By Chris Snellgrove
| Printed 25 seconds in the past
As nice as the primary characters of Star Trek: The Subsequent Era have been, the supporting characters typically stole the present. This contains Alexander, the precocious youngster of the one Klingon in Starfleet. He confirmed up in a while Star Trek: Deep House 9, however that present successfully wasted this superior supporting character as a result of we noticed that Alexander grew to become nothing greater than a knockoff model of his father, Worf.
Alexander Turns into Worf
If it’s been some time because you watched Star Trek: The Subsequent Era, you may want a quick primer on the connection (familial and in any other case) between Alexander and Worf. Regardless of serving in Starfleet, Worf was very dedicated to sustaining the Klingon lifestyle, and he tried to boost his son the identical manner. Sadly, Alexander is one-quarter human, and between his genetic heritage and being raised on a ship stuffed with people, he grew up appearing something however Klingon. When Alexander later confirmed up on Deep House 9, although, he had develop into a Klingon soldier (albeit a moderately clumsy one).
There are many causes Star Trek followers disliked what occurred to Alexander on Deep House 9, together with the truth that he was now nothing greater than a careless punchline and nonetheless had an terrible relationship with Worf. Nevertheless, my downside with this storyline is way easier. Alexander ought to by no means have develop into a Klingon soldier as a result of it reveals that the writers gave up on creating his character into one thing else aside from a crappier model of his father.
A Disappointing Klingon
For this Star Trek fan, Alexander’s evolution (extra like devolution) right into a Worf clone is especially disappointing as a result of we hardly ever get to see Klingons who aren’t warriors. Certain, there’s the occasional scientist right here and there, however we principally see warriors who need nothing greater than to die in an honorable method. Contemplating that one thing as huge because the Klingon Empire would wish numerous other forms of residents (farmers, engineers, diplomats, and even writers) that we so hardly ever get to see, it might have been nice to see Alexander discover one in every of these choices.
Extra pertinently, Star Trek: The Subsequent Era spent loads of time establishing that Alexander was utterly completely different from Worf. Fairly frankly, his total arc was resulting in him being maybe essentially the most distinctive Klingon we had ever seen. By the point DS9 was over, although, he was simply one other soldier who had gone all in on his race’s warrior tradition.
Plus, if Star Trek: Deep House 9 had Alexander discover a distinct path, Worf’s beliefs in regards to the Klingon lifestyle may have been challenged in some rewarding methods. The writers bought some nice tales out of the inherent pressure between Worf’s warrior heritage and the Federation’s hippie ethos, and in TNG, we noticed that pressure mirrored in his relationship along with his son. However by DS9, the household drama was changed by Alexander attempting to stroll in Worf’s footsteps, and whereas a son desperately chasing his father’s approval could also be sensible for a lot of viewers watching at dwelling, the entire story reeks of squandered potential.
It’s potential that Star Trek: Deep House 9’s writers couldn’t consider one other strategy to deliver Alexander again…actually, it took loads of inventive effort (together with disrupting the shaky peace between the Klingons and the Federation) to deliver Worf again in a compelling manner. However talking as a fan, I’d moderately not see this superior supporting character come again in any respect than be completely ruined by his return. Plus, the child was already caught with Worf as a father…that was punishment sufficient for a lifetime, and sticking him with terrible characterization and forgettable arcs on high of that simply appears merciless and strange.
