Living in a country that tortures people makes this episode especially hard to watch. When I saw this as a kid I saw it from the perspective of, "those other guys do horrible things like this, good thing I am not on their side." But today that isn't really true any more. That said I think this is a good look into why torture shouldn't be done not just from a humanitarian perspective but from the perspective of it actually doesn't work. Jellico manages to kinda save the day in the end, but he is such a jerk that I can't really find anything good to say about him.
The episode opens with Picard being drugged and forced to answer questions about his mission which he does without hesitation. But then they start asking him about the defense plans for Minos Korva and he doesn't have anything to tell the, so they up the drugs and keep at it. Back on the Enterprise Jellico is negotiating with the Cardassians and they reveal that Picard has been captured after he and his team slaughtered many Cardassian civilians. Jellico sends Riker in a shuttle to pick up what remains of the mission while he keeps negotiating. Back in the torture chamber Picard is being tortured. They string him up, remove his clothes and reveal that he has a pain probe thing inside of him. They keep asking about Minos Korva but he clearly just doesn't know anything.
Back on the Enterprise Riker has returned with Crusher and Worf. The Cardassian shows them footage of Picards initial interrogation and tells Jellico he will execute Picard unless the Federation withdraws from the sector. Jellico refuses and then also refuses to mount a rescue. Riker gets so pissed off about it he is relieved of duty and Data takes over as first officer. Picard's torturer brings his daughter in to show her what he does and after she leaves Picard humiliates him by pointing out how she won't ever be a full person knowing this is how her people live. The torture goes on and on moving away from tactical questions to just trying to break Picard into seeing 5 lights where there are only 4.
Geordi has discovered that the Cardassian ship they are negotiating with has strange damage to its hull. The only thing in the area that would do that is a nebula near Minos Korva. Jellico correctly guesses the Cardassians are hiding in the nebula to attack. He moves the Enterprise in and plans to plan mines on the Cardassian ships with a shuttle, but he will need the best damn pilot around. Who is of course Riker. After telling each other how much they hate each he agrees the plan. It goes off perfectly and the Cardassians are forced to retreat and return Picard. The final scene with Picard in the torture chamber he is offered a final choice of a comfortable life or more torture and in the end he tells Troi he could see five lights, but he tells that damn Cardassian he only sees 4.
Review: This is a powerful and hard to watch episode, but I kinda feel like we should make everybody in America watch to see how messed up our country has become.
7 out of 10
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