Star Trek: The Next Generation was the successor series to Star Trek. It is at least as popular among Star Trek fans as the original from the 1960s. This is partly due to iconic characters like Captain Picard, Data and Worf, who shaped the sci-fi series over seven seasons.
Especially Worf, played by Michael Dorn one of the most interesting charactersas he was adopted by humans as a Klingon and raised on Earth, which always made him search for his own identity. Also Worf’s visual changewhich he endured over the course of The Next Generation, is often subject to interpretation among Trekkies. This particularly affects his forehead ridges, which were visibly modified in season 2.
However, there was by no means a creative decision behind this that was intended to reflect Worf’s inner development or aging. Actually is the reason for his changed appearance is much more banal.
Stolen prosthetic forehead gave Worf a new look in season 2 of TNG
Anyone who follows Star Trek: The Next Generation closely will no doubt notice Worf’s changed forehead in Season 2. Their ossifications suddenly appear a little more pronounced than before in season 1.
The reason for this was simply that the… Originally used forehead prosthesis was no longer found after season 1 and was probably even stolen . Oscar-winning makeup artist Michael Westmore (The Mask) used this as an opportunity to adapt the design of Worf’s distinctive forehead structure and optimize the wearing comfort for actor Michael Dorn – with success. Another positive effect: The new prosthesis could also be put on more quicklywhich significantly reduced the time required for Worf’s mask.
If the Borg later received their design due to a lack of money, Worf’s new Klingon look was apparently the result of a bold thieves on the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But even after that, the look of the figure changed every now and then in small details.
In this picture gallery you can Evolution of Worf’s forehead understand it a little better:
You can stream Star Trek: The Next Generation here
All seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation are available on Paramount+ and Netflix streaming flat rates. Alternatively, you can also buy the entire series on Amazon Prime Video.