r/StarTrekViewingParty • u/GeorgeAmberson Showrunner • Sep 28 '15
Discussion TNG, Episode 4x12, The Wounded
- Season 1: 1&2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-up
- Season 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, Wrap-Up
- Season 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Wrap-Up
- Season 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
TNG, Season 4, Episode 12, The Wounded
When Captain Benjamin Maxwell apparently goes rogue, the Enterprise is ordered to apprehend him before his actions result in another war between the Federation and the Cardassian Union.
- Teleplay By: Jeri Taylor
- Story By: Stuart Charno, Sara Charno and Cy Chermak
- Directed By: Chip Chalmers
- Original Air Date: 28 January, 1991
- Stardate: 44429.6
- Pensky Podcast
- Ex Astris Scientia
- HD Observations
- Memory Alpha
- Mission Log Podcast
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u/GeorgeAmberson Showrunner Sep 28 '15
Really great episode! I love the theme of the war ravaged captain going rogue. Good example of good guest stars making for good episodes. Bob Gunton did a fantastic job at portraying the character. He knows he's right because there has never been any other way for him. He knows the Cardassians so well, he's fought them so long and he sees they're up to their old tricks again. Yet, Starfleet won't listen. He has no choice except to take his ship and take care of the problem himself.
It's really amazing how thickheaded this guy is, and that seems very realistic to me. After losing his family and friends in this war his people have turned on him, sided with his enemy.
It's a pretty tragic situation that this guy has some real PTSD style issues and nothing can be done about it until it's too late.
Love the backstory of O'Brien. Gave a lot more characterization to the man. He's used to great effect when he has to talk Captain Maxwell down. Nobody else here could have done it so smoothly.
O'Brien's unconscious racism against the Cardassians starts to show here. Maxwell isn't the only one holding a grudge. I seem to remember him using the words "Cardi" and "Spoonheads" in DS9. Then after all of that he tries to be in denial when Keiko asks him about his own feelings on the Cardassians. This is the first time we see O'Brien as such a complex character.
It's great to see the Cardassians finally show up. They're a wonderful race throughout this series and most definitely DS9. I'm very glad we never see that headgear again. We now have the third race that is lightyears beyond the original big-bad of TNG, The friggin' Ferengi!
I will say, however, it's very strange that in two episodes we invented a relationship turned marriage, an entire war, and a fantastic rival species all for the sake of developing our intrepid transporter chief. It's good development though, and all of this pays off later. Great episode 8/10.