Star Trek: 10 Characters Who MUST Return (2024)

In recent years Star Trek has spoiled fans with the returns and crossovers we’d never dreamed of. Ro Laren returned after thirty years, while the Enterprise-A wasn’t far behind. Pike and Boimler had a hair-off, as Mariner inspired Uhura to relax a little.

True to form, we are a hungry bunch when it comes to our characters, and there remain so many out there in Trek lore that are begging for a return. While we may or may not see Star Trek: Legacy ever officially green lit, there are all sorts of manners of return that can occur. We have seen characters pop up in fairly surprising ways - and even slightly obscure ways too.

There has been suggestion, there has been silhouette, there may even have been audio teasing for those with Ferengi-sized ears. It is a strange time for this franchise, but never say never, and always have faith in the Great River - paddle optional.

To begin this list with a character pulled from the annals of Trek, Shakkar Edon is the First Minister of Bajor. He was last seen in The Begotten, butting heads with Miles O’Brien while Kira Nerys did the actual hard work of the hour. As it stands, the last information we have on him is that he is still in power.

Bajor is shown to have joined the Federation in season two of Star Trek: Picard, evidenced by the inclusion of their flag at Starfleet Academy. That being the case, the time has come for an exploration of the recent history of Bajor. How has the planet, and indeed its political landscape, fared after the actions of Kai Winn and Gun Dukat in the Fire Caves? 

Shakkar served as Winn’s largest political rival and her sudden departure from his orbit would leave him without much in the way of opposition. Though this seems positive, one must remember that Bajor’s government was tenuous at best. Picard’s depiction suggests that Bajor has very much survived, but what does it look like now as part of the larger Federation landscape? And how does Shakkar, once a freedom fighter, then a farmer, then a political figurehead, feature in that version of Bajor’s future? This is something that could easily be discussed either in Discovery’s fifth season, or Starfleet Academy’s debut season.