by Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Some may think it's a bit old school, but we're still big fans of TV Tropes, a website that provides special terms to help us understand and appreciate the media we consume. It's a surprisingly cool concept because great shows and movies incorporate themes and ideas from other works, so speaking the metaphorical language of the entertainment landscape can help you understand your favorite media better. For example, I recently discovered a trope known as the “Worf Effect,” and this has completely changed the way I see everyone's favorite Klingon on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
What is the Whorf effect?
If you need a quick primer, Worf is the only Klingon in Starfleet, serving as the head of security for Captain Picard's Enterprise-D following the death of Tasha Yar. Because of his fierce Klingon heritage, Whorf He's one of the strongest characters on the show, but he regularly gets his ass kicked by this week's alien enemy. According to the Worf Effect trope, this is a deliberate tactic Star Trek: The next generation Writers because it allows them to determine how serious a threat a new bad guy is when they kick the most powerful good guy's ass.
In theory, this is a good idea because it offers a storytelling shortcut for writers and viewers alike. Everyone knows Worf is a tough guy, so when you see someone handing his skeletal body behind him, you know he's tougher and therefore a bigger threat to our heroes. However, in Worf's case, the main problem is that the writers implemented this idea into reality even faster than Worf could run away from spending any quality time with his son.
Michael Dorn has known about the Worf Effect for a long time and fixed it
Over time, this meant that the overuse of writing metaphor had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of making us see the new villain as tougher, he makes us see Worf as very weak. Frankly, this writing trope is a quick way to ruin a great character, and no one understands this better than Worf actor Michael Dorn.
Dorne was well aware of Worf's influence before he had a proper name. Annoyed by this overused trope, he requested a special promise from the writers that his character would not get the same treatment once he came along. Deep Space Nine. They honored that promise, and Worf in return was as much a menacing warrior on this show as he was a bullheaded punching bag on this show. The next generation.
The importance of metaphors in fiction
There are fans and critics alike who despise the idea of television metaphors because they believe our favorite media needs to be understood more through the lens of academic introspection and less through the lens of other media. However, The Worf Effect is a great example of how a metaphor-based approach can help us better understand a show like this Star Trek: The Next Generationa person whose public brilliance often helps him avoid criticism. Understanding the tropes it repeatedly uses as a crutch can help you more honestly evaluate the merits of the series without the rose-tinted glasses of fan memories.
Remember, children: today, and every dayIt's a good day to die of nostalgia.
