It would be a huge mistake for Star Trek: Picard to ignore the devastating events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine when they bring back Michael Dorn as Worf. The beloved character is set to return for Picard's final season as part of a highly-anticipated reunion of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast, however Worf was also an integral part of DS9 from season 4 to 7. During this time, he served in the Dominion War, fell in love with Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), whom he later married, before being widowed in the devastating DS9 season 6 finale, "Tears of the Prophets".
It's been revealed that Worf has undergone a huge change since the end of DS9 and now prefers the life of a pacifist. No further information has been given as to what's inspired his change of outlook, but it's hoped that the aftermath of the Dominion War and the loss of Dax will be cited as contributing factors. However, Worf's time on DS9 was very rarely mentioned during the TNG movies, which won't give audiences much hope for Picard season 3 honoring the Klingon's time on the station.
DS9 Was A Important Time In Worf's Life
Worf was brought aboard DS9 in the season 4 premiere "The Way of the Warrior" to reduce tensions between the Klingon Empire and the Cardassian Union. After relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire broke down, Worf was convinced to stay in Starfleet by Benjamin Sisko, who offered him the role of strategic operations officer. Worf and the Klingons in DS9 signaled a significant shift in tone for the show, which contributed to DS9's reputation as one of the best ever Star Trek shows. In the fiction, the station also represented a very important period in the life of Worf, with several key events that impacted the character significantly.
For example, Worf was initially brought to DS9 by Sisko due to his existing relationship with Klingon Chancellor Gowron, but by the end of DS9 that relationship had broken down. Disapproving of Gowron's reckless military strategy in the Dominion War, Worf challenged the Chancellor to a bat'leth duel. Worf defeated Gowron in combat, killing him and passing the title of Klingon Chancellor to Martok, who in turn appointed Worf as a Federation Ambassador on the Klingon homeworld in the DS9 finale. This is a substantial character arc that should not be ignored by Picard season 3.
Why TNG Ignores Worf's Time In DS9
The biggest DS9 reference in the TNG movies is when the Enterprise-E comes to the rescue of the stricken Defiant during Star Trek: First Contact's opening battle with the Borg. The next movie, Star Trek: Insurrection, takes place in 2375, the same year that Worf will briefly become Chancellor before the end of the Dominion War. He comes into contact with his former crewmates while on some much-needed leave, but aside from references to the ongoing war and a joke by Picard about lax standards on DS9, his time on the station is immaterial to the plot.
The TNG movies ignore Worf's time on DS9 largely because of the disconnect between Paramount Pictures and the TV network CBS, which aired DS9. Star Trek: The Next Generation was a hugely popular show, and it's likely that the studio felt Worf's Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continuity would weigh down the movies for audiences less familiar with the wider Trek franchise. In 2022 things have changed, however, and shared universes are all the rage, therefore Star Trek: Picard season 3 will have no excuse for not acknowledging Worf's post-Enterprise career.