Spoilers Who Was the Most Welcome / Surprising Character Return?

[JonnyQuest037]

Just wondering about this. Who was the most welcome or surprising character return in Trek for you? Where you unexpectedly saw a familiar face pop up and you went, "Wow, cool! They got this person back!"

In the interests of keeping the poll to a reasonable length, I'm instituting a few ground rules. I'm not including the TOS cast returning in the movies, as I assume they'd easily run away with the poll. Likewise, I'm not counting the TNG crew returning in GEN less than one year after the series ended. We'll go with live action appearances by characters played by the original actor, ideally with a gap of several years since their last appearance. So TOS actors returning to guest on TAS or Harry Mudd returning in DSC played by Rainn Wilson don't count. Similarly, I'm eliminating stuff like Brent Spiner's returns in ENT and PIC as other members of the Soong family. And something like Quark's cameo in the premiere episode of VOY wasn't particularly exceptional IMO, as Armin Shimerman was still playing Quark on DS9 at that point. I'm looking for instances where you were genuinely surprised by the character's return, as played by the original actor.

I listed everyone I could think of off the top of my head, but I'm sure I've forgotten a few. If folks come up with people I've accidentally left out, I'll add them to the poll.

 

[Silvercrest]

Charlie Brill as Arne Darvin in "Trials and Tribble-ations".

 

[NCC-73515]

The D and its voice

 

[fireproof78]

Charlie Brill as Arne Darvin in "Trials and Tribble-ations".

Definitely!

And Sarek in the movies was decent too.

 

[Timofnine]

Hugh and Icheb could have made this list…

Wesley Crusher?

 

[tomalak301]

I loved Troi on Voyager more than I loved her on TNG.

Spoiler

I also was pleasantly surprised by Ro's return./SPOILER]

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Hugh and Icheb could have made this list…

Wesley Crusher?

Icheb was played by a different actor, so he wouldn't qualify.

I'll add in Wesley and Hugh.

 

[Timofnine]

Icheb was played by a different actor, so he wouldn't qualify.

I'll add in Wesley and Hugh.

What about Bruce Maddox? Oh wait… different actor.

There are more returnees, but they would be too spoilery at the moment to put in to your poll:

Spoiler: Old faces

• Borg Queen
• Moriarty

 

[Shawnster]

No Harry Mudd on the list? That's a crime

 

[Timofnine]

No Harry Mudd on the list? That's a crime

Not the same thespian. So does not count .

 

[Bad Thoughts]

John Colicos reprising Kor was a gift.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

There are more returnees, but they would be too spoilery at the moment to put in to your poll:

Spoiler: Old faces

• Borg Queen
• Moriarty

I put a spoiler warning on the thread for anyone who hasn't seen the third season of Picard yet. Your first suggestion was played by so many different actors I don't think it really qualifies. Your second suggestion is already on the poll towards the bottom.

 

[Lord Garth]

Spock in TNG and Seven of Nine in PIC were the two I most looked forward to, that I knew were coming.

The Punk on the Bus and Tuvok were the most welcome surprises that I wasn't expecting.

 

[Victoria]

My favourite return was Tasha Yar in "Yesterday's Enterprise" as she'd been my favourite character when I first watched TNG but I suppose that falls foul of the "several years' gap" rule.

Of the list, Arne Darvin would be my favourite: it was one of the things that makes Trials and Tribblations so good. The Punk on the Bus was a definite "yay!" moment. Now that's what I call fan service done right.

 

[somebuddyX]

I think Sarek, the Klingon Ambassador, and Admiral Cartwright were great additions from IV to VI.
I like Rand but I think she has one of the dumbest lines in all of Trek in VI. I love her looking at the ship in III and shaking her head.
I remember when I heard Captain La Forge was appearing in Voyager I thought it was going to tie up what happened to the Hera in "Interface", something I'd thought would happen since Voyager started. Then I realised I had the wrong Captain La Forge.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Leonard Nimoy in 2009? It was spoiled immediately when the movie was announced in '07, but it was very, very welcome.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

My favourite return was Tasha Yar in "Yesterday's Enterprise" as she'd been my favourite character when I first watched TNG but I suppose that falls foul of the "several years' gap" rule.

No, I think Tasha's return is significant enough to note, even though it had only been two years. I'll add her to the poll.

The Punk on the Bus was a definite "yay!" moment. Now that's what I call fan service done right.

That was probably the best thing about Picard's second season.

I like Rand but I think she has one of the dumbest lines in all of Trek in VI.

I don't remember Rand having any dialogue in STVI. I remember her getting a closeup when Sulu calls Starfleet. What line are you thinking of?

Leonard Nimoy in 2009? It was spoiled immediately when the movie was announced in '07, but it was very, very welcome.

I'll add ST09 to the Spock entry.

EDIT: I can't edit the existing entries in the poll, only add additional ones, so I added in an entry for Spock's return in ST09 and STID. I'm not nuts about splitting the Spock vote, but people can vote for as many options as they want. And I already had multiple Riker entries for his appearances on VOY and ENT, so I guess it's okay.

 

[somebuddyX]

I don't remember Rand having any dialogue in STVI. I remember her getting a closeup when Sulu calls Starfleet. What line are you thinking of?
.

"Do we report this, sir?"
I just can't get over how idiotic this. A moon just exploded and caused a shockwave that smashed into the ship several lightyears away. Come on Rand!

 

[JonnyQuest037]

"Do we report this, sir?"
I just can't get over how idiotic this. A moon just exploded and caused a shockwave that smashed into the ship several lightyears away. Come on Rand!

<shrug> I didn't mind that, as it's basically just a setup for Sulu's "Are you kidding?" line. But hey, Rand was never the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

[Mudd]

Pike, Chapel, Uhura, Una and M'Benga.