Star Trek: 20 Supporting Characters That Deserved More

In a mesmerising performance by Brad Dourif, Lon Suder starts in Voyager as a terrifyingly cold Betazoid murderer...but ends with a redemption arc that gives Boromir a run for his money.

Originally a member of the Maquis, Suder was a deeply complicated and violent man who claimed that while most Betazoids could sense other people's emotions, he couldn't even sense his own.

When he admits to murdering a crewman in the episode Meld, Tuvok can't accept that he had no real reason for the crime other than to satisfy his violent impulses. He mind melds with Suder to try and understand, but while Suder comes out of it feeling calmer than ever, Tuvok becomes alarmingly aggressive until the Doctor is able to treat him.

By the time Basics comes around, Suder has been safely confined and working continuously on suppressing his aggression with the help of Tuvok. When the ship is seized by Seska and the Kazon, and the crew is marooned, it's up to Suder and the Doctor to take Voyager back. Suder is forced to resort to violence to subdue the Kazon boarders, leaving him in utter distress. But he manages to find his resolve long enough to save the ship before falling in combat.

Now, we're not saying that Suder is a comfortable character to spend time with, but there was so much more that could have been done with such a complex soul. We missed out on seeing his healing journey with Tuvok; even fragments would have been fascinating to watch. And we can't help but wonder what his continuing story would have looked like, exploring the true cost of his return to violence...even if it was for the greater good.