Chief O’Brien has embarked on a “redemption” journey in the Star Trek universe, and it has also made him a franchise badass. Chief O’Brien’s character arc was one of the franchise’s most compelling. O’Brien is one of Starfleet’s best engineers, and he has made his grand return to the franchise in the pages of Star Trek: Defiant.In issue 18, he embarks on a new mission, changing him forever.
Star Trek: Defiant #18 is written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Angel Unzueta. On Earth, Chief O’Brien is preparing to head back into deep space. Doctor Bashir alerts O’Brien to Worf’s dilemma, and the Chief decides to help. O’Brien heads to the Defiant’s last known location in the Delta Triangle. He finds the ship adrift and under attack from Kzinti raiders. O’Brien manages to quietly beam aboard the ship, and when he is discovered, he takes out all six of the Kzinti single-handedly.
With the Defiant at his control, O’Brien sets course for the Delta Quadrant.
Chief O'Brien's Star Trek Character Arc, Explained
O'Brien Has Been Forced to Confront His Legacy
Chief O’Brien, played by Colm Meaney, was perhaps one of the best developed characters in the Star Trek franchise, and his progression is a joy to watch. Fans first met O’Brien in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. His minor role in that episode impressed fans and the producers, and O’Brien was soon back as a recurring character. O’Brien would later transfer to Deep Space Nine as Chief of Engineering. Deep Space Nine’s final episode brought O’Brien’s story to a close, as he headed to a teaching position at Starfleet Academy.
When O'Brien debuted in "Encounter at Farpoint," he was wearing red, meaning he was in the command division. He would transfer to engineering later.
Yet recently, in the pages of IDW’s Star Trek comics, O’Brien has been forced to contend with his legacy, especially during the Dominion War. In a previous issue of Defiant,O’Brien learned he was viewed in some sectors as a war criminal. During the War, O’Brien helped develop self-replicating mines. These mines were crucial to the Federation’s victory, but after the War they were used by the Romulans, the Cardassians and maybe even Section 31 to kill innocent people. O’Brien was aghast at the accusations, but it forced him to do some soul-searching.
Chief O'Brien's Starfleet Service Has Been Marked By Loss and Tragedy
"Suffering O'Brien" Is a Star Trek Meme
Chief O’Brien is no stranger to trauma, and it has been a constant companion to his Starfleet service. As revealed in the fourth season Next Generation episode “The Wounded,” O’Brien was active during a war with the Cardassians in the early 2360s. O’Brien was forced to kill Cardassian soldiers, which haunted him for many years. O’Brien was prejudiced against Cardassians after that, and it was not until his time on Deep Space Nine that he finally worked through this trauma. Yet as seen in Defiant #17, some resentment towards the Cardassians still lingers.
Several episodes of the show featured O’Brien being captured and tortured, to the point where it became something of a dark joke among fans.
While O’Brien was able to largely process his feelings while on Deep Space Nine, his time on the station further compounded his mental health. Several episodes of the show featured O’Brien being captured and tortured, to the point where it became something of a dark joke among fans. In the fourth season Deep Space Nine episode “Hard Time,” O’Brien suffered his worst indignity: he was imprisoned and forced to live in a simulated prison for what he thought was 20 years. This episode is held up as a prime example of the “suffering O’Brien” meme.
Chief O'Brien is Getting His Star Trek Groove Back
Chief O'Brien's Journey of Redemption Makes Him a Badass
Given Chief O’Brien’s extensive history of beatings and torture, it is not hard to see why he took a job teaching on Earth. Yet when faced with the next generation of Starfleet officers, O’Brien learned he did not enjoy a good reputation in parts of the galaxy. O’Brien tried to argue that he was not responsible for what happened with the mines post-Dominion War, but further soul-searching made him realize he was out of touch. O’Brien has leaped back into action, going into space for the first time since leaving Deep Space Nine.
Chief O’Brien’s new Star Trek arc has had an unintended, but welcome effect: turning him into a legit badass. O’Brien’s engineering prowess is well documented, and it is on display in Defiant #18. However, the issue also shows O’Brien’s tactical and fighting skills. He manages to run the Kzinti off the Defiant, despite the odds being stacked against him. Star Trek fans knew Chief O’Brien was one of the franchise’s greatest characters, and now his new mission has transformed him into a badass.
