The Wounded (26 Jan. 1991)

After being fired upon by a Cardassian vessel, Picard races against time to find out the facts behind the Cardassian commander's claim that the Federation attacked one of their outposts.

Director:

Chip Chalmers

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Jeri Taylor (teleplay),

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher (credit only)
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Bob Gunton	...	Capt. Benjamin Maxwell
Rosalind Chao	...	Keiko O'Brien
Marc Alaimo	...	Gul Macet
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
Marco Rodríguez	...	Glin Telle
Time Winters	...	Glin Daro
John Hancock	...	Admiral Haden

Storyline

The Federation is on the verge of war with the Cardassians after a Starship under the command of Captain Benjamin Maxwell attacks a Cardassian science outpost, destroying it and killing everyone there. Captain Picard is ordered to find Maxwell and take whatever steps necessary to stop him. The Cardassians are cautious and their captain, Gul Macet, doesn't quite believe Picard will hunt down one of his own. Picard for his part will do his duty but finds it hard to believe that a Starship captain would attack without reason. Chief O'Brien served with Maxwell and knows that his family was killed many years before in a Cardassian attack. He also knows that Maxwell is a very able captain who would not seek revenge. When Maxwell destroys a Cardassian cargo ship, Picard realizes he must be stopped before there is all-out war.

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Plot Keywords:

24th century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1991 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Captain Maxwell is joking with O'Brien about getting his silver tongue from "kissing the stone". This is a reference to the Blarney Stone in Co. Cork, Ireland, which is said to give whoever kisses it great eloquence and skill at flattery.

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Goofs

While under attack from the Cardassian ship, Picard asks to increase power to the forward shields. In the next scene the Cardassian ship is shows firing from behind.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Maxwell was right. Those ships were not carrying scientific equipment, were they? A research station within arm's reach of three Federation sectors? Cargo ships running with high-energy subspace fields that jam sensors?
Gul Macet: If you believe the transport ship was carrying weapons, Captain... why didn't you board it, as Maxwell requested?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I was here to protect the peace - a peace that I firmly believe is in the interests of both our peoples. If I had attempted to board that ship, I'm quite...
[...]

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Connections

References Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

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Soundtracks

"The Minstrel Boy"
Performed by Colm Meaney and Bob Gunton

User Reviews

The Cardassians introduced.

ST:TNG:86 - "The Wounded" (Stardate: 44429.6) - this is the 12th episode of the 4th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

This episode introduces one of the more memorable of Star Trek villains, the Cardassians. In this episode, it is revealed that the Federation and Cardassians have been at war for years and have only recently (a year go) signed a peace treaty.

However, there is a rogue captain, Maxwell of the Phoenix, who starts destroying Cardassian ships seemingly for no reason. Maxwell, whom O'Brien has served with, lost his whole family during a battle on Setlick and Picard now thinks he's up to revenge. He enlists O'Brien's help (along with 3 Cardassians including Gul Macet) in trying to persuade his former captain to stand down, but in the process must confront his own demons.

This episode brings to question, when you were in war for so long, can you find a role in peace (the same question that the samurai had during the Tokugawa era after the long civil war period of Japanese history)? Trivia note: Marc Alaimo plays Gul Macet (he will soon play a memorable Cardassian named Gul Dukat on Deep Space Nine). And you see O'Brien and Keiko having dinner together, the first time we see them AFTER the wedding from the previous episode. And it is noted that Picard first met the Cardassians while on the Stargazer, and under not-so-peaceful circumstances.