The absolute worst captain in Star Trek

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by Mr Silver, Sep 8, 2011.

  1. USS Excelsior

    USS Excelsior Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2004
    Location:
    Alpha Quadrant
    Jellico had all of this emphasis for preparing for battle but there's no crew more tested in battle than the Enterprise.
     
  2. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2001
    Location:
    Ferguson, Missouri, USA
    But then there's this to consider from that episode:


    I think that was the position that Riker was coming from. We can go back even further in time to Star Trek: The Motion Picture in which Decker offered a different course of action to Kirk:


    The difference is in how their commanding officers handled an opinion that was different from theirs. Kirk acknowledged that Decker was indeed just doing his duty, while Jellico relieved Riker of his and threatened to confine him to quarters.

    But as you mentioned, both Riker and Jellico were in the wrong--Riker protested a bit too much and Jellico didn't like having his orders questioned. Both overreactions likely a result of neither man remotely liking the other, IMO...
     
  3. Hartzilla2007

    Hartzilla2007 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2006
    Location:
    Star Trekkin Across the universe.
    And yet he seemed to get along with Geordi and Troi near the end well enough and he seemed to have a good relationship with Data there as well.
     
  4. Satyrquaze

    Satyrquaze Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
    Makes me wonder if they weren't trying to create a dynamic not unlike Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington in Crimson Tide...

    It certainly would have been fun if they had gone all the way with it.
     
  5. Gary7

    Gary7 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    Location:
    ★•* The Paper Men *•★
    I think CE Evans summed it up pretty well.

    Jellico didn't need to address any "honeymoon" period with the crew. However, he did absolutely NOTHING to settle their nerves about the sudden change in captaincy. True, Riker balked a little too much in the beginning, but he got his act in gear fairly soon afterward. Still, Jellico pushed everybody seriously hard, relentlessly so with no sign of compassion. Just "Get it done!". Just remember Geordi's reaction to his orders. And he's usually capable of taking a lot without complaining. But the main problem is that Jellico was ignorant of the time constraints in what was ordered. He simply dictated without any measure of inquiry about the ramifications. You want 4 shifts? Well, OK--the crew isn't going to be as steady/ready as you please.
     
  6. Edit_XYZ

    Edit_XYZ Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2011
    Location:
    At star's end.
    He most definitely did not get his act in gear:
    "Riker, on the other hand, was ready to commit treason - by not piloting the shuttle and ending an imminent cardassian attack on the federation - just because he was butthurt due to Jellico bruising his ego."
     
  7. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2001
    Location:
    Ferguson, Missouri, USA
    Actually, that's not true at all. What happened was that an equally "butthurt" Jellico had already relieved Riker of his duties prior to the mission even being conceived. Jellico talked to several pilots, but the truth was that Riker was best one for the job. Jellico eventually went to see Riker privately about the mission:
    I don't see any indication of treason there. It should also be noted that Jellico had given Riker permission to speak freely.
     
  8. Gary7

    Gary7 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    Location:
    ★•* The Paper Men *•★
    ^ Thank you.

    Riker was relieved due to Riker's insistence that Captain Picard should be accorded fair treatment by his captors, but Jellico was all about keeping the mission hush-hush and could care less about him. So much for Starfleet caring about their own, eh? Jellico wouldn't hear of it any longer and confined Riker to quarters. Yeah... a really great captain. NOT.
     
  9. Hartzilla2007

    Hartzilla2007 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2006
    Location:
    Star Trekkin Across the universe.
    You mean the covert ops mission that if confirmed could possibly lead to a war?
     
  10. Neutral Zone

    Neutral Zone Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2009
    Location:
    Ferenginar
    For me it's always been Archer, just not a Trek captain.
     
  11. Newton

    Newton Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2011
    Seconded. Sure, they wanted to show Kirk's experience but how did that man ever rise to the rank of captain? He was totally incapable of making a decision and couldn't come up with a good idea to save his life. Yet they made him the captain of the Enterprise!
     
  12. sonak

    sonak Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2007
    Location:
    in a figment of a mediocre mind's imagination

    I interpret that differently. Starfleet gave this man a ship that was totally unprepared for even the most minor of crises, and he was unlucky enough to get hit by a major one.

    Who made the call to have this ship go out ill-equipped, under-staffed and partially unarmed?

    Doesn't matter if it was a PR trip or not, ships shouldn't go out in those conditions.


    The best firefighter can't do squat if you don't give the guy the gear and the hose.
     
  13. Susanmj

    Susanmj Cadet Newbie

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2013
    Captain Janeway. Sure she had successes, but they were only hers by proxy. If it hadn't been for crew members like Seven of Nine defying her orders and saving everyone they never would have made it back home. She hated her crew, I'm surprised there wasn't a mutiny after the first time she tried to trade ALL their lives for the life of some alien, (and yes I said 'trade' not 'risk'). Even as liberal as Picard was, he would have been shaking his head at some of her crappy decisions, Kirk would have just thrown her in the brig, lol.
     
  14. BigJake

    BigJake Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2013
    Location:
    No matter where you go, there you are.
    :confused: What are you talking about?

    As for my vote for worst series Captain: sorry, it's got to be Archer for my money. I get that he's meant to be a portrayal of someone inventing the paradigm of the Starfleet Captain, but too often he just didn't have believable leadership qualities.
     
  15. YARN

    YARN Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2010
    Compared to some managers I've had? Jellico was a soft touch. It was a crisis and he wasn't in coddle mode. It was like the crew of the hippie-prise met an actual ship captain and freaked out.
     
  16. Morpheus 02

    Morpheus 02 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2003
    Location:
    Chicago IL
    He's talking about Robeau and Pike.

    With StiD, that solidified my great admiration for Bruce greenwood's Pike -- completely believable as an inspiring leader that would drive Kirk to be the Captain he is

    And Robeau...
     
  17. Cyke101

    Cyke101 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2007
    Additionally, it's been well established that Earth is the heart of Starfleet. If so, why is Enterprise-B, docked at home, the only ship in range? Let's talk about incompetent admirals!

    ~~~~

    On a side note, if we're talking about Robau as a good captain, I'll join the chorus. He didn't blink, he didn't cower, he didn't back down. His orders from the start were about saving his crew, and his foresight and sacrifice helped Lt. George Thor Kirk to do just that. It's just really difficult to imagine Styles and Esteban doing the same thing (I'll give Harriman a pass -- I think he'd do it after much, much more hesitation than Robau ever displayed, and after Kirk gives him a pep-talk).
     
  18. JirinPanthosa

    JirinPanthosa Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2012
    Location:
    JirinPanthosa
    Kirk, Picard and Sisko aren't 'Strong, calm and competent'? I suppose Sisko isn't calm...

    The worst Captain in Star Trek, there's a lot of single episode captains who qualify. Ransom, for one. That Admiral who took the anti-aging pills started a bloody war when he was Captain.
     
  19. I am not Spock

    I am not Spock Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2001
    Location:
    Australia
    I for one liked it whenever Janeway went into 'batshit insane' mode! :lol:
     
  20. I am not Spock

    I am not Spock Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2001
    Location:
    Australia
    Most insane captain? That would be Matt Decker, Ransom, Tracey, Maxwell, or Garth of Izar

    Worst captain? Of the regulars, I'd say Archer. The guy had no leadership experience, and he screwed up so many first contact situations.

    Guest characters, I'd say John Harriman.

    Jellico was an asshole, but he wasn't a bad captain. The crew were just unused to an impersonal, subordinate>>superior style of command.