Analysis of "The Wounded"

[Gary Sebben]

I've been looking at TNG in a new light lately. It's kind of a dystopia if you think about it. People are so removed for the so-called negative parts of their lives (lust, greed, jealousy, hatred) that they're sterile and almost dehumanized. They're too happy. Somethings got to be wrong, but it's never really examined except in The Wounded.

Both O'Brien and Maxwell are wounded but they don't admit it even to themselves and no one in this new world order can understand that another human being might be in any kind of pain because we're all so happy!

Case in point: O'Brien talks to Keiko about how he feels about the Cardassians. He goes as far as to comment how he can't understand why anyone would hold a grudge against an old enemy if the war is over, even though he shows clear hostility toward the visiting Cardassians

About Maxwell, O'Brien talks like an idiot about how Maxwell seemed to take his family's death "OK". He was always smiling and singing a tune. And everyone apparently accepted this. No one psych evaluated him or asked him if he was ok. They just accepted that the new type TNG human would actually be able to deal with that kind of trauma with a smile and a song.

But in actuality both them men are full of rage they can't even admit to until it bursts.

I found it especially sad that Picard seems to almost chastise Maxwell for acting on feelings related to his family. Only grudgingly at the end does Picard "pitty" Maxwell.

This kind of facing the truth about their pain theme happened a few more times on TNG (Picard after BOBW for ex). But I would have liked it if by the end of the series there was some kind of humanity scale catharsis that made people realize their lifestyles just weren't health. And, no, I don't think DS9 accomplished that. It went way too dark to the point of being comically sadistic.

 

[Peter the Younger]

I've been looking at TNG in a new light lately. It's kind of a dystopia if you think about it. People are so removed for the so-called negative parts of their lives (lust, greed, jealousy, hatred) that they're sterile and almost dehumanized. They're too happy. Somethings got to be wrong, but it's never really examined except in The Wounded.

Both O'Brien and Maxwell are wounded but they don't admit it even to themselves and no one in this new world order can understand that another human being might be in any kind of pain because we're all so happy!

Case in point: O'Brien talks to Keiko about how he feels about the Cardassians. He goes as far as to comment how he can't understand why anyone would hold a grudge against an old enemy if the war is over, even though he shows clear hostility toward the visiting Cardassians

About Maxwell, O'Brien talks like an idiot about how Maxwell seemed to take his family's death "OK". He was always smiling and singing a tune. And everyone apparently accepted this. No one psych evaluated him or asked him if he was ok. They just accepted that the new type TNG human would actually be able to deal with that kind of trauma with a smile and a song.

But in actuality both them men are full of rage they can't even admit to until it bursts.

I found it especially sad that Picard seems to almost chastise Maxwell for acting on feelings related to his family. Only grudgingly at the end does Picard "pitty" Maxwell.

This kind of facing the truth about their pain theme happened a few more times on TNG (Picard after BOBW for ex). But I would have liked it if by the end of the series there was some kind of humanity scale catharsis that made people realize their lifestyles just weren't health. And, no, I don't think DS9 accomplished that. It went way too dark to the point of being comically sadistic.

I watched it to (it's one of my all time TNG faves) but I never looked at it that way. Fascinating take on it! I think this might be an unintentional side effect of the 24th century perfect civilization Roddenberry tried to engrave into the show. In order to find the natural threads of drama, the writers had to sort of fill it in around the edges. I think they broke free of it in later seasons, though.

As for the episode, the Minstrel Boy scene and O'Brien's confession in Ten Forward still get me every time. Colm Meany is just a superlative actor, and the Chief remains the great "everyman" of the Federation.

 

[Kross]

I love how O'Brien reveals a vital weakpoint in one of Starfleet's line ships right in front of a Cardassian.

I've been wondering though, which ship would win in a fight, a Galaxy or Nebula?

 

[LutherSloan]

Galaxy, the Nebula-class seems like it's usually outfitted for deep-space exploration, more so than the Enterprise.

 

[Kross]

That's what it wants you to think, then wham! When you least expect it.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

The plot line at the end that the Cardassians really were smuggling weapons kind of undercut the power of the story by making everything Maxwell did seem justified. I don't think Maxwell attitude what was expected by everyone. On the contrary Picard seemed to feel the fact that he hadn't broken down in some way was unhealthy and led to his breakdown. I am sure Star Fleet must have mandated at least some leave time and counseling after the tragedy. But some people prefer to be Stoic in their feelings. If that is the case what can you do about it relieve them of command until they cry?

I'll say though I watched this episode the other day and the Minstrel Song scene is one of the most powerful in Trek. When Maxwell finally realizes that it doesn't matter anymore what the truth is he is not going to be exonerated either way is a great bit of acting.

 

[Kross]

They never said what the transports were carrying, they just implied that they might have been carrying weapons. Why do you hate the Cardassian people and hurt them with your lies? They've done nothing to you!

 

[Gary Sebben]

I am sure Star Fleet must have mandated at least some leave time and counseling after the tragedy. But some people prefer to be Stoic in their feelings. If that is the case what can you do about it relieve them of command until they cry?

I don't know. Maybe. I mean, if a guy doesn't cry over his wife and child's horrific murder maybe he isn't fit for duty. What is the military procedure on routing out this kind of PTSD?

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

They never said what the transports were carrying, they just implied that they might have been carrying weapons. Why do you hate the Cardassian people and hurt them with your lies? They've done nothing to you!

Cardassians kill my brother!

 

[Thor Damar]

Come to think about it wouldn't it have made for a stronger story if the Cardassians had been innocent? That there was no arms buildup or attempted attack on the Federation just a lone captain traumatized by the war?

 

[JoeD80]

The plot line at the end that the Cardassians really were smuggling weapons kind of undercut the power of the story by making everything Maxwell did seem justified.

I don't think it undercuts anything. I think it is meant to turn your perception around. For a majority of the episode the audience is on the side against Maxwell, "well he's obviously crazy, and he should be stopped!" Then, after a nice ending where O'Brien talks him down, it turns out this crazy guy was right and suddenly your feelings may be made more ambiguous about the outcome of the whole situation.

 

[Gary Sebben]

It seems like a twist for the twist sake, indeed. It could go either way. But it is a little bit sad that the cardassian captain, who seems to be trying so hard to keep things from exploding could in fact be a lying poop-sack. And Picard's attitude makes it pretty plain he thinks there are weapons on the ship.

 

[M-Red]

With 20/20 hindsight --knowing what we know after the events of DS9 --couldn't Maxwell have also been correct when he said that history would judge Picard as a fool?


If Picard had listened to Maxwell, conducted an investigation of the supply ships, and found the arms....the Federation could have eliminated Cardassia's military escalation before the discovery of the Bajoran wormhole and the later alliance with the Dominion.


Picard said he would accept history's judgement....so was he a fool on this one?

 

[Kross]

He had no just cause and what if the transport had turned out to be clean? That mistrust would have fed the Cardassians own mistrust of the Federation and driven them into the arms of the Dominion even quicker. Maxwell disobeyed orders and left the reservation. He crossed the border into the sovereign territory of another interstellar empire and actively attacked their ships on a hunch. Even if he had been right, which there is no indication he was, he still would have either been court-martialed, given a desk job or forced into retirement. Paranoia nearly led to the fall of the Federation (Admiral Leyton).

 

[M-Red]

He had no just cause and what if the transport had turned out to be clean? That mistrust would have fed the Cardassians own mistrust of the Federation and driven them into the arms of the Dominion even quicker.

Had the Cardie military already been previously wiped out, it wouldn't have mattered if they wanted to side with the Dominion later on. They wouldn't have had a military foothold in the Alpha Quadrant to even offer to the Founders.

Maxwell disobeyed orders and left the reservation. He crossed the border into the sovereign territory of another interstellar empire and actively attacked their ships on a hunch.

true -- Maxwell should have captured/towed one of the Card transports back to Fed space and revealed their covert military actions


but Picard and many other good SF captains have disobeyed SF before...ran off and done/ordered a lot of questionable things....when they deemed it necessary.


Maxwell was doing something Kirk might have done....

Even if he had been right, which there is no indication he was....

In the end, Picard seemed to think Maxwell was right. The facts supported Maxwell's suspicions and assertions. The Card transports were using scan-blocking technology so Feds ships couldn't see their cargo....and they had constructed their "science" outpost in a prime military location along Fed sectors.


I see why many would still agree with Picard's choice....but had he been more aggressive and independent at that time, would the Cards have ever been strong enough to ally with the Dominion and nearly dominate the rest of the AQ?


SF and Picard rolled the dice with a peace-at-all-costs diplomatic approach with the Cards, and it seems like it didn't serve them well in the long run.

 

[Thor Damar]

^ Erm, I think a little thing called the Klingon- Cardassian war MIGHT have precipitated cardassia joining the Dominion and only after suffering massive loss of life, political destablisation and economic collapse. The Cardassians did not suddenly decide to join the Dominion out of the wickedness of their scaly hearts, it was a desperate gambit. (and the fact that Dukat and a number of Guls convinced themselves that they were the 'rulers of the Alpha Quadrant' proves nothing, this is Dukat we're talking about here...)

So I don't think preemptive warfare againist a entire Empire just on the off chance that they may turn on you in the future is wise. After all, the Romulans will be watching carefully

 

[Kross]

Standard Federation propaganda and flat out lies. They envy Cardassia's unrivaled prosperity and freedom.

 

[Red Ranger]

I think the O.P. has a very interesting take. Humanity, used to living in the relatively idyllic world of the Federation and Starfleet, has grown unused to cruelty and the toll it can take on one personally, as it did with Maxwell and O'Brien. It makes it harder for people growing up in such conditions to deal with the harsher realities of life, like losing family members in war like Maxwell, or forced to kill like O'Brien.

The Wounded is one of the best ST eps, as it introduces the complicated Cardassians, who were of course used to great effect in DSN. The complex issues of Picard enforcing the peace despite the fact Maxwell is proved right in the end, it must have tried his patience. You can tell from the look on Picard's face when he turns his back on Macet the frustration of having to hold himself back from exposing the charade the Cardassians were engaged in.

Red Ranger

 

[Thor Damar]

Standard Federation propaganda and flat out lies. They envy Cardassia's unrivaled prosperity and freedom.

This post has been approved by the Obsidian Order and is to be regarded as the truth by all good Cardassian citizens.

Cardassia forever!

 

[Mojochi]

Case in point: O'Brien talks to Keiko about how he feels about the Cardassians. He goes as far as to comment how he can't understand why anyone would hold a grudge against an old enemy if the war is over, even though he shows clear hostility toward the visiting Cardassians

Yeah, & Keiko looks at him with a very suggestive glance, to suggest that she doesn't buy that BS for a second

Come to think about it wouldn't it have made for a stronger story if the Cardassians had been innocent? That there was no arms buildup or attempted attack on the Federation just a lone captain traumatized by the war?

Not really. The whole point was that even though it is very likely he is completely right, he is still wrong, because he is allowing his personal motives & feelings to interfere with his judgment to command