Star Trek The Next Generation Feature Length Episodes: Ranked

Chain of Command is an example of some of the darkest places that The Next Generation went to in its run. The capture and torture of Picard is grim viewing. David Warner's sinister and calm Gul Madred seems to be an unbeatable villain and the battle of wits that plays out between the two classic actors is simple mesmerizing to watch. While most of the interplay between occurs in part two, the first episode is just as compelling to watch.

Ronnie Cox's Edward Jellico is one of the great antagonists in The Next Generation. It can't be said that he's a bad guy - he's simply not Picard and he runs a very different ship. His demands on Riker take their toll and the audience naturally feels the extra sympathy.

Jellico isn't wrong in what he says though - he is just far stricter than what everyone was used to. His extremely curt reply to Troi when she ask him to give the crew time to adjust is both uncomfortable and comical. It can't be said that he is ever missed after the episode but he is a very welcome annoyance on the bridge.

The episode gives a greater and darker depth to the Cardassians who had only appeared sporadically at this point in The Next Generation. Their smarmy smiles and threats serve to show them as a greater threat and the scene was set for the issues that would arise because of them in Deep Space Nine.