CBS should commission a new “Star Trek” show starring Michael Dorn in his role as the Klingon warrior, Worf. Such a show would be well-suited to today’s political environment and to the maximal entertainment of new and existing fans.
Would it be profitable?
I think so. CBS has shown it can make “Star Trek” cool again. The network has done an excellent job rebooting the “Star Trek” TV universe with its newest incarnation, “Star Trek: Discovery.” An upcoming show centered on Patrick Stewart’s character, Jean-Luc Picard, is also likely do very well. With both shows streaming online, CBS has shown how it can require customer buy-in in such a way as to make the shows financially viable.
I can’t pretend to be objective here. I’m a big fan of “Star Trek,” especially of Jean-Luc Picard, and of episodes which entertain controversial issues. Still, I believe there are objective reasons why a new Worf show would have great success.
Most importantly, Michael Dorn would throw his considerable skill, heart, and soul into it. Dorn has persistently advocated for such a show, offering a compelling premise. As he put it in 2018, “I’ve always liked the Klingons. I’ve always thought that they were the most interesting aliens outside of the Vulcans and all that,” Dorn says. “There’s a certain Shakespearian bent with the Klingons. They’re very nationalistic — there’s coups, there’s assassinations, there’s takeovers, there’s all these kind of things. Interestingly enough, they talk kind of Shakespearian.”
Dorn is right.
Shakespearian themes of political intrigue match perfectly our world today. I mean, just think about the parallels: the Mueller investigation and talk of impeachment, the struggle for a new world order, terrorism, etc. As a Starfleet officer turned diplomat, Worf also offers a credible opportunity for writers to take him on a range of new story adventures.
But there’s also the particular beauty of Worf as a character.
A warrior defined by great courage, honor, and intellect, Worf is also a man of great emotion and occasional failing. Up until now, we’ve seen Worf lose his only two serious lovers to murder, and we’ve seen him refuse orders that might have saved many lives.
But we’ve also seen Worf repeatedly rise to the responsibility of service. Imbued in all these various stories is the common theme of Worf’s unique personality: of his humor, for example.
One clip below indicates just how much potential a new exploration of Worf might be — and it doesn’t even show Worf.