This episode made it three dimensional with different viewpoints like Jellico and Madred's daughter. Episodes like this made episodes like In The Pale Moonlight from DS9 possible. They were a little overzealous in establishing the superiority of their liberal viewpoint, making some of the cast members look like idiots in the process, but it was a first attempt so I can overlook it. It just kept improving. Five stars.
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