UNCUT - The Wounded (TNG S4E12) | Star Trek Journey 193

Picard is just epic. This show is amazing. These were my life lessons in the early '90s when I was growing up. Picard was my influencer.

Jeri Taylor a woman guys

The Cardasians are gonna be a big part in Star Trek now just the tip of the iceberg.

I have to admit, this was one I'd never seen 1st time round and only paid cursory attention when I finally caught it on repeat. It's rare that I'd rate an episode an S, but I think this would be one of them

if you ever re-watch the episode, you will get the "feels" as soon as he starts humming the Minstrel Boy while serving dinner - at least i always do

Anyone else notice that O'Brien has officer pips on his collar in this one?

This one gets two "M's" for colM Meaney in addition to two BIG-S's for the episode. Every scene of his was amazing, but Meaney had me at "muffin". Even at the end with Maxwell when his script was to just say "Yes Sir..." over and over again he was fantastic. Marc Alamo was a perfect guest. Maybe the weakest link was the guy playing Ben Maxwell but even that's decent, just not amazing acting.

Back when you were saying how good miles was as a minor character, I was thinking of this episode. Your reaction to “transporter chief” was the same as many fans. People loved “chief” even before he had a name on the show. The show took note.

Love to see those S tier ratings. Great episode.

You haven't seen the last of Marc Alaimo in the Star Trek franchise. Trust me.

knowing you guys are big O'Brien fans, I've been waiting this one. Also one of my favorite Eps of the series. Marc Alaimo is fantastic. He was in Total Recall.

it's not all species, we encounter plenty of species where that isn't the case. It's really only the Romulans and now the Cardassians. Th Klingons are fed allies but that alliance is sometimes in jeopardy. Otherwise, most species are either somewhat friendly or locally hostile but not capable of going to war with the federation.

Had to go back to the poll to see what I ranked this - I ranked it S. After seeing it again for the first time in a long time, that rank was WELL EARNED.

I am truly dismayed by all the anticipation for DS9 that I’m reading on this thread. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fine show, but the guys are already watching and enjoying the very best of Star Trek! I DO look forward to revisiting the series when they get to it…but in my humble opinion, all future series can’t re-capture the same lightning in a bottle of Roddenberry’s TOS and TNG!

I've always assumed part of the need to keep the peace with the Cardassians is that the Federation is still trying to recover from the Borg attack that decimated their fleet and trained personnel numbers, at least in the short-term. They don't really mention it in the episode directly, but the Cardassian-Federation war had literally just ended a few years before the Borg attack on Earth. And it didn't really have a clean finish, and it's still very fresh in the minds of both sides. And the idea that Cardassia might take advantage of the Federation's weakness is a fairly believable one.

Dialogue problem: how is a Cardassian supposed to know what mosquito is? And bonus: can I really believe that a human being would ever think twice about squashing a mosquito? (A: No)

Before even starting the video, I know that T-shirt would be better if it said "Resting Gorn Face"

In the lore, the Nebula class starship (USS Phoenix) was developed as part of the Galaxy Class Starship Development Project, which is why the ship shares so many components with the Galaxy class (USS Enterprise). In reality, the Nebula class was created as a kit bash, made from Enterprise D toy model kits, and first appeared on screen at Wolf 359 among the destroyed fleet by the Borg. They liked the design so much, they brought it back for this episode.

I’m referencing something there pal.

The Cardassians have joined the fun!

29:18 "Intercept" in this context means catch up with.

26:16 Wow the look on Josh's face. LOL

21:24 It really really bugs me that they're trying to "intercept the Phoenix" at only warp 4. 🤦

I think the only reason it didn't quite make S tier for me is it's not one of those episodes I immediately want to go and re-watch. I love it obviously and it hits hard concerning the topic they cover and how they approach it. Data's Day for example was an S for me as I always want to go back to re-watch and see all the little everyday things in that. This episode obviously hits harder thematically but I don't feel like there is anything I missed or anything I need to really experience again if that makes sense. I love Chief thouhgh, Miles O'brien IS the most important man in Startfleet after all. "Simple Hesitation!" \o/ Side note; I do agree this is a decent example of how DS9 is to an extent, I think they go further actually but there are still absolutely going to be episodes and themes you do not like.

Gul is a rank like Captain

The whole prefix code for the Phoenix being shared to the Cardasians was a call back to starfleet prefix codes from Star Trek 2 Wrath of Khan and Kirk using Reliants prefix code to remotely lower her shields.

The racism in war towards enemies or former enemies also has a real life tie in for Star Trek. Roddenberry and many of the people involved in the original series where WW2 Vets, hence they chose the name Enterprise and some of the story influences can be seen in the original show. Also the actor who played Scotty, James Doohan was a decorated Canadian veteran who served both in the air force and the army, including being on the ground for D day and wounded (he was missing fingers, it’s usually hidden on screen with a couple of exceptions). And then of particular relevance for this episode, Sulu, George Takei and his family where American citizens…but because they where of Japanese background…they were rounded up and placed in internment camps during the war (unlike white Germans)

@52:50 its always interesting to hear Americans talk about the dynamic of being the melting pot of the world. Growing up in school, here in Canada the allegory used is that America is the melting pot…everyone goes there and becomes American by melting their old cultures away. Where our approach in Canada is the cultural mosaic, people come here and still fully maintain and celebrate their homeland’s culture without diluting it..while also becoming Canadian.

There's so much I want to say but so little I feel I can without spoiling the future, even by inference. What I will default to is simple, I'm extremely glad to be a part of your journey through the best sci-fi franchise humanity has produced, and I'm itching in my seat waiting for the flood of bangers yet to come.

There is still an A and B plot in the episode. A being Picard's hunt for the Phoenix, the other being O'Brien coming to terms with his feelings toward the Cardassians. It's just that the two are so well intertwined. Neither one comes across as an unnecessary distraction from the other, and each one helps to provide context to the other.

Sir there has been another "DC Fontana" incident.

I have to credit Maxwell's actor for portraying the character so well, almost instantly he is a likeable Captain who is clearly respected by his crew, both past and present, as demonstrated by the Chief. One can easily believe he earned his Captaincy.

Jeri Taylor sucks, gentlemen. You'll learn.

I really appreciated this episode. My grandfather was in world war II. He never talked about it. He always taught his kids equality and to love everyone, but he couldn't go into any Oriental style restaurants or watch war movies. He tried a couple times but started getting very nervous and left. So I understood what the show was about and appreciated the realism ...IN SPACE

One of my favorites. Love it.

Fellas, believe me, I totally plan to still be around when you finally get to DS9!-- Lord willin' and the creek don't rise-- And that's like, what, only two more seasons away?

Btw, Jeri Taylor is a woman. No biggie. She’s a great writer though. Im more of a fan of single-plot episodes. The A/B thing is meh. They CAN be good, but single plot episodes are best. There is one coming up that to me is in the top 20 of the entire show that is a single plot story. Im having a memory lapse of the details, but still. 😉

The producers wanted a villain race who could match wits with Picard, carry on highly intelligent conversations while being sinister. They got them with the Cardassians.

And here comes my favorite faction in Trek. Hope y'all are on board.

One of the great episodes of the series. “Take this to your leaders Gul Macet……We’ll be watching…” So great!

Look at what you've become! Remembering a one off alien race, the Sheliak. And then the only ever mentioned Grizellas?? This is what Star Trek does to you. I don't know why, but it turns normal people into encyclopedias of in-universe trivia. We're not weirdos, it's just what prolonged exposure does!

As one of the takes said, this is very much The Defector of S4, and funny enough the same admiral is in both eps. In a sense it's almost the reverse situation as now it's one of our guys who crossed the border, though obviously it wasn't a defection or staged. One of the great things about this episode is that neither Maxwell nor the Cardassians are portrayed as outright evil or good. Maxwell is absolutely in the wrong, but it wasn't hatred or bigotry motivating his actions, he was a broken man who couldn't move on from the "wounds" of war, and it seems at the end his suspicions at least were justified. As for the Cardassians, you got one guy treating the visit like an espionage mission, one guy who just seems like a normal dude doing his job, and Macet who perhaps knows what his people are doing and mistrusts starfleet, but doesn't seem hellbent on war. There's a whole lot of grey in this episode. The scene in 10 Forward is legendary. The producers finally gave Colm a chance to show his acting chops and he absolutely delivered. I don't think it was necessary to make that scene any darker, it's already pretty moving IMO. Yes, O'Brien joined starfleet, and yes there is an expectation that you may wind up in combat, but it is an exploratory organization. Even on Setlik III in an active combat situation, he said he stunned one of the Cardassians. It says something that even in a war you're trying to take enemy soldiers alive. O'Brien has always come across as a very cool, likeable guy, but hearing him say he never even wanted to swat a mosquito as a kid lets us know he's probably the kind of guy joined starfleet with combat being the last thing on his mind. Even as the Cardassians were killing civilians he was trying to take them alive, and here we are hearing this story of his first time killing a man, and it wasn't even on purpose. He was never going to be the same after that. Picard is really good in this episode, but I still think his performance in the Defector was a bit better, but like in that episode, he had great 1 on 1 scenes with another talented actor(2 in fact). Gunton's role was much more brief, but still memorable. Alaimo stole the show as Macet though. Though I do really love the scene in the transporter room where Picard says hate can become comfortable after enough time, like old leather. That line has always stuck with me. I also like the scene where Riker shoots that look at O'Brien. Riker can be very approachable, very friendly, very casual when it's appropriate, like during poker games. But when it's time to stand on business he stands on business. Between the warship and freighter, Maxwell killed 650 people, and if you add in the science station that could be over 1000. And here he's watching O'Brien chumming it up with this renegade captain like it's any other Friday. That look was straight up saying "not the time or the place, chief". Worf also showed a lot of competence in his scenes. If there were one single rewrite I would add to this episode, I would add in either the transporter room or Maxwell's ready room a line where O'Brien tells Maxwell he just got married. Right after he asks O'Brien how he is would work. The reason being it would add extra motivation to Maxwell deciding to turn himself in. I don't think he was being a dick or toying with O'Brien when he recalled that Stompie had died at Setlik, I think he's just remembering one of many people who died under his command. But if he knew O'Brien was married it might be another factor in his decision. He lost his family, and if a new war starts, O'Brien could end up losing his. If that was the thing that finally made him stand down, to spare others from suffering the same loss he did, I think it could make the episode(Maxwell's character at least) even better.

Captain Ben Maxwell: just because you're paranoid about the former enemy doesn't mean you're wrong.

Definite S-tier episode for me and I knew you guys would feel the same way. Colm Meaney really shines here as O'Brien and he has great chemistry with Maxwell; you really believe they have a history together. The Ten-forward scene has stuck with me ever since I was a kid, but the other dialogue is great too. I didn't notice though until rewatching it with you guys how much of the episode is also carried by what remains unsaid. The slower pace really gives you time to read the characters' looks and body language that goes a long way to reinforcing the narrative. It also shows how much the show has matured over the seasons to trust the audience to fill in the gaps.

Wooohoooo! Glad you guys had those same feelings !

The food replicators were aroound during the Captain kirk era for sure as we saw them periodically. But probably in that era it was strictly for the military and became widespread commercial use in the TNG era. Similar to the internet now vs the internet in the 90's.

lol Ca (as in cake) co

Picard did not know about the weapons until the Enterprise followed Captain Maxwell to the Cardassian ship and got those strange sensor readings. Riker picked up on it as well and he and Picard gave each other a look but said nothing.

Yeah, the Troi double take was perfect, almost like she heard him empathically murmur the N word for Cardassians under his mental breath.

Our culture was introduced to the Kardashians during the OJ trial in 94. I remember when I first heard that name (one of OJ’s lawyers) I did a “what now?”

There was a moment when Gul Macet tells one of his glinns to go to his quarters and stay there. The glinn looks surprised and gives a quick look to Macet. Macet almost seems to smile at him, as if to say, “congratulations but don’t make it too obvious what we’re doing.”

Guys! Keiko is pronounced 'Kay-co', Jeri Taylor is a woman, 'Gul' is a Cardassian rank not a name- Oh, wait. A dozen people before me already told you all that? Never mind ...

I will confess I had that Kardashian/Cardassian take in my head weeeks ago lol

The mischevious Cardassian was trying to look up info on the U.S.S. Lollipop

Keiko is pronounced Kay-co. 😁

Also, holy smokes, the HD treatment on this episode was something, cause I have to watch along on my DVDs and this episode was murky and brown as heck compared to your sync footage.

Josh did REALLY well bringing up Jeri Taylor and not gendering HER for about a minute and a half, then he fumbled the ball XD. We got another D.C. Fontana on our hands folks! And so soon after Imzadi too lol.

I had an uncle who fought in Vietnam. He had a major drinking problem after the war, always kept his 1911 pistol that he carried over there close by. Always had smokes, too. He couldn't be around anyone of oriental/Asian persuasion. He literally developed shakes around them. He told my dad he had the urge to kill them on sight. He saw a lot of bad shit in Nam. Did two tours. As Picard said, we can pity him, but we will not dismiss him. He didn't ask for that. He did his duty when his country demanded it of him. There's a nice thin layer of that in there as well, about veterans, and helping them to find their way back into life. As they say "back into the world." The reason a lot of veterans miss combat, even though its awful and draining to your mental faculties, to say nothing of the physical hardships... Is the brotherhood. Even having it described to you in great detail, there is nothing like it in civilian life. No bond that strong. Which is what that scene in Maxwell's quarters really touches on. Maxwell trusts The Chief. Certainly, no spoilers, but TNG is starting to change things a little as we're moving through season 4. It'll be interesting to see what you guys think as we get into the second half of this season, and season 5.

nice bit of lore bring back the prefix codes from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Perfect Star Trek

Gul is a title for the Cardassians. Sorta like Moff in Star Wars.

I am sure Riker picked up on the power signal of the so called Cardassian supply ship from the way he and Picard exchanged glances. He and Picard immediately realised that Maxwell was correct in his belief that the Cardassians were carrying weapons. The major niggle I have is that Maxwell will pay the price in order to protect the peace. Though he was responsible for the deaths of two crews.

season four is becoming the season of Miles O'Brien and im sure your loving it

I think Gul in the Cardassian language is more of a title or rank, like captain. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Strong disagree on the rewrite idea of having Riker first mention that it's weird for the location of station and the subspace fields. The problem is doing that would have totally knocked the wind out of Picard confronting the Gul at the end. The pop at the end of Picard's confrontation is far more than what would have been gained.

"How can you be so obtuse?"

Gul is not a name, it's the rank in the Cardassian military which corrresponds to captain in Star Fleet.

Young crewman O’Brien killed many Cardasians that day, and thus becoming, The Hero of Seklek Three.

At 36:10, Data says the supply ship had a high-powered subspace field, and Picard and Riker looked at each other -- that's when they knew that the ship was actually weapons ship.

Jeri Taylor is the D.C. Fontana of TNG and onwards. You know what I mean.

Gul is a title. Its their equivalent of Captain. The other two were introduced as Glinn. That's the equivalent of Lieutenant or Commander, it's never really said.

And with this episode Jeri Taylor makes her mark. Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller one other is responsible for shaping so much of Trek during the 90’s and nurturing talent like Ronald D Moore. The Cardassians are great and Marc Alaimo playing his 3rd role in the show creates a compelling character. Colm Meaney also shows that he is one of the best assets Trek has…

Heart of Darkness or Apocalypse Now might be worth watching after this episode, too.

Suggestion : Q tier episodes. Only episodes that become your new favourite episode ever can be Q tier, like the recent “Remember me.”.

An excellent episode & reaction. One of my favourites of the series. Jeri Taylor is a she, don’t look her up though, spoilers.

Might be time to have the TA watch the Shawshank Redemption. It's long but good.

I'd argue that the Chiefs internal struggle with his hate (which he clarifies is as much if not more self hate) is kinda a B plot (and in some ways is the A plot) even though it's so closely meshed with the main plot.

First came, "When's the next Star Trek reaction?" Then came, "Are you guys going to watch all the movies or going to watch in release order?" Now comes: "You guys are going to love Deep Space Nine." Have it saved as a prompt key. Look forward to pushing it after every reaction for the next year-and-a-half.

I can't wait for you guys to get into Deep Space 9

I'm biting my tongue VERY hard after this one. If you know, you know. Great stuff!

Absolute banger of an episode. I have been looking forward to this

'But God - that Gul Macet. I hope he suvives this episode so he can come back. He's great!" Remember this.

The Chief is an enlisted crewman. It makes no sense that he was the tactical 'officer' on the Phoenix which is Worf's position as a lieutenant on the Enterprise. Also Maxwell seems all alone on his ship. But these are very minor complaints. It's an S tier episode of course.

Btw: Jeri Taylor is a woman.

You just added another reason why I can't wait for you to start DS9.

I love this one. It still makes me cry.

The Cardassians are my all time favorite Star Trek aliens. Not only the design, but the complexity of their culture. Looking forward to you guys getting to know them.

Oh how I've been waiting for this 😈 time to acknowledge the chief!!