Summary
- Admiral Jellico relieved Picard of his command in TNG, showcasing Jellico's by-the-book command style.
- Jellico delivered the news to Picard about stopping the Romulan rescue mission in Prodigy, leading to Picard's resignation.
- Jellico's return in Prodigy connected the show to TNG and highlighted the contrast between his and Picard's leadership styles.
Star Trek: Prodigy revealed that Admiral Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) took Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) off of the Romulan rescue mission, but this was not the first time Jellico relieved Picard of his command. As Captain of the USS Enterprise-D on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Picard led his crew with confidence and compassion, and they eventually became like a family. Throughout TNG's seven seasons, Starfleet Admirals and Captains occasionally visited the Enterprise, often coming into conflict with the crew when their command styles were vastly different from Picard's.
With his strict adherence to the rules and regulations of Starfleet, Edward Jellico was not the most sympathetic of Star Trek captains. Star Trek: Prodigy revealed that Jellico kept these traits into his Admiralty, and Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), like Picard, didn't always agree with Jellico's way of doing things. Jellico kept checking up on Janeway throughout Star Trek: Prodigy's two seasons, but she found ways to circumvent his by-the-book commands. Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 ended with the synth attack on Mars that had first been revealed in Star Trek: Picard, filling in gaps in the Star Trek timeline.
Captain Jellico Took Away Picard’s Command In Star Trek: TNG
Captain Jellico first appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episodes 10 and 11, "Chain of Command."
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 two-parter, "Chain of Command," Captain Jellico takes over command of the USS Enterprise-D when Captain Picard must go on a covert mission. Jellico's command style contrasts sharply with Picard's and immediately gets under the skin of Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). When Picard is captured by the Cardassians, Jellico refuses to acknowledge that Picard was on an official Starfleet mission, which would grant him the rights of a prisoner of war rather than a terrorist. Riker argues with Jellico, accusing him of sacrificing "Captain Picard's life as a negotiating tactic."
Jellico then relieves Riker of duty, assigning Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) as his new First Officer. Later, Jellico seeks out Riker's help to pilot a shuttlecraft and lay a minefield trap for the Cardassians. Jellico and Riker criticize one another, but Riker agrees to help. Throughout all of these events on the Enterprise, the Cardassian Gul Madred (David Warner) was brutally interrogating and torturing Captain Picard. Despite very nearly breaking in the end, Picard manages to hold out just long enough to be rescued. Jellico does not come across as particularly likable in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Chain of Command," but he ultimately succeeds in thwarting the Cardassians' plans and rescuing Picard.
Admiral Jellico Relieved Picard Of His Romulan Rescue Mission In Star Trek: Prodigy
In Star Trek: Prodigy's season 2 finale, Dal R'El (Brett Gray) and his friends at Starfleet Academy witness the news coverage of the synth attack on Mars. In a gathering of Starfleet officials, Admiral Jellico shares the unfortunate news that not only would Starfleet stop the Romulan evacuation project, but they would also be pulling back from exploration entirely. Jellico says that Admiral Picard did not take this news well, implying Jellico himself was the one who delivered the news to Jean-Luc.Star Trek: Picard revealed that Picard resigned from Starfleet in protest after the cancelation of the Romulan rescue mission.
Picard incorrectly believed that Starfleet would not accept his resignation, and when they did, he retired to his family's vineyard in France.
Considering Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) and his Traveler powers were a big part of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, it's not surprising the season couldn't end without mentioning Jean-Luc Picard. Like Picard, Janeway commanded with compassion first, putting the safety of her crew members above even her own. These captains did not leave crewmembers behind, and that sometimes meant bending, or even breaking, the rules of Starfleet, a sentiment Admiral Jellico directly opposed. Jellico's return in Star Trek: Prodigy served as a nice callback to Star Trek: The Next Generation and further connected Prodigy to the greater Star Trek universe.
