AStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 7 episode included a great callback toStar Trek: First Contact. AlthoughDeep Space NineandStar Trek: The Next Generationwere directly next to one another inStar Trektimeline order, the two shows had little in common.DS9was set on a space station, used a more serialized storytelling format, and dealt with much darker, more nuanced themes than the often very optimisticTNG.However, the two shows did experience some significant crossovers, one of them being Worf (Michael Dorn)joiningDS9’s cast of charactersin season 4.
Although he is perhaps best known as a main character onTNG, Worf’s time onDeep Space Ninearguably added more nuance and depth to his character. Worf’s arc onDS9not only included his marriage to Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) but alsohis heavy involvement with the Klingon Empire’s participation in the Dominion War, including the killing of ChancellorGowron (Robert O’Reilly)during the season 7 episode “Tacking Into the Wind.” During their fight to the death, one of Gowron’s lines was a subtle but noticeable callback to something Worf said in aTNGmovie almost three years previously.
Gowron’s DS9 Threat To Worf Is A Call Back To Star Trek: First Contact
Gowron’s line referenced Wof’s threat to Picard
Gowron telling Worf“If you were a true Klingon, I would kill you where you stand!”onDS9is almost a direct copy of Worf’s “If you were any other man, I would kill you where you stand!” toCaptain Picard (Patrick Stewart)inStar Trek: First Contact. Although different characters spoke the two lines, their context was quite similar, enhancing their connection.Both lines were spoken at the climax of their respective storylines during a moment of contentionbetween two characters. Likewise, Worf’s line inFirst Contactwas because Picard had insulted his honor, while Gowron’s line inDS9responded to a similar insult from Worf.
Worf’s threat to Picard still held a degree of deference to his Captain, showing that Worf’s respect for Picard was the only thing keeping him from attacking.
However, given that both lines involve Worf, it is perhaps their differences rather than their similarities that make them more interesting. Worf’s threat to Picard still held a degree of deference to his Captain, showing that Worf’s respect for Picard was the only thing keeping him from attacking. In contrast, Gowron’s line was a complete insult, making it clear that all respect between the two had been lost.These differences could be part of why Gowron and Worf’s conflict inDeep Space Nineended with violence, while Picard and Worf’s confrontation duringFirst Contactended with Picard apologizing.
Star Trek: First Contact Is The Most Quotable TNG Movie
Including Worf’s line,Star Trek: First Contactis arguably the most quotable movie featuring theTNGcast, with several other great moments that have stood the test of time.The most memorable of all the film’s quotes was definitely Picard’s impassioned speech to Lily Sloan (Alfre Woodard) about the Borg duringFirst Contact’s climax, including his statement,“The line must be drawn here! This far, no farther!“The scene perfectly illustrated Picard’s hatred of the Borg and was a culmination of his emotional arc that had been building throughout the film.
Star Trek: First Contact’s introduction of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) changed the franchise’s Borg lore forever and influenced the Borg’s involvement in later shows likeStar Trek: Voyager. The Borg Queen’s existence and her connection to Captain Picard has even continued to have ripple effects in the modern franchise, such as in the second and third seasons ofStar Trek: Picard.
Besides Picard’s quote, lines like Worf’s"Assimilate this!“during a fight with the Borg and the slightly tongue-in-cheek"And you people, you’re all astronauts on… some kind of star trek?“from Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) combined to really bring home the quotability ofStar Trek: First Contact. Long-timeStar Trekwriters Ronald D. Mooreand Brannon Braga have a knack for writing quotable dialogue, andtheir combined efforts on the film helped to make numerous scenes pop. OtherTNGmovies certainly have their memorable moments, but most don’t have nearly as many memorable lines.
