From: jackson@ess43.Berkeley.EDU (Jeff Jackson)
Subject: Re: The Official Dorm-Rec Review of "Chain of Command -1" (spoilers)
Reply-To: jackson@ess43.Berkeley.EDU (Jeff Jackson)
Organization: Applicon
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 17:19:37 GMT


Spoilers ho!!


In article <1992Dec15.160422.14365@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>, mbrubake@ketone.ecn.purdue.edu (Admiral) writes:
|> In article <BzADJJ.D89@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> myempire@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Matt J. Martin) writes:
|> >
|> >
|> >  This episode wasn't perfect, however.  We sincerly question the logic of
|> >Star Fleet high command sending three of its most decorated and honored
|> >officers into a suicide mission.  First of all, we highly doubt that they
|> >are the three most qualified people, in all of Star Fleet, for this mission.
|> >Surely Star Fleet must have some specially trained Marines somewhere who are
|> >up to the task (the appearance of Colonel West in STVI gives credance to this
|> >theory)  Second of all, even if you could prove that Picard, Crusher, and 
|> >Worf are the most qualified, it makes much more sense to send peons on 
|> >a suicide mission.  If peons are captured, you can always deny your affiliation
|> >with them and no one really cares.  If Picard is captured, you won't be able
|> >to keep the mission secret.  Sooner or later some big-wig diplomat will
|> >notice his absence and bam, intersteller incident.  Covert operations and
|> >famous people simply don't mix.
|> >

   Agreed.  But this is a TV show, not the real world.  TV stars get paid
   for acting, not sitting.  Picard, Worf, and Crusher were selected because
   the actors who play them need (and want) lines.  It's the same reason old
   J. T. Kirk wound up on the wrong end of a weapon each week.  In a real
   military, he'd have been busted to Lt. JG before the end of Season 1.
   Yeah, it was hokey.  But I'd rather watch them anyway.


|> 
|> This is another point to certain individuals in Star Fleet who are corrupt.
|> 1. Why would you replace Picard with someone who has NO knowledge of a 
|>    Galaxy Class Starship. His knowledge of Cardassian strengths and
|>    weaknesses would make for a good Special Ambassador.

   Negative.  Remember when the head Cardassian says something about
   being "dictated to by a mere captain."?  Jelico is the leading expert
   on the Cardassians.  Anything less than Captain of a major Fed ship,
   and they wouldn't even look in his direction.  Besides, he knows how
   to *fight* them in case it's necessary.

   IMO, Jelico was a bit too heavy-handed with crew schedules, etc. but
   I figure it's because he knew the ship wasn't ready to handle a battle
   with an enemy both better prepared and just itching to start a war.


|> 
|> Both Captain Jerrico and the Vice-Admiral are corrupt. This was easily seen
|> in their Code-2 message near the end of the episode. 
|> 
|> He said to the effect: 'One way or another our friends have done it.'
|> 
|> Meaning whether Picard and company was captured, the signal has stopped.
|> 
|> To which she replies: 'And what about our other friends, I do wish to
|> 		       see them again.'
|> 
|> The key word is OTHER, meaning their mutually friends the Cardassians.
|> 

   Actually, what the admiral says is, "Have you heard from our friends?"
   When Jelico says no, she expresses regret and says she "would like very
   much to see them again."  That sounds to me like she and Jelico want
   the team to have escaped.  Their expressions indicate, though, that
   they both think Picard and Co. have been captured or killed.


   What I really want to know is whether the writers did both parts of this
   show at once, or like in "Time's Arrow," they wrote themselves into a
   corner and spent the entire second half digging themselves out.  Guess
   we'll see shortly.

   Oh yeah, and Troi is a babe in that uniform!


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        "The trouble with wolves is that one of them often winds up dead."
 - JWJ  "Then the trick is to be the one that's still living."
                - "Chain of Command"
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