What is your opinion of Capt. Jellico?

[Tallis Rhul]

I dunno, he had kind of an ego.

And for some reason, he reminds me of Yelgren (Iggy Pop's Vorta), albeit a more up-tight version...

 

[john titor]

Captain Jellico was a pragmatist and a dictator, most people like the strong man of ideology, it plays into our evolutionary history. But if you want real leadership and not just a lot of chestbeating, then Picard is the way to go. He had innovative solutions, was most importantly wise and not reactionary or shortsighted. Jellico was his polar opposite. Picard was the INTJ to Jellicos ESTJ if we're to use Jungian pyschology. INTJs are more creative, less aggresive and generally get the job done way better in the long run. Of course running around shouting and saying if I can't see you working, you're not working seems to appeal to the short term interests and need for authoritarianism. Picard was a visionary, a hero for all time, like Kirk, Jellico was just a middle manager who got lucky, nothing more.

 

[JoeZhang]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jelico was not a good captain for Starfleet.

Now, I grant that the crew could've been a bit more professional but Jelico wasn't making things easy for them,

Keep in mind Starfleet is only military in ranks, cursosry traditions and in organization. But aside from all of that it's a peaceful civilianized organization of exploration.

And what is Picard doing while Jelico is captaining the Enterprise? Why he's involved in a covert special-ops mission against a foreign state - nothing miltary about that...

 

[Tallis Rhul]

I think he means militaristic rather than just military. They sent Picard to do that job for the exact reasons that john titor mentioned in his post - he's creative and good at getting tough jobs done.

 

[nx1701g]

I always liked Jellico. It's too bad that Ronny Cox's schedule prevented him from returning in Tapestry like they had originally planned for him to do.

 

[Red Ranger]

I always liked Jellico. It's too bad that Ronny Cox's schedule prevented him from returning in Tapestry like they had originally planned for him to do.

That would have been interesting. I do somewhat agree the crew didn't exactly adapt to Jellico's command style so readily and act professionally, particularly Riker, but many of Jellico's commands seemed arbitrary. I must say I enjoyed the two big fights between Jellico and Riker, esp. the last one where Riker gets to throw Jellico's comments back to him, esp., "I don't think you're a particularly good captain."

Having said all that, it woudl've been interesting to see Jellico take over permanently and the crew come to a rapprochment with him. Even though Geordi bristled at his commands, he seemed to be the first of the crew to try to achieve a rapport with Jellico when they were swapping stories about flying and Titan's Turn. Geordi also, of course, advocated on behalf of Riker as the pilot for Jellico's big plan, saying he was "the best there is."

I could see a scenario where Geordi, Worf, and even Data would have been the first to come over to Jellico's camp and try to convince the others (Riker, Troi, Beverly) to try and find common ground. That's what Starfleet officers are supposed to do with alien species, so why not with one of their own?

Also, I recall Picard was rather gruff in the beginning, giving Riker a hard time by making him conduct a manual docking of the saucer and stardrive sections in Encounter at Farpoint. Data even got some of that early Picard wrath when he grew annoyed with him smoking that Sherlock Holmes' pipe.

It's too bad we didn't get to see that change in the relationshiop between Jellico and his senior officers. It was rather reminiscent of The Caine Mutiny, when the officers don't get along with Captain Queeg and are unwilling to meet him halfway even when he extends an olive branch.

 

[Tallis Rhul]

I could see a scenario where Geordi, Worf, and even Data would have been the first to come over to Jellico's camp and try to convince the others (Riker, Troi, Beverly) to try and find common ground.

Well, Data jumped into Riker's uniform pretty fast, so I think that could be pretty plausible.

 

[Lor'Vela]

I always liked Jellico. It's too bad that Ronny Cox's schedule prevented him from returning in Tapestry like they had originally planned for him to do.

Wasn't there also a plan to reintroduce him in Parallels as well?

 

[cooleddie74]

I always liked Jellico. It's too bad that Ronny Cox's schedule prevented him from returning in Tapestry like they had originally planned for him to do.

Wasn't there also a plan to reintroduce him in Parallels as well?

That's what I heard once. I also hoped he'd have resurfaced during the Dominion War on DS9 as a frontline captain spearheading the effort against the Founders in or near occupied territory. Ronny's been on the different STARGATE shows several times over the years, so it kinda sucks he never found more time for televised TREK before ENT was axed in 2005.

 

[Lor'Vela]

I always liked Jellico. It's too bad that Ronny Cox's schedule prevented him from returning in Tapestry like they had originally planned for him to do.

Wasn't there also a plan to reintroduce him in Parallels as well?

That's what I heard once. I also hoped he'd have resurfaced during the Dominion War on DS9 as a frontline captain spearheading the effort against the Founders in or near occupied territory. Ronny's been on the different STARGATE shows several times over the years, so it kinda sucks he never found more time for televised TREK before ENT was axed in 2005.

I agree. I would have loved to have seen more Jellico, and it would have been awesome IMO to have seen him co-ordinate and command the fleet, as an Admiral. Not that I have a problem with Admiral Ross, mind you.

 

[Red Ranger]

I could see a scenario where Geordi, Worf, and even Data would have been the first to come over to Jellico's camp and try to convince the others (Riker, Troi, Beverly) to try and find common ground.

Well, Data jumped into Riker's uniform pretty fast, so I think that could be pretty plausible.

As an android, Data usually follows orders with a minimum of angst. If you notice, he quickly became Jellico's right-hand man as he was roaming around the ship giving outrageous orders. Data would have been the ideal x.o. for the perfectionist Jellico.

 

[AJBryant]

I always liked Jellico. It's too bad It was rather reminiscent of The Caine Mutiny, when the officers don't get along with Captain Queeg and are unwilling to meet him halfway even when he extends an olive branch.

The difference being Queeg was both a certifiable neurotic and paranoiac, he was also a coward. That is, NOT a good commander. Jellico was quite the opposite.

Rewatching the episode, I really get the feeling that the tin ears of the writers and powers-that-were (concerning militaria) really expected the viewers to side with Riker against this tin-pot dictator, but they didn't take into account that some people had real-world experience with military officers, not just couch-potato experience with TV SF, and it backfired.

I would love to have seen a series about a ship captained by someone like Jellico, who *knew* how to be a captain without letting people get away with crap (children on the bridge? staff officers out of uniform? running the bridge like a democracy?) that Picard kept letting slide.

 

[nx1701g]

One of the things that I always found amazing about Ronny Cox's acting. He can play badasses and people that you want to see killed in the most violent of ways, but in the real world he's a very nice guy. I had the opportunity to meet him while I was in LA recently and we spoke for a while. Great guy.

 

[cooleddie74]

His guitar playing and singing are also pretty damn good if I do say so myself. He's not bad for an actor-turned-singer or however you want to categorize the man. He's been twanging on-screen ever since DELIVERANCE back in '72 and it shows. The man has definite musical chops!

 

[alte]

 

[Trekker4747]

:shudder:

Why? Why did it have to be Ned Beatty?

 

[LitmusDragon]

Would also have accepted "squeal like a pig".

 

[Red Ranger]

His guitar playing and singing are also pretty damn good if I do say so myself. He's not bad for an actor-turned-singer or however you want to categorize the man. He's been twanging on-screen ever since DELIVERANCE back in '72 and it shows. The man has definite musical chops!

Yep. Wasn't he in the short-lived and critically panned Cop Rock? (I must admit I've never seen it).

OK, this is just . . . wrong on so many levels. So thanks, alte!

 

[ALF]

alte is becoming the king of bizarre images, only 17 posts in. They are livening up this board. Good work!

How about a Robocop reference?

 

[MikeH92467]

I admired Jellico's willingness to reach out to Riker and ask him to fly the mission. Jellico was a hard-ass, but he was willingness to set aside his ego and personal feelings to get the best person for the job. I wish there had been some point where Riker, either on his own, or with a kick in the pants from Picard had gone to Jellico and tried to bury the hatchet. Riker wouldn't have stood for a second officer bucking him the way he tried to buck Jellico and that should have been clear to him after some soul searching. Troi was out of line to pass on her assessment of Jellico, but Riker should have been smart enough to realize that Jellico was putting up the proper front for dealing with the Cardassians. It's also worth remembering that Jellico could have just left Picard with the Cardassians and still would have been a hero to the upper command. Picard was expendable, but Jellico was willing to put his ass and the Enterprise on the line to get him back.