Product Details

• Actors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden
• Directors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: May 5, 1998
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792146670
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,220 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Believing the Cardassians are preparing for war, the Federation relieves Captain Picard of his command of the Enterprise and sends him, Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, and Worf on a secret mission. Federation Intelligence believes the Cardassians are developing "metagenic" weapons on Celtris III, where Picard and crew must go to investigate and destroy said weapons if they exist. These weapons are genocidal weapons that destroy all life on a planet while leaving structures like buildings and equipment intact. The Cardassians may have found a way of delivering metagenics without endangering themselves, making the prospect of war with them truly horrific.

Captain Jellico (Ronny Cox) takes command of the Enterprise, with qualifications including Cardassian negotiations. Though his harsh demands on the crew irk everybody, it is clear he has no time to be popular, and his tactical skills in negotiating with the enemy are wonderful to watch. Cox turns in a terrific performance, at once severe and sympathetic. Picard's mission on Celtris III turns sour when it becomes clear it's a trap, and a trap specifically for Picard, he learns from his captor, Gul Madred (David Warner). It seems rather convenient that Picard is chosen for this mission, with the flimsy explanation that he studied a particular carrier wave the Cardassians seem to be using in their transmissions. Surely there are better candidates for such a dangerous mission. But with veteran actors like Ronny Cox and David Warner, this two-part episode is a pleasure. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Of The Next Generation, January 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 136: Chain of Command, Part I [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Jean Luc Picard is captured by Cardassians and interrogated by a nasty Gul played beautifully by Star Trek V & VI alum, David Warner. On the Enterprise, Captain Jellico (Ronny Cox) has taken command. The highlights - the interrogation scenes between Warner and Stewart are first rate. Jellico making changes that stayed with the show. Deanna switching to a conventional uniform. One change that didn't was "losing the fish" in the Captain's Ready Room. Fun to watch - Riker's run ins with Jellico. A wonderful dramatic piece with outstanding Warner and Stewart with good support from Cox.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars edge of your seat nail-biter, August 30, 2004

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 136: Chain of Command, Part I [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Federation discovers a dubious plot by the Cardassians as they have several troop movements and rotations and nefarious dealings with other races. They have strong suspicions that they are developing a Metagenic weapon. Metagenic weapons are the epitome of biological warfare. When dropped onto a planet, they seek out, feed on and destroy anything with DNA - so all things with life are killed and gone. After a few weeks, the metagenic agent becomes inert, allowing those who deployed it to take over the planet - no hostile animal life, no people, just buildings and technology to take as they choose.

Picard wrote the book on the types of emissions coming from the secret Cardassian base. Dr. Crusher is an expert on identifying and destroying metagenic organisms and Worf is a big guy, able to take one two Cardassians with one head-butt.

Picard, Crusher and Worf train for days, without the crew's knowledge. By Federation order, Captain Jellico (Ronny Cox) captains the Enterprise. Starfleet probably has their counterpart to "Navy Seals," but instead they send some of the top officers from their flagship by themselves to take on such a task - a bit corny if you ask me.

Jellico is a micromanager and worse, he doesn't explain to his new crew why he adds shift rotations or has to have certain things a certain way. He wants Picard's fish removed from the Ready Room - Picard is still onboard, but Jellico believes his fate is sealed, since it's unlikely Picard will survive his mission, even if he is successful in finding and destroying the weapon.

Jellico makes the crew jumpy and annoyed - but other than Data, they are less than professional in their response. Geordi is a bit whiny - "but we'll have to work all around the clock!" They may be a research vessel, but they're also armed to the teeth for their various encounters... on occasion, their research vessel becomes a warship, but Geordi doesn't seem to remember that from previous battles or from his Starfleet Academy training.

Counselor Troi tries to help Jellico see the error of his ways and he turns the tables on her - telling her since she's the expert, it's up to her to keep morale up, because he doesn't have the time to "have a honeymoon" with the crew... and then he tells her that she isn't dressed professionally (I must say, I had been thinking this for years!) and needs to wear a standard uniform... thus forever setting the course in which she wears professional attire on all shows. Hallelujah. Even still, Jellico is a jerk of the highest order.

He expects everyone to obey without knowledge or questions and puts everyone in perplexing situations and makes the crew generally disdainful and uneasy around him. Jellico was chosen because he supposedly has so much experience with Cardassians, but his experience would appear more book knowledge than from real dealings - because as Troi is able to detect, he is far from sure of himself.

As Jellico, Riker & Troi try to do a dance with Cardassians at the border, Picard's team of 3 (including himself) acquire a Ferengi transport to the Cardassian world supposedly storing the Metagenic weapon. They have to repel down caves and fend off giant alien bats. They find the supposed area where the weapon is held and suddenly they find themselves surrounded by Cardassians. It's a trap!

Worf & Crusher are able to escape, but Picard is caught and brought to Gul Madred (superbly acted by David Warner). All Federation citizens know that to be interrogated by the Cardassians is a euphemism for torture and a cruel death. Picard steeles himself, preparing to be beaten & interrogated for Federation secrets when Madred explains that there never was a Metagenic weapon, but made it appear they did so they could capture Picard. But why? Is this a personal grudge? What does Gul Madred want from Picard?

Will Jellico continue as captain of the Enterprise? Will their be a war with the Cardassian Empire after years of an uneasy peace? Will Jellico, obviously disgusted with Riker, have Riker demoted or transferred? Talk about a crazy shake-up!

This episode has a million nuggets of awesome packed into every minute... but you won't know what happens until you see part II!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, May 20, 2000

By 

Alaria (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 136: Chain of Command, Part I [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one of the better two parters. Picard, Worf and Dr Crusher go on a secret mission into Cardassian territory, while the Enterprise comes under the command of Admiral Jellico. Although Chain of Command focuses mainly on Captain Picard, important parts are played by Riker, Troi, Worf, and Dr Crusher.

The best parts of the episode were the interrogation of Picard by the Cardassian, and the interaction between Admiral Jellico and Riker. I think of all the 'bad guys' on Star Trek, the Cardassian's are pretty good, although no where near the standard of the Dominion or the Borg. This episode does mark a turning point in one respect, as it's the first in which we see Troi in uniform.

Overall, this episode turned out very well and is quite dramatic, as well as giving us a nice insight into Federation and Cardassian relations. People who buy this will have to get part 2 as well, which continues the story, as you'll need to know what happens to Picard.

I recommend it to all Star Trek fans, regardless of whether you're a collector or who your favourite character is, though if you like the Cardassians, this is a must have.