Worf's son, and Worf, for that matter, on DS9

[david g]

Rewatching TNG, Ive been really struck by the character of Alexander Rozhenko, Worf's son--specifically how shocking his later character development is on DS9. The series seemed to rewrite his pacifist, human-oriented personality completely for his appearance on DS9. I see no link between the TNG version of, admittedly, his child self and his adult self on DS9.

Overall, Worf seemed so misplaced on DS9--was there any episode that seemed particularly strong for Worf on this series?

I like Worf and still hope for that Captain Worf series, but largely because I feel like it would be nice to see him get the character development he did not receive on DS9.

 

[arch101]

I watched both shows first-run, and I always thought Worf was much better written on DS9 than on TNG. I remember being surprised how much more I liked him as a command officer and I thought Dorn's performance was much better, too. I'm not sure if this is due to better treatment in scripts, different directors (although many of them had done TNG, too) or Dorn just becoming more comfortable in the role. A friend pointed out to me that, on TNG, his Klingon ways were often (not always) played for laughs, with him over-egagerating his opera or making him look like he's holding on too tight. Whereas, on DS9, he was almost always portrayed as respectful, competent and proud. I just think he was a much better right-hand to Sisko than as a security man. The last 2 TNG films are a big disappointment for a Worf fan.
As for Alexander, it always seemed to me that his wartime behavior was similar to any impulsive human teenager eager to seek adventure. He was, after all, being brought up on Earth by humans.

 

[david g]

Arch101, thank you for the thoughtful reply. I'm certainly willing to take another look and revise my opinion--are there any episodes that you feel specifically showcase the better version of Worf?

I do think that Alexander's turn to Klingon culture and proving himself so recklessly felt like the writing of someone who hadnt seen the TNG version of the character, admittedly a child.

 

[Zonker]

I'm still on season 5 so I haven't seen Alexander yet. Is he a decent character? I hated him on TNG.

 

[Ithekro]

If I recall Alexander Rozhenko only shows up during the sixth season of DS9 for a small arc in the middle and is only mentioned in passing in the seventh season.

 

[apollo1984]

From what I remember of alexander's appearances on DS9, is that although he joined the Klingon fleet (to prove himself? rather than the Klingon spirit) he was the butt of everyone's jokes and not really a "warrior".

As for Worf himself, on TNG he was literally just the burly security guy with little or no depth to him other than his heritage.

On DS9, by switching to the command track he had to really adjust to being something other than security and also being a leader as he started to be given the command of the Defiant at times.

 

[iMike]

In regards to Alexander on DS9, what shocked me the most initially was how much they aged the character. He appears in DS9's sixth (97-98) season, before that he still appears relatively young in TNG's final season and there was only a 3-4 year difference. They probably aged him for story purposes (which is pretty common). I enjoyed Alexander much more on DS9, watching him struggle to fit in.

As for Worf - I was just re-watching "In Purgatory's Shadow" and "By Inferno's Light" last night and remarked how much more I like Worf as part of the DS9 crew. The way he fits into the command structure, his relationship with Jadzia, he just comes off a more well-rounded character.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

The aforementioned "Purgatory/Inferno" episodes are excellent for Worf, along with Looking for Par'mach, Change of Heart, and Soldiers of the Empire. However, Worf-centered episodes have generally been strong. What was strange about Worf in TNG is that when the character was not the focus of the episode, he appeared retrograde--acting in a manner unacceptable to polite society, and he had to learn some sort of lesson. Example: Gambit I and II.

On DS9, Worf is not only respected, he is mature. His opinions on things matter, not just military matters, but religion and personal relationships. Though supporting, Worf has excellent moments in Crossfire and Rapture.

ETA: Two I forgot. First, Worf with Kirayoshi was priceless. Second, Dorn, playing the baseball hero in Far Beyond the Stars was also great, a contrast to Benny Russell's experiences and a different kind of warrior.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I hate what they did to Alexander in DS9. Making him rethink his pacifism is one thing but making him into a comic moron was just dumb.

It's true Worf was often played for laughs in TNG but I feel like he had a little more depth and maturity in TNG. The way he tries to usurp the security role in Hippocratic Oath is puerile and felt more like a sitcom character than a Starfleet officer. I like Worf's development across the Sins of the Father/Redemption arc better than any of his development in DS9 because in those episodes he has to balance his Starfleet morals with his Klingon desires and Sisko kind of just lets him hang out on Klingon ships and duel people whenever he feels like it. DS9 Worf sometimes comes off as a irritable intolerant screaming manchild.

 

[Kor]

Not to mention how much Alexander GREW in the few years between his TNG and DS9 appearances.

Kor

 

[Ithekro]

Good eating on Earth in the 24th century.

 

[Hando]

Yes, my biggest problem with Alexander's change was how it clashed with the TNG episode "Firstborn".

Although since Worf no longer pushed Alexander to become a warrior, Alexander did not have to rebel and did become a warrior by himself.

 

[Ithekro]

Wasn't it in Voyager were the Doctor's holoprogram son is being rebellious and running around with Klingons? Could that be just one of those things human kids do with they rebel against their parents, act and dress like Klingons? Alexander had the advantage of being mostly Klingon already, but to hand with the "cool" kids, he needed to start acting like a Klingon. As a result he goes overboard and signs up to the Klingon Defense Forces (rather than Starfleet).

Peer pressure, man.

 

[trekker670]

Not to mention how much Alexander GREW in the few years between his TNG and DS9 appearances.

Kor

That was on purpose. TPTB wanted to depict Klingons as maturing rapidly.

Alexander was portrayed by three different actors over an eight-year period, which established that Klingon youths mature more quickly than do Humans. He first met his father in 2367 (age one, played by Jon Steuer TNG: "Reunion") appearing to be about four years old. He was later seen from 2368-2370 (age two-four, played by Brian Bonsall) appearing to be about ten years old. Alexander then served on the Rotarran (age eight, played by Marc Worden) appearing to be at least sixteen. Ronald D. Moore addresses this directly when talking about DS9: "Sons and Daughters": "We're pegging Alexander as being roughly the equivalent of a thirteen to sixteen-year-old Human male, although his actual age is much younger. Hey, Klingons mature faster, okay?" (AOL chat, 1997)

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Alexander_Rozhenko#Appearances

 

[Kor]

Just like Naomi Wildman in VOY...

It seems like they should have a much shorter lifespan if they grow so fast in early life.

I think they are basically trying to rationalize it away. On TV and media in general, kids either grow up way too fast, or they stay the same age for twenty years.

Kor

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

"DS9 Worf" is dependant on your goodwill toward the character from his TNG days.
.
Because- if you watch "DS9 Worf" without that history, he's not very likeable. They did change the character quite a bit. He was a humorous Ubernerd for Klingon ways.

Worf was on DS9 to help ratings, whereas "TNG Worf" was a deliberate component within an ensemble for his alienness and humorous moments.

My personal preference was TNG Worf.

 

[Velocity]

It seemed to me that Worf wasn't respected very much on TNG. Every suggestion he made was put down and he usually got social situations wrong. He was treated with more respect on DS9, IMO. I didn't remember that Alexander was even on DS9, but it sounds like he caught "soap opera baby syndrome". Born one week and then practically a teenager the next.

 

[Kilana2]

It seemed to me that Worf wasn't respected very much on TNG. Every suggestion he made was put down and he usually got social situations wrong. He was treated with more respect on DS9, IMO. I didn't remember that Alexander was even on DS9, but it sounds like he caught "soap opera baby syndrome". Born one week and then practically a teenager the next.

I know it as rapid ageing syndrome, but it seems to be the same.

I prefer DS9 Worf over TNG Worf. But it´s the other way round with Alexander. But I like how Alexander is treated in the Litverse. But they couldn´t stop his artificially accelerated ageing

 

[Dobian]

Alexander never felt Klingon to me in DS9, he came off as a human play acting as a Klingon. Even with the Klingon makeup he had a softer human appearance compared to other Klingons. Worf was great on DS9, and there were a lot of insights into his character in many episodes.

 

[Kor]

^ Well, he was 1/4 human, and he grew up with Humans (and unlike Worf, he wasn't obsessed with his Klingon heritage).

Kor