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Alexander, Worf’s “Firstborn”, is a tragic figure in Star Trek, and his last TNG appearance only reinforces that argument. When a mysterious Klingon appears and attempts to train Alexander to become a warrior, Worf becomes uneasy with the new direction. Also, time travel! Modi stops by to discuss blades from the future, DS9 cameos, and ineffective time travel.
The Wikipedia plot summary for “Firstborn”:
Worf is concerned that his son Alexander is not pursuing his Klingon heritage and has no desire to become a Klingon warrior. Captain Picard recommends that Worf should expose Alexander to more of his heritage at the Kot’baval festival at Maranga IV. When the Enterprise stops at Maranga IV as part of a routine mission, Worf takes Alexander to the festival and this appears to help Alexander become interested in the Klingon way of life. When the two of them are suddenly attacked by a trio of Klingon warriors, another Klingon arrives and helps them fight off the trio. He introduces himself as K’mtar, a gin’tak or adviser to the House of Mogh who has come to protect Worf. K’mtar joins Worf and Alexander as they return to the Enterprise while the crew investigates the attack.
With Worf’s approval, K’mtar tries to train Alexander in the ways of the Klingon warrior, but this proves ineffective. K’mtar recommends that Worf send Alexander to a Klingon military academy, which would be harsh on Alexander but effective. Worf balks at the idea, and K’mtar threatens to invoke Klingon law to take custody of Alexander from Worf. When K’mtar pressures Alexander to join the academy, the boy refuses.
The Enterprise crew examine one of the daggers used during the attack on Worf and Alexander. It bears markings of the Duras sisters. Commander Riker gets intelligence from Quark at Deep Space Nine that helps the Enterprise crew locate the Duras sisters and accuses them of the assassination attempt. The sisters deny any involvement. When Worf presents the dagger, they recognize one marking as belonging to Lursa’s son, despite the fact she has only just learned she has become pregnant.
Worf then finds K’mtar about to kill a sleeping Alexander, and immobilizes him. K’mtar is forced to reveal that he is really Alexander from several decades in the future, having traveled back in time to prepare his younger self for an assassination attempt on his father. He had arranged the attack on Maranga IV to trigger a desire to protect Worf and had hoped to direct the young Alexander to take the warrior’s path so as to prevent Worf’s assassination later. Worf tells K’mtar that he could only die happy knowing that Alexander followed the course he wanted to take in life. With Worf’s resolve and newfound appreciation for his son’s interests, K’mtar is satisfied and returns to his own time.
You can find “Firstborn”, and every other episode of the show, at ThePenskyPodcast.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @PenskyFile!