Plot: What’s it about?
By the time the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation rolled around, the crew was a well-oiled machine (so to speak). They’d experienced adventures in time and space, lived, died, encountered alien beings, the Borg and Q. Suffice it to say, there was little that the actors or the characters they played hadn’t experienced. But the writers, namely Ronald D. Moore, had a few tricks up their collective sleeves and one was a two part episode entitled “Chain of Command.” Like other two part episodes before it, there was a little more at stake here and this one hit a bit close to home. Even two decades later, some of the themes in this particular episode are a bit hard to swallow as Picard is tortured, the threat of biological weapons and dissent in the ranks of Starfleet all played a part in this two part epic.
No time is wasted as Picard (Patrick Stewart) is almost immediately relieved of duty just as the opening credits fade away. It seems that he, Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) have been selected for a secret mission to find and destroy biological weapons believed to be in development by the Cardassians. Picard’s replacement is headstrong Capt. Jellico (Ronny Cox), a “tough but not so fair” replacement who seems to lack any and all social graces. His demeanor doesn’t sit well with the crew, notably Cmdr. Riker (Jonathan Frakes). As Picard, Worf and Crusher training ends, they’re ready to go. However after discovering that the Cardassians have led them to a trap, Capt. Picard is captured while Worf and Crusher manage to escape. Picard, now a prisoner of Gul Madred (David Warner) is subject of torture. Will Picard escape with his life or will the Enterprise abandon him and avert a war?
I remember seeing this episode when it aired late in 1992 and it instantly became one of my personal favorites. And why not? It’s got just about everything an episode of Star Trek could have or need. I was instantly disgusted with Capt. Jellico, though I’ll admit that Ronny Cox did a great job with the character. We’ve become so used to Picard and company coming out on top, so to see him tortured, dissent in the ranks and the cloud of uncertainty creep into the walls of the Enterprise – well that’s what great television is all about. Entertainment Weekly selected this as one of their top 10 episodes of the series and I’d say that it’s a fitting place. For those that haven’t seen this episode, it’s one of the best and for those that already know this – well it looks and sounds better than ever before.
Video: How’s it look?
Anyone who has seen even one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-ray knows what to expect in the video department. Each and every episode has been painstakingly re-mastered from the original elements, new effects have been added and the result (pardon the pun) is clear. With “Chain of Command” (also available on the Season Six set), the 1.33:1 AVC HD image has never looked better. I’d watched the included promo for the episode and then watched the episode itself and the difference is remarkable. Consider the forehead lines in Ronny Cox’s brow, the phasers have new and improved-looking lasers and the Enterprise looks lush and rich. Paramount has set the bar high with their seasons and this is no exception.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The included DTS HD Master Audio mix is also consistent with the previous episodes/seasons of the show. The constant hum and whir of the Enterprise is always present, vocals are crisp and full and the surrounds add a bit more emphasis from time to time. In comparison to today’s feature films, these don’t really hold a candle to the robust and uncompressed mixes, but for a television show that’s over 25 years old, I continue to be impressed.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Paramount is notorious for its double-dipping and this stand-alone title is no exception. Granted, new material has been produced for this episode, which is great, but it’s only available on this disc and doesn’t come as part of the Season Six set (though the episode itself is included, of course). Given the high price tag of the season sets, it’d make sense to include these extras into that set, but I’m sure Paramount knows that every true fan will want anything and everything to do with the show – hence the stand-alone episodes. Also of note is both parts have been edited together to form one “feature length” film as opposed to two stand alone parts.
- Audio Commentary – Denise and Michael Okuka are joined by actor Ronny Cox (who played Capt. Jellico in the episode) along with Director of Photography Jonathan West. The Okuda’s are the driving force behind anything Star Trek, so they take the lead and Cox gets a few words in as well. Jonathan West, who was in his first season as the DP, has more of a technical role in the commentary, but the themes of the episode are discussed and make for a very informative track. Of note, this is a new track and was not part of the original Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD set released a decade ago.
- The Privilege of Rank: Making “Chain of Command” – Also a new addition is this 30 minute featurette with interviews from Ronny Cox (who has aged considerably since his 1992 stint on the show) as well as Natalija Nogulich who played Vice-Admiral Nechayev on the episode. Also included are new interviews with Marina Sirtis and Patrick Stewart. Pretty much every angle is explored here and it’s a must watch if you’re a fan of the episode (and if you’re reading this, I’ll assume you are).
- Deleted Scenes – These are more along the lines of extended scenes as the deleted parts are included in the full scene. Quality is good, though the background music is lacking and it’s just dialogue. I do like how they prefaced the scenes with a sentence as to set up what part was deleted out.
- Episodic Promos (Parts I and II) – Low resolution promos for both parts of the episode.
