Star Trek: 10 Best Cardassian Episodes

One of the most brutal two-part episode of Star Trek ever put to television, Chain of Command sees Captain Picard sent on a covert mission, along with Lt. Worf and Dr. Crusher. They are sent to investigate a potential biological weapon on Cetris III, but fall into a trap laid by the wily Gul Madred (played by veteran David Warner). Worf and Crusher escape, but Picard remains a prisoner. Meanwhile, Captain Jellico is given temporary command of the Enterprise and his style does not go over well with Commander Riker.

In the second part of this story, Picard is subject to intense interrogation and torture by Gul Madred. He is strung up by his arms, he is starved and brutalised. Madred places four lights above himself as he speaks, asking Picard how many there are. Picard says four, because there are four. Madred insists that there are five. He tells Picard that he will see five, or the torture will continue. Picard manages to resist for a while, but eventually Madred tells him that the Enterprise has been destroyed and Picard's resolve erodes.

At the last moment, Picard is released by the Cardassians, as they have failed to take their objective and been outmanoeuvred by Captain Jellico and Commander Riker. Picard is finally allowed to leave, loudly declaring that there are four lights.

When he is returned to his ship, he privately admits to Counsellor Troi that for just a moment, he did see five lights. The torture broke him. This episode again espouses just how brutal and callous the Cardassians can be.