Captain Edward Jellico may have clashed with Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he had nothing but respect for Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Jellico was given command of the Enterprise-D in the Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 two-part episode “Chain Of Command” when Starfleet ordered Picard — along with Worf and Dr. Beverly Crusher — to undertake a dangerous covert mission in Cardassian territory. Commander Riker was understandably annoyed that he was not given command of the Enterprise; he was ostensibly passed over because Starfleet wanted someone with more experience dealing directly with the Cardassians.
Jellico had an immediate impact on the crew of the Enterprise. He proved himself to be a strict micromanager, enacting sweeping changes to ship protocols and rubbing almost everyone the wrong way. He had a particularly fraught relationship with Picard’s trusted first officer, William Riker, whom he thought was insubordinate and unprofessional. The only member of the Enterprise crew Jellico showed unflinching respect for was Picard. Beyond the fact Picard was a fellow accomplished commanding officer, Jellico knew he was undertaking an incredibly perilous mission in enemy territory and respected his unblinking determination to complete his task.
Why Captain Jellico Is So Hated
Captain Jellico did not earn many supporters, neither within the story of “Chain Of Command” nor among Star Trek fans. A fiery confrontation with Riker made plain why Jellico was largely unqualified to be the captain of the Federation flagship. Jellico was arrogant, closed-minded, and pushed his officers so hard that they weren’t able to efficiently perform their duties. He was quick to dismiss the advice of his senior staff and hid a deep level of insecurity with brash actions and gamesmanship.
From a viewer’s perspective, Jellico seemed specifically engineered to be disliked. His order for Counselor Deanna Troi to wear a standard Starfleet uniform while serving on the bridge was deeply unpopular and his cold reaction to Picard’s eventual capture by the Cardassians felt almost inhuman. But the easiest reason to hate Jellico was his instant, passionate distaste for Riker, the Enterprise’s popular first officer. Pitting Jellico against Riker was never going to win the new captain any popularity points, but Jellico so completely leaned into his disdain for Picard’s right-hand man that he inevitably came across as a joyless cipher.
Jellico And Picard Are Both Admirals After TNG
After Jean-Luc Picard returned to the Enterprise, Edward Jellico went back to captaining the USS Cairo. Jellico was never seen again on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but that wouldn’t be the end of the story for the cantankerous captain, as he returned in the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. Now an admiral assigned to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth, Jellico was consulted by Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway on a Romulan incident along the Neutral Zone. True to form, he was unnecessarily condescending toward Janeway, accusing her of allowing her emotions to influence her decision-making.
It’s fascinating that two men who are as different as Edward Jellico and Jean-Luc Picard could reach the peak of Starfleet ranks as admirals. Picard’s path to admiralty is fairly obvious; he was the supremely respected commanding officer of the Federation flagship for almost two decades, making first contact with countless species and saving all of humanity on more than one occasion. Mapping Jellico’s rise to power would be an interesting exercise, as the leadership skills that he displayed in Star Trek: The Next Generation did not suggest he’d one day be an integral part of Starfleet’s leadership.
