10 Star Trek Moments You Never Saw Coming

3. The Death Of Jadzia

Star Trek Jadzia Dax
CBS Media Ventures

This one still hurts, twenty-three years after Tears of the Prophets aired. While there are other lists here on TrekCulture that deal with the reasons behind Terry Farrell's departure from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, let us reflect on the moment itself. This was truly horrendous and remains the only example of a main cast member in a Star Trek series to be killed off, without seeing a return in some form or another, in a later episode.

As she prays to the Prophets, thanking them for their help in her and Worf's efforts to conceive, a possessed Gul Dukat beams into the shrine behind her. She reaches for her phaser, but the man extends an arm and sends tendrils of flame coursing through her. It is slow enough that the audience can see the pain that she's feeling, cooking from the inside out. Then it's over, Dukat does what he came to do, and leaves.

It is one of the most horrible deaths in all of Star Trek and for it to happen to one of the most popular characters on the show was all the more upsetting. If Dax were to die, then this was not how the audience saw it coming.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"