It takes a lot of stones to become the first Klingon in Starfleet, but that's what made Worf so well suited for the job. This orphaned Klingon might have been raised by human parents, but he never lost his connection to his own heritage. This made him both a powerful warrior and an honorable Starfleet officer.
Throughout his career, Worf has shown us that he's a terrific badass, but he's also been the victim of a few jokes at his own expense. Today we're counting down the 5 most badass Worf moments of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and 5 of his funniest!
BADASS: PARTICIPATED IN THE AGE OF ASCENSION RITE
Worf's alienation from his own people to serve in Starfleet meant that he was denied many of the rituals and traditions that came with being a Klingon. Wesley Crusher picked up on this in the season 2 episode "The Icarus Factor," and decided to do something about it.
On the 10th anniversary of Worf's Age of Ascension (when a Klingon officially becomes a warrior), Wesley recreated the ritual on the Holodeck and invited Geordi LaForge, Commander Data, Miles O'Brien and Dr. Pulaski to bear witness. The ritual was especially difficult for Worf, given that his comrades weren't Klingons, forcing him to divulge his greatest feelings while under extreme pain at the hands of simulated Klingons wielding painstiks. It's a tradition that would probably kill a human being, but Worf soldiered through it, walking the gauntlet and completing a key Klingon ritual in the process.
BADASS: SMACKED A SEXUAL PREDATOR
The season 5 episode "Violations" was controversial due to its subject matter, tackling sexual violence. Several members of the crew fall victim to horrifying psychic attacks at the hands of an Ullian delegate, leaving each one in a mysterious coma. Only Counselor Troi recovers from the ordeal, which forces the attacker to use psychic manipulation to shift the blame onto his own father.
With the mystery apparently solved, Troi is confronted by her attacker once again in her quarters. His benevolent facade soon fades as he instigates another psychic attack on Troi, which she fights against. During a physical scuffle between the two, Worf enters with a security team and delivers a single, effortless palm strike that leaves Troi's attacker seeing stars! A fitting end for such a vile person!
BADASS: TOOK THE FALL FOR THE ENTIRE KLINGON EMPIRE
The relatively modest Worf soon found himself entangled in the snare of Klingon politics during the season 3 episode "Sins of the Father." Worf's brother Kurn infiltrated the Enterprise under the guise of a Klingon/Federation exchange program in order to reach Worf and divulge his true identity, as well as the Klingon High Council's slander against their father, Mogh.
The two travel to the Klingon homeworld Qo'noS to confront the charges of treason against their late father in relation to the infamous Khitomer massacre which took place years before. He is shocked to discover just how deep the roots of corruption go within the High Council. Rather than clear his father's name at the cost of a Klingon civil war, he agrees to bear the burden of discommendation, becoming a reviled outcast for the sake of his own people. Talk about patriotism!
BADASS: TOOK REVENGE ON HIS FAMILY'S NEMESIS
It wasn't enough that Worf was forced to become a hated exile to protect his own people, while the son of the true traitor enjoyed a place on the High Council. When Worf's beloved mate K'Ehleyr began digging into what really happened on Qo'noS, she discovered the truth and confronted the traitor's son Duras. It was enough for him to attack and murder her to protect his status.
When Worf walked in on his dying mate, he was stricken with anguish and left to confront Duras. The two engaged in a fight to the death, with Worf gaining the upper hand and killing Duras outright. Though technically legal by Klingon law, it infuriated Picard, who placed a harsh reprimand on Worf's permanent record. Was it worth it?
BADASS: DID NOT PARTAKE IN THE RIGHT OF VENGEANCE
Worf's vengeance against Duras would have far-reaching implications for the Klingon Empire down the road. The season 4 finale, "Redemption," would see members of the Duras family openly challenge newly-elected High Council leader Gowron for control of the Empire. This put Worf in a very difficult position. With no recourse left to him, Worf resigned from Starfleet to join his brother Kurn in a civil war against those allied to the House of Duras.
The season 5 premiere episode, "Redemption II," would end with the Duras family in defeat, and the late traitor's son Toral offered to Worf, so he could exact Right of Vengeance. Rather than indulge in this part of Klingon law, Worf refused to take vengeance on a son for the crimes of his father. When reminded that it is the Klingon way, Worf boldly and honorably replies, "I know, but it is not my way."
FUNNIEST: DELIVERED A BABY AWKWARDLY
The season 5 episode "Disaster" features the Enterprise in a shambles after being struck violently by a quantum filament, causing massive damage and crew injuries. Many of the crew become trapped in various parts of the ship, including Ten Forward, where Worf assumes a leadership role.
However, he didn't bet on O'Brien's pregnant wife Keiko going into labor! His Starfleet medical training is no help when the moment arrives, forcing Worf to deal with an impatient Keiko while struggling to remain calm in one hilarious fish out of water situation!
FUNNIEST: WAS NOT A MERRY MAN
During the season 4 episode "Qpid," the crew of the Enterprise finds themselves trapped in a recreation of Earth's Sherwood Forest during the fictional age of Robin Hood. The dastardly Q is to blame for setting the entire thing up and assigning fictional Robin Hood and his Merry Men roles to the crew members, which they reject outright.
None more so than Worf, who is forced to don the colorful garb of Will Scarlett. Already annoyed at being roped into such a preposterous situation, Worf's patience reaches the breaking point when Geordi LaForge tries playing a tune on his lute, with side-splitting results!
FUNNIEST: FEARED ONLY ONE WOMAN
Worf's badassery was potent enough to have him go toe-to-toe with the Borg, the renegade android Lore, and the Romulans without blinking. However, despite all his courage and warrior's might, there was one person that struck fear into his heart!
That of course, was Deanna Troi's eccentric mother Lwaxana. The moment she entered the room, Worf's stress levels immediately spiked. She forced him to endure her poking around the ship's weapons systems, spoiling her already unruly son Alexander, and incorrectly referring to him as "Mr. Woof."
FUNNIEST: FOUND HIS INNER CHILD ON THE HOLODECK
Worf's stoic nature and brooding personality meant that duty and honor were constantly at the forefront of his thoughts. There wasn't much room left for fun, which is why his son Alexander was such an asset in his life, especially in the season 6 episode "A Fistful of Datas."
After begrudgingly agreeing to join his son on the Holodeck in a Wild West simulation, Worf's annoyance quickly turned to enthusiasm. He discovered that playing the part of a Sheriff meant that he could impose his authority on fictional characters, and beat the living pixels out of them at the same time!
FUNNIEST: HE GAVE BAD DATING ADVICE
Worf was a brilliant tactician, a strong warrior, and a noble ally, but he wasn't known for his dating advice. Whether it's telling Wesley Crusher to recite Klingon love poetry while the female hurls heavy objects at him, or telling Commander Data to conquer the object of his affections, rather than pursue a regular relationship, Worf's not-so-sage insight would probably end up with a slap in the face, and possibly a restraining order!