Star Trek: Picard deleted scene reveals Worf’s haunted past

Star Trek: Picard deleted a scene that would have showed us a lot about Worf’s turn toward pacifism. 

In the final season of Star Trek: Picard, Worf had chosen the path of pacifism, even though he still didn’t have difficulty breaking out his kur’leth when it was needed. But it was never explained onscreen why Worf had opted to put aside his warrior ways. As it turns out, it was explained, it just wasn’t shown to viewers as the scene was deleted.

In the brief heart-to-heart with Captain Riker, Worf gives the heartbreaking reason why he changed his ways and his path. In the clip shared by Gizmodo, Riker asks Worf what happened to him, and with Raffi standing nearby, Worf talks about how he has hunted Changelings for decades. He called them villains with innocent faces. He performed his duties diligently until he plunged his blade in the heart of an innocent woman that he thought was a Changeling.

Michael Dorn played this scene extraordinarily well in Star Trek: Picard

Dorn has always been an exceptional actor, but with the quiet pain he displays in his voice during this scene, he takes his talent up a notch.

"“I have killed many but never an innocent.”"

Star Trek fans have always known Worf to be a warrior, and seeing a softer side of him was different but an effective way to show a Klingon’s regret.

"“So I swore to temper myself, my rage, my suspicion, for what I could not repay.”"

Star Trek: Picard co-executive producer Christopher Monfette revealed in a tweet of his own why this scene was not included in season 3.

While we’re certainly glad to be able to see it  here, it’s a shame it couldn’t have been shown in the episode and/or been expanded upon. Seeing Riker’s reaction or response would have been the icing on the cake.