10 Star Trek Twists You Never Saw Coming

10. The Odo Origination

As unexpected twists go, we could have talked about the de-cloaking of Starfleet’s first ever warship at the start of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode The Search Part I, and left things there. This "little surprise for the Dominion" is, of course, the Defiant. The reveal was certainly a surprise for the audience, more used to the runabouts and the Treaty of Algeron. There is more to this two-parter, however.

Odo’s search for his origins forms a large part of seasons one and two of DS9. Both the character and the audience had little to go on. The scientist Doctor Pol, who discovered Odo floating in Bajoran space, didn’t recognise that the "shapeless viscous mass of fluid" was sentient at first, and it took time for Odo even to realise he could shapeshift. We get a few hints as to Odo’s beginnings in season two, such as when DNA similar to his is discovered on a seemingly abandoned planet in the Gamma Quadrant.

When Odo finally finds out where he really comes from in The Search Part II of season three, it comes quite a shock. Odo is actually a member of an alien race called The Founders, who created and lead the Dominion, holding 'solids' in low-esteem. The DS9 Series Bible entry for the character stated that "[Odo] is certain that justice is an integral part of [his species]". The truth couldn’t have been more different, and Odo is left estranged from his warmongering people until the very last episode of the series.

A certain Michael Eddington was also introduced in The Search Part I...