10 Star Trek Undercover Operations That Went Wrong

Picard has many talents, but we're not convinced that covert operations are one of them. Years before Monsieur Eyepatch, he was sent on a now-infamous mission alongside Crusher and Worf to seek out and destroy a horrific Cardassian weapon...only, it was a devious trap. And Picard was captured in the snare.

By the way, what's the hiring process for a Starfleet Intelligence Analyst? The amount of bad intel that led to monumental screw-ups is really quite impressive.

And to be fair to Picard, we're not sure why he was even there. He was apparently selected due to his familiarity with theta band carrier waves, an integral part of the superweapon's design. But in what we like to call the Armageddon enigma, we have to question why they sent a captain and a couple of his besties, used to the cushy flagship life and clearly struggling with their training, on such a strenuous and specialised mission. Surely it would be easier to brief ready-trained security or intelligence officers on theta waves? Surely?

Let's be honest though, the result is one of Star Trek's most intense battles of will. Picard is held, interrogated and tortured by Gul Madred, played by the commanding David Warner. The continued humiliation and persecution of Picard turns the Cardassians into a truly terrifying enemy. And nothing symbolises Madred's determination to break Picard, and the Captain's refusal to buckle, more than the four lights test.

Shining four lights at Picard, Madred insists there are actually five. When asked how many lights there are, Picard resolutely replies there are four lights. And every time he refuses to go along with Madred's lie, he's subjected to pain. On and on it goes, but Picard refuses to betray the truth in exchange for mercy from the tyrant.

We can easily forgive the Armageddon logic when this remarkable piece of television is the result. A gripping psychological drama, delivered by two acting heavyweights who make you feel every word.