10 Most Gratifying Star Trek Deaths
6. Lon Suder
Death, always tragic, can also be a source of redemption. While Lon Suder’s time aboard Voyager was often turbulent, in the end he demonstrated heroism until his dying breath.
Suder is a Maquis with intense violent impulses. Aboard Voyager, he tries adjusting but soon succumbs to his nature and murders a fellow crewman. With guidance from Tuvok, Suder learns emotional calm and longs to helped others. Unfortunately, Seska and several Kazon seize Voyager and exile the crew, leaving Suder, hidden onboard, to help retake the ship.
He is forced to revive with his capacity for brutality and murder several Kazon, suffering great anguish in the process. Later, just as the ship is secured, Suder himself is killed. Tuvok, later noting the bravery Suder demonstrated in facing his inner demons, wishes that the troubled man can find in death the peace that had eluded him in life.
Suder is one of the least likely heroes in the franchise, and his death serves as an example of many of Star Trek’s thematic ideals, namely courage, loyalty, redemption, and sacrifice.