Worf, hmm? What is he good for? Absolutely nothing?

[TheLobes]

I never liked Worf on TNG, so when I start watching DS9 I was worried that his joining the team would spell the end for decent episodes. In fact, I remember watching the last ep of season three, and thinking 'well, this might just be the last good one'.

Then 'Way of the Warrior' came along, and I loved it. I stopped worrying about Worf, but recently I was thinking about this and I cant really remember ever feeling like he was a necessary part of the show. Its not like a particularly dislike him, but I can only think of a few times when I really enjoyed what he added to the show. I liked his role in 'The Ship', where his views on death were in conflict with O'Brien's. Similiarly, I enjoyed him in 'Children of Time', where he put forward the idea that it was cowardly to try and escape destiny. Then, obviously, I loved it when he snapped Weyouns neck like a dry twig.

What do other people think about Worf? Like I said, I dont hate him, Im not even sure Id have taken him off the show, but I cant help thinking he wasnt of any real use, either in the context of the show, or in the dynamics of the programme.

I think part of the problem may be that he's the only member of the main characters (I am not including Ezri in this) who doesnt really have a stable perspective or set of values.

 

[Leroy]

I often have thought about why they added him vs. another TNG character I think he's the only one who would bring a new interesting dynamic to the table being a starfleet security officer he would naturally have some good conflict with Odo.

 

[Cyke101]

I often have thought about why they added him vs. another TNG character I think he's the only one who would bring a new interesting dynamic to the table being a starfleet security officer he would naturally have some good conflict with Odo.

I could be wrong b/c my memory's hazy, but he never really had much conflict with Odo, I think.


In addition to just being really popular (to Trekkies *and* to Ron Moore), I believe Worf was considered because of the new militaristic direction the show was going for in terms of the Dominion (The Klingons feel like they were shoehorned because of Worf). If the stories and themes of DS9 were planned out ahead of time, Worf's the only one from TNG who could really help advance those plots. Troi would perhaps have even less to do because the characters were already sufficient in dealing with each other's problems (rather than being told what to do -- Ezri sure as heck didn't do a lot of counseling for a counselor), Bashir wasn't going to be edged out by Crusher, and Data isn't really proactive enough by nature.

 

[DoBa]

Targ manure! On the Enterprise he was considered to be quite amusing.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

He was there for the Jadzia stories.

 

[Bishop76]

He was an attempt to boost ratings by bringing a little piece of TNG over to DS9. He failed.

 

[DS9]

This is actually a topic that is near and dear to me considering Worf is my favorite Trek character of all time with Spock as a close second and Quark a third. Personally, I like Worf better in NextGen more than I do in DS9 eventhough DS9 is my favorite show. I always thought Worf was a stronger individual in NextGen. In DS9 in certain ways he was almost like a whole other character and at times seemed rather weak and not as though as he was in NextGen.

As far as what dynamic he brought to the table in DS9, it was exciting for me because my favorite character was now a part of my favorite show. Worf to me, did what Seven of Nine did to Voyager; two characters that made the show a little more enjoyable although both shows existed fine without them, they just added a new or in Worf's case, familiar face to the show.

So to me, I rather enjoyed having Worf in both shows.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Personally, I like Worf better in NextGen more than I do in DS9 eventhough DS9 is my favorite show. I always thought Worf was a stronger individual in NextGen. In DS9 in certain ways he was almost like a whole other character and at times seemed rather weak and not as though as he was in NextGen.

I feel the opposite way. I always like Worf more on DS9. That's not to say that I didn't like him on TNG, because I did. But when comparing the two, it seems like he was meeker, or more tame, on TNG than he was on DS9. Once he got on the station he starting acting more like an individual and not someone just trying to fit in all the time.

As for whether he added anything - I'd say he did. His story-lines were always enjoyable - even after they paired him with Dax (a relationship I did not care for). And, with the push to make the show more militaristic and the mandate from the studio to shake things up with the Klingons in order to boost ratings, he was the natural choice of the TNG characters.

 

[mattyhugh]

Deep Space Nine fleshed out Worf into a more holistic character.

 

[DoBa]

I would have loved to see Ro Laren again.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I think part of the problem may be that he's the only member of the main characters (I am not including Ezri in this) who doesnt really have a stable perspective or set of values.

I find that statement a bit bewildering. Worf doesn't have a "stable perspective or set of values" after the endless conversations he had with others on TNG and DS9 about how important honour, tradition, and family are to him? On the contrary, I think he had one of the most consistent perspectives and some of the most clearly defined values.

By the way, Cyke, there was a lot of conflict between Odo and Worf, at least in his first few appearances. I remember Worf initially being very angry with Odo for his unorthodox security methods and the two arguing a lot, although Worf eventually came to begrudgingly have some respect for Odo. One of the funniest ironic things to happen on the show was the two characters relating over their anti-social natures. I remember Odo giving Worf advice on how to discourage O'Brien from visiting his quarters because they both hate company.

I thought it was always fun to watch the way Worf reacts to others and how they react to him, especially on DS9. He was often more of a comic relief character on TNG where other characters would irritate him as he was often grumpy.

On DS9, however, there were more intense serious conflicts with him having big personality clashes and differences of opinion with Sisko, Odo, and both Daxes. I thought he brought a lot of good drama to the show and formed some really interesting connections, like his friendship with Martok.

I didn't mind him being paired with Jadzia, but that's mostly because of my bias towards Jadzia. It wasn't the greatest relationship, but inspired what I consider two excellent episodes in "Change of Heart" and "You Are Cordially Invited...". Not everyone enjoyed his pairing with Dax, and I can understand why, but he wasn't just defined by that relationship. He had a lot of chemistry with the whole cast.

 

[Danoz]

Personally, the Klingon episodes with Worf were some of my favorite TNG episodes. I was thrilled to have him on DS9! Then again, I absolutely love Klingon stuff.

 

[Cyke101]

By the way, Cyke, there was a lot of conflict between Odo and Worf, at least in his first few appearances. I remember Worf initially being very angry with Odo for his unorthodox security methods and the two arguing a lot, although Worf eventually came to begrudgingly have some respect for Odo. One of the funniest ironic things to happen on the show was the two characters relating over their anti-social natures. I remember Odo giving Worf on how to discourage O'Brien from visiting his quarters because they both hate company.

The first few appearances, sure, but it seemed to be quickly swept under the rug. While I wouldn't expect anyone to duplicate the longevity of, say, Kira vs. Starfleet or Odo vs. Rom, or the kind of prolonged interplay between Bashir/O'Brien and Jake/Nog, and while I didn't expect any longstanding grudges, even in terms of Trek relationships, the whole Worf/Odo conflict seemed to be tied up rather neatly.

 

[C_Miller]

I like Worf and I really liked him on DS9. Sure he may have been a bit superfluous at the start. I mean, the role of Strategic Operations Officer was pretty much bs. I don't think we ever got a clear definition of what that was nor did we see him doing the job. But DS9 had a lot of that, where characters would be allowed to act as characters rather than just vehicles for their jobs.

But I think he brought a lot to the table. I'm someone who was never a fan of Jadzia and while I didn't exactly enjoy their relationship, I feel like I enjoyed her more when they were together. And without Worf we never would have had Martok who was a brilliant secondary character up there with Dukat, Nog and Garak. He's also my favorite Klingon.

 

[Deckerd]

He was more quotable than anyone else.

 

[backstept]

He was more quotable than anyone else.

"Good tea. Nice house."

 

[C_Miller]

He was more quotable than anyone else.

"Minsk"

 

[Deckerd]

He was more quotable than anyone else.

"I am not a merry man."

 

[Rom's Sehlat]

"Comfortable chair."

"Romulan Ale should be illegal..."

"Tell him the ship is off-limits to Cardassian spies."

 

[Admiral Shran]

"Nice legs.... for a Human."

"Death to the opposition!"

"At the first sign of betrayal I will kill him. But I promise to return the body intact."

"Nice hat."