Star Trek: 10 Times Worf Was Ignored (But Was Absolutely Right)

2. Liaisons

Liaisons
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No one can accuse Worf of not being self-aware.

Liaisons opens with Riker and Worf bickering like a married couple. This is our clue that Worf is in for a rough ride. He's already in a bad mood, having been forced to wear a dress uniform to greet two Lyaaran diplomats, but things go from bad to worse when one of them insists that Worf be his liaison.

The moment the request has left Byleth's lips, Worf is shaking his head at Picard, his eyes silently screaming 'please no'...while Riker's head merrily nods. Decision made, Worf leaves with Byleth to serve as his guide for the duration of his stay.

While Troi's diplomatic liaison only seems interested in desserts and a good time, Byleth is continuously jabbing at Worf, leading to one of Data's finest accidental insults. Worf complains that Byleth is demanding, temperamental and rude...Data's response?

You share all of those qualities in abundance.

Absolute burn.

Worf finally reaches the end of his tether and declares to Riker, in great detail, how he will tear Byleth apart with his bare hands. He even admits he's a bad diplomat, and for the sake of the ship and the Federation, requests reassignment.

He could not have been any clearer. He literally tells Riker what will happen. But Riker, with a big, smug grin on his face, denies the request.

Lo and behold, tensions come to a head during a poker game. Worf throws the diplomat across the room and follows up with a headbutt to the ridges for good measure. Almost exactly the outcome Worf had predicted.

Luckily, we learn this is precisely what Byleth wanted, having been sent to learn about antagonism...and goodness, did Worf oblige. But if this had been any other diplomatic situation, there would be serious questions to answer. And no one could claim that Worf didn't warn them.

Contributor

Katherine has been boldly going since childhood, when the BBC Two 6pm Star Trek slot changed her life. She was drawn in by the franchise's optimism, compassion and flair for character-driven storytelling. She's been writing stories since she could pick up a pen and has spent far too much time immersed in television, films, books, music and theatre. She loves any chance to talk or write about her favourite fandoms, of which there are many. When not busy writing, she can usually be found playing video games or explaining why the concept of a transporter is actually terrifying.