10 Great Star Trek Performances That Made You Love Bad People
9. Gul Madred - David Warner
Chain of Command ranks among the darkest episodes that the Next Generation ever produced, showing the brutal physical and psychological torture of Picard by his Cardassian captor, Gul Madred. Few can forget the oft-parodied and yet still powerful there are four lights!
David Warner was no stranger to Star Trek and this would mark his third role in the franchise. He first appeared in Star Trek V as the Terran representative to Nimbus III and he would then return for the next movie as the ill-fated Chancellor Gorkon. However, it is Gul Madred that he will most likely be remembered for by Star Trek fans for years to come.
His slow manner of speech along with his deep English accent prove to be a compelling counterfoil to Patrick Stewart through the interrogation scenes. His dispassionate approach to the torture and his kind and warm treatment of his daughter in front of Picard display a deep evil within the man. There is no sympathy in this black pit. There is only the task at hand.
In lesser hands, the role could have become somewhat of a moustache twirling, forgettable villain of the week. That Gul Madred is still remembered all these years later is a credit to the absolute powerhouse performance that Warner delivers. His urgency as the guards approach Picard is vicious - we can see that he knows he has run out of time. He wants Picard to admit to seeing the fifth light. It was never about the information for him.
Chilling.