By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Much like the main characters of Star Trek: The Next Generation was, the supporting cast often steals the show. This includes Alexander, the only unborn Klingon child in Starfleet. He appeared later Star Trek: Deep Space Ninebut that show effectively ruined this wonderful supporting character because we saw that Alexander just became a version of his father, Worf.
Alexander Becomes Worf
If it’s been a while you looked Star Trek: The Next Generationyou might need a brief primer on the relationship (familial and otherwise) between Alexander and Worf. Despite serving in Starfleet, Worf was devoted to preserving the Klingon way of life, and tried to raise his son in the same way. Unfortunately, Alexander is a quarterback, and between his genetic heritage and being raised on a crowded ship, he grew up doing anything. but Klingon. When Alexander arrived later Deep Space Ninehowever, he was still a Klingon soldier (albeit a strange one).
There are many reasons Star Trek fans didn’t like what happened to Alexander Deep Space Nineincluding the fact that he was now nothing more than a punchline and had a bad relationship with Worf. However, my problem with this story is very simple. Alexander should never they become a Klingon soldier because it shows that the writers gave up on developing his character into something other than a crappier version of his father.
Disappointing Klingon
For this Star Trek fan, Alexander’s evolution (like a power transfer) into a Worf clone is very disappointing because we rarely see non-heroic Klingons. Sure, there’s the occasional scientist here and there, but mostly we see heroes who want nothing more than to die an honorable death. Given that something as big as the Klingon Empire would need a bunch of other types of citizens (farmers, engineers, strategists, even writers) that we don’t often see, it would have been nice to see Alexander explore one of these options.
Accordingly, Star Trek: The Next Generation he spent a lot of time confirming who Alexander was completely different from Worf. In fact, his entire arc was leading up to him being perhaps the most unique Klingon we’ve ever seen. By the time DS9 ended, however, he was just another soldier who had fully assimilated into the warrior culture of his race.
And, if Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had Alexander explored a different path, Worf’s beliefs about the Klingon way of life might have been challenged in some beneficial ways. The writers found good stories because of the tension between Worf’s warrior heritage and the Federation’s hippie ethos, and in TNG, we saw that tension reflected in his relationship with his son. But in DS9, the family drama was replaced by Alexander trying to follow in Worf’s footsteps, and while the son’s pursuit of his father’s approval may be too real for many viewers watching at home, the rest of the story. reeks of wasted energy.
That is possible Star Trek: Deep Space NineThe writers couldn’t think of another way to bring Alexander back…indeed, it took a lot of creative effort (including disrupting the fragile peace between the Klingons and the Federation) to bring Worf back in a compelling way. But speaking as a fan, I’d rather not see this amazing supporting character return than have his return completely ruined. Also, the kid was already attached to Worf as a father…that was punishment enough for a lifetime, and to attach him to gruesome and forgettable arcs on top of that seems cruel and odd.
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