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Star Trek: Worf's Hardest Mission Has Nothing to Do With the Klingon or Starfleet

   

Worf is about to embark on his hardest Star Trek mission yet–but it has nothing to do with the Klingons or Starfleet. Worf and his son Alexander have had a tense relationship. Alexander feels Worf failed him as a father, and in many ways he is correct. Now, in Star Trek: Defiant #22, Worf is undertaking a mission of a personal nature: to reconcile with Alexander.

Star Trek: 20 Times Worf Was a Boss

Christopher Cantwell's other books include Iron Man, Doctor Doom and The Blue Flame.

Star Trek: Defiant #22 is written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Angel Unzueta. The issue kicks off a new storyline: “No Old Warriors,” and begins with Alexander starting the Quv rite. This ritual helps errant Klingons restore their honor. Worf is overseeing Alexander’s Quv. The rite is grueling, and in this issue, Alexander fights two members of his extended family in intense combat.

Five panels of Worf and Alexander talking

Worf later reveals that Alexander’s dishonor is also his, thanks to his failure as a father.

Five panels of Worf and Alexander talking

Worf has taken a special interest in this ritual, as it will bring him closer to his son.

Worf's Character Arc in the Star Trek Franchise, Explained

Worf's Family and Personal Issues Provided for Great Star Trek Episodes

Worf (Michael Dorn) in Star Trek DS9 & in Picard season 3

The drama surrounding Worf’s family and their struggle against the House of Duras not only formed the basis for some of The Next Generation’s best episodes, but also gave fans in-depth looks at Klingon culture.

Worf, the Enterprise’s Klingon security chief, is one of the Star Trek franchise’s richest characters, having appeared in more Trek media than any other actor. Originally intended to be written off Star Trek: The Next Generation’s first season after a few episodes, Worf would go on to become one of the franchise’s best developed characters. The drama surrounding Worf’s family and their struggle against the House of Duras not only formed the basis for some of The Next Generation’s best episodes, but also gave fans in-depth looks at Klingon culture.

Worf’s personal and family lives also provided material for some of Star Trek’s best stories. Worf’s Klingon family was murdered when he was a small child, and he was taken in by humans. Growing up on Earth, Worf struggled to fit in with a society that had been at war with his people just a few decades prior. Worf sought solace in Starfleet, and eventually made his way to the Enterprise, where he worked his way up to Security Chief. He eventually transfers to Deep Space Nine before returning to captain the Enterprise, as revealed in Picard.

 

Worf Became a Father While on the Enterprise

Worf's Failures as a Parent Have Become (Unfortunately) One of His Defining Traits

Michael Dorn as Worf and Marc Worden as Alexander in Star Trek

It was during Worf’s first tenure on the Enterprise that he would become a father. During The Next Generation’s second season, Worf meets, and falls in love with, K’Ehlyer, a half-human, half-Klingon woman. She gave birth to Alexander shortly after, but was later killed. Alexander was sent to Worf’s adopted family on Earth, but he proved too much for the elderly couple, and he came to live on the Enterprise. Worf, unprepared to be a father, struggled in the role. Worf was still grappling with being a child of two worlds, and was unable to provide for Alexander emotionally.

Worf’s failures as a parent have haunted him. When Alexander was living on the Enterprise, he often got into trouble in school with his peers. Worf tried to provide guidance to his son, but came up short. Worf, perhaps sensing he missed out on the Klingon experience by being raised by humans, tries to instill in Alexander Klingon beliefs, telling the boy stories of Kahless, the founder of modern Klingon society. Nothing seemed to stick, and in time Alexander and Worf would part ways again. Eventually, Alexander joins the Klingon Defense Force.

 

IDW's Star Trek Comics Have Not Let Up on Worf

Worf Nearly Lost Alexander During Star Trek: Day of Blood

Star Trek TNG New Ground Worf Alexander

Worf has been front and center in IDW’s line of Star Trek comics since the line was relaunched in late 2022, and once again, his family life has reared its head. Kahless II, the cloned Klingon emperor, began assembling a cult to help him in his crusade against the galaxy’s god-like beings, and Alexander was one of his recruits. Kahless manipulated the boy into fighting his father, as seen in Star Trek: Day of Blood. Alexander, who has struggled with feelings of alienation his whole life, was an easy target for Kahless’ machinations.

Alexander was nearly killed in Day of Blood, and it drove home to Worf that he needed to get his act together when it came to his son, which is where Star Trek: Defiant #22 begins. The quv rite is a brutal and intense undertaking, but its ultimate aims are good. Father and son would have different takeaways from the quv ritual: for Alexander, it would give him back the honor he lost during Day of Blood and, for Worf, it would give him a chance to atone for years of bad parenting.

 

Reconciling With Alexander Will Be Worf's Hardest Mission

If Father and Son Survive, They Will Be Closer Than Ever

Star Trek Defiant 22 COVER Worf Alexander

While Worf and Alexander have different hopes for quv, one common thread emerges for both: it will not be easy for either. Restoring lost honor in Klingon society is not something to be taken lightly, and it will be an ordeal for Alexander. But for Worf, it will be even more intense, as it will force him to confront his shortcomings as a father. Worf has undertaken some difficult and trying missions in the Star Trek universe, but his newest one will be the hardest, as it is of an intensely personal nature.

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