Star Trek: TNG’s Controversial Captain Jellico Explained

Captain Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) first appeared in the brutal Star Trek: The Next Generation two-parter, “Chain of Command,” and he later returned as an admiral in Star Trek: Prodigy. Throughout TNG’s run, visiting Starfleet captains and admirals were often used to create conflict and Captain Jellico filled this role in "Chain of Command." In the first half of the TNG two-parter, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) go on a covert mission on a planet along the Cardassian border.

In Captain Picard’s absence, Starfleet sends Captain Jellico to take command of the Enterprise. Jellico had previously helped establish an armistice between the United Federation of the Planets and the Cardassian Union. As Jellico holds current negotiations with the Cardassians, Captain Picard is captured and taken to Gul Madred (David Warner). Madred proceeds to use various methods of torture as he tries to get information out of Picard. Picard only just manages to withstand everything Madred throws at him, as he later reveals to Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) that he was on the verge of giving in.

Who Was Captain Jellico In Star Trek: TNG?

Edward Jellico Was Portrayed By Accomplished Actor & Musician Ronny Cox

With his by-the-book and authoritarian command style, Edward Jellico proved to be very different from Captain Picard. This led to clashes with the USS Enterprise-D crew, particularly Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). Jellico even relieved Riker of duty when the First Officer openly disagreed with Jellico's refusal to acknowledge that Picard had been on an official Starfleet mission. However, Jellico later asked Riker to pilot a shuttle to plant mines, knowing that Riker was the best pilot for the job. Jellico then used the threat of the minefield to get the Cardassians to return Picard and retreat.

Ronny Cox made his acting debut in 1972’s Deliverance and went on to appear in numerous films and television shows before landing his first big-budget film role in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. Cox portrayed Lt. Andrew Bogomil in both Beverly Hills Cop and its 1987 sequel, Beverly Hills Cop II. Also in 1987, Cox portrayed Dick Jones in RoboCop, the antagonist to Peter Weller's Alex Murphy. Cox also played Dr. John Gideon on St. Elsewhere, James-Lee Delacroy in Sweet Justice, and President Robert Kensey in Stargate SG-1. He continues to appear in television and film, and most recently reprised the role of Admiral Edward Jellico in Star Trek: Prodigy.

Why Jellico Is A Controversial Star Trek: TNG Captain

Jellico Was Not Well-Liked By Trek Fans

Because of his command style and conflict with the Enterprise crew, Captain Jellico proved to be unpopular among fans. Whether or not Jellico was a bad captain remains up for debate, but his treatment of Riker and other crew members fans had come to love certainly did him no favors. In the end, however, Jellico's time on the Enterprise was a success. He not only saw that Picard was safely returned to his ship, but also got the Cardassian fleet to withdraw from Federation space. Jellico maybe should have been more open to advice from his senior staff, but he ultimately got the job done.

Jellico's time in command of the Enterprise illustrated how well Picard and his crew had come to work together. No other captain could have come in and had the same rapport with the USS Enterprise-D crew, so Jellico was already set up for failure. Jellico would not have worked as a long-term replacement for Captain Picard not only because his command style was too different, but also because he refused to adapt to the needs of his crew. Jellico may have been what Starfleet needed for that particular mission, but Picard is much better suited for the Enterprise-D's usual mission of exploration.

Captain Jellico Changed Star Trek

Jellico's Time On The Enterprise-D Certainly Left A Mark

Although Captain Jellico’s command of the USS Enterprise-D was only temporary, his time as captain left quite an impression on the Enterprise crew. A stickler for regulation, Jellico ordered Counselor Troi to change from her civilian attire into a Starfleet uniform. Marina Sirtis has spoken about how she liked playing Troi in a Starfleet uniform, and the character would wear it from "Chain of Command" through the end of TNG. Troi often deserved better on TNG, and finally putting her in a Starfleet uniform made the character feel like a more important and active member of the bridge crew.

The events of "Chain of Command" helped set up Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by making the Federation's conflict with the Cardassians personal. The species who had tortured and almost broken Captain Picard were surely some of the most formidable villains the Federation had ever faced. Jellico's strong stance and strategy against the Cardassians helped establish how Starfleet dealt with them moving forward. While in command of space station DS9, Commander and, later, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) often had to be just as unwavering as Jellico to combat a foe as ruthless and cunning as the Cardassians.

Admiral Jellico Returned In Star Trek: Prodigy

Prodigy Saw Many Classic Characters Return, Including Jellico

By the time of Star Trek: Prodigy, Jellico had become an Admiral working at Starfleet Headquarters, and he remained a thorn in the side of Starfleet’s more unconventional captains. In Prodigy season 1, Jellico denied Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) request to take the USS Dauntless into the Neutral Zone in pursuit of the USS Protostar. Janeway reluctantly follows Jellico's orders, but when he threatens to call off the mission to rescue Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, Janeway tells her crew she will disobey Jellico if necessary.

At one point, Admiral Janeway even pretends she cannot hear Jellico through her viewscreen, buying herself some time to figure out what to do next. Janeway also finds ways to circumvent Jellico's orders by sending the Protostar kids (who are not technically Starfleet officers) to gather intel. Admiral Jellico remains a sticker for Starfleet's regulations and rules, but he considers the wider picture and tries to do what's best for the Federation as a whole. During his time as admiral, Jellico was dealing with several crises at once, making his job even more difficult.

Starfleet was spread so thin that Jellico could not send any ships when Janeway requested help. Jellico greatly respected Picard and Janeway as captains, but he worried that Janeway's emotions might have been clouded in her desperation to find Captain Chakotay. Janeway, however, knew that she and her crew were the best people for the job and she found ways to succeed. Edward Jellico may not have been one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's most popular guest stars, but he certainly left his mark on the Star Trek franchise.