What makes Worf so different in Star Trek: Picard?

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fans loved the Worf that Michael Dorn portrayed on those series, but he’s going to be different on Star Trek: Picard.

By now, most of us have seen the Star Trek: Picard trailer where Worf tells Captain Riker that he now prefers pacifism to combat. That didn’t just come as a shock to Riker, and Star Trek fans weren’t quite sure how to take this bit of news since Worf has always been a warrior. His entire identity is wrapped around being a warrior as part of his race and culture. But, for some reason, he’s going to be a different Klingon when we see him in Picard beginning on February 16th, though we don’t know exactly how different.

Picard star Patrick Stewart offered us a bit of a hint in an interview with TV Insider [via Trekmovie], and though Stewart calls the change “delightful,” I’m not sure all Trekkies are going to feel that way.

"“The change to his personality is one of the most delightful things this season. He becomes increasingly complex, where in Next Generation you always knew what [gruff] response you’d get from him.”"

Star Trek: Picard is bringing changes to all of the crew from the Enterprise.

But Worf seems to be extremely drastic, making us wonder what would cause a Klingon warrior to choose pacisfism. Did something happen during his time as Amabassador to his homeland? Did he remarry and is now following his wife’s chosen path? Or has he chosen this path simply because of age?

Whatever the reasons are for Worf’s personality differences, not everyone is going to be happy to see a different Worf as he has always been the one constant aboard the Enterprise and on Deep Space Nine. It seems every character has undergone a drastic change for the third season of Picard, and while that’s expected to a certain extent after so many years, we’ve seen Klingons remain the same for centuries. So why change Worf, especially when this will be a time when his skills are needed the most?

In a brief clip shared by Paramount, we do see Worf using a weapon so perhaps he’s willing to step back into old habits to help his friends. Whatever the case may be, it won’t feel like the same Worf unless we see him in battle. Hopefully, the powers that be at Picard have taken that into consideration.