10 Star Trek Episodes That Paid Off WAY Later
8. Sins Of The Father
Another third season episode of The Next Generation that had ramifications for years to come, Sins of the Father introduces the audience to Kurn, the second son of Mogh, and Worf's younger brother. Played by Tony Todd is his pre-Candyman era, this Klingon warrior became the audience's gateway into the wider machinations of the Klingon Empire.
This episode set the scene for much of what followed with the Empire, arguably only truly coming to a close with Deep Space Nine's seventh-season episode Tacking Into The Wind. Here, Worf accepts discommendation from the Klingons, agreeing to a lie - that his father, rather than Duras's father, sold out Khitomer to the Romulans - which sets the stage for Duras to make a bid for Chancellor.
This leads to Civil War when the Duras Sisters fight Gowron for leadership. That in turn leads to the destruction of the Enterprise-D, as the Duras Sisters manage to overcome the Galaxy-class ship. Worf is then reassigned to Deep Space Nine, leading to his meeting with Martok and eventual fight to the death with Gowron.
The saga of the final days of this era of the Klingon Empire begins with the arrival of Kurn.