10 MORE Character Reveals That Didn’t Have To Go THAT Hard

In our previous list of character reveals taking things a little far, we discovered that across the wide expanse of Star Trek, the writers did enjoy making our favourites suffer. Genocide, assault, murder, genetic manipulation - it's all fair game in the final frontier.

That being the case, narrowing the shocking reveals behind characters' motivations and drives to ten was a challenge. When writing anyone's story, the temptation to include a little trauma for growth is always strong. When adding to that backstory, especially around a long-established character and their arc, one needs to be careful. The butterfly effect is in full force, and a stubbed toe at twelve could mean generational trauma for decades to follow.

Not all additions are bad, nor is every twist included for the sake of the twist. Writing is an art and, like those who consider lying the highest skill, it should be practised regularly. There are some reveals throughout Star Trek that, while stark or enormous, have helped to shed a new context on how people act and why they do the things that they do. 

As always, please be aware that we will be discussing specific character reveals that were sometimes intended as a cliffhanger ending or mid-season twist, so a spoiler alert is in full effect here. Do you agree that these reveals were a shocking addition, or were they exactly what was needed?

The death of a child is a tragedy that is often impossible to overcome, so adding it to the backstories of beloved characters must be handled with care. While Riker and Troi were a strong couple, having already withstood much adversity in their time, the death of Thaddeus Riker felt like a cruel blow.

In Nepenthe, Jean-Luc and Soji arrive on the planet and are accosted by Kestra Riker, clad in her finest hunting gear. They quickly arrive at the Rikers' cabin and a warm reunion of old friends follows, bunnycorn-pizza and all. 

The reason for the family's relocation to Nepenthe is quickly revealed. Thaddeus Riker, born in 2381, contracted a terminal illness, and there was hope that the planet's regenerative properties would cure him. It didn't work, leaving the family devastated, and the audience shocked at this terrible blow. 

Though this was a truly heartbreaking addition to the Rikers' story, it helped to set up one of the most heart-wrenching moments in The Last Generation. Will Riker, believing his luck had run out, said to the air and to anyone who was listening that he, and their son, would be waiting for Deanna. It was all she needed, empathic abilities in full force, and she was able to find and save him.

There is a risk with including a reveal like this, much of which revolves around how it is handled. For Star Trek, and for the Rikers, it was handled well.