Star Trek The Next Generation
S3E17
· Sins of the Father

The Turning: Worf's Discommendation and Solitary Sacrifice

In the Great Hall Worf endures the formal ritual of discommendation—an ornate, public severing of honor—so Kurn can live and the Klingon Empire avoid civil war. Picard and a wounded Kurn flank him as the Council and assembled crowd literally turn their backs. Kurn shares one last, warrior's benediction with Worf, then reluctantly turns away, leaving Worf emotionally orphaned. The beat crystallizes sacrifice over vindication: Worf’s social death preserves political stability while Picard becomes his sole, unwavering ally.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Kurn and Worf share a private moment of brotherhood and promise before Kurn reluctantly turns his back, leaving Worf only with Picard’s unwavering support.

intimacy to defiance ['Great Hall']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Kurn
Commander
 primary
Character traits
partial/favoring toward select crew authoritative abrasive ceremonially disciplined
Follow Kurn's journey
Worf
Lieutenant, Chief of Security / Tactical Officer
 primary
Character traits
duty-driven duty-bound prideful determined stoic hawkish alert controlled-anger vigilant politically vulnerable decisive martial disgraced procedural guarded combative disciplined tactical honor-bound polarizing resolute ancestrally significant absent protective
Follow Worf's journey

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 5
NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"Worf's final insult to Duras and declaration of readiness for his fate leads directly to the council and crowd turning their backs on him in the Great Hall."

Picard's Mek'ba Gambit—Worf's Sacrifice and the Council's Shame
S3E17 · Sins of the Father
NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"Worf's final insult to Duras and declaration of readiness for his fate leads directly to the council and crowd turning their backs on him in the Great Hall."

K'mpec's Confession — Worf's Chosen Discommendation
S3E17 · Sins of the Father
NARRATIVELY_FOLLOWS

"Worf's final insult to Duras and declaration of readiness for his fate leads directly to the council and crowd turning their backs on him in the Great Hall."

Honor's Sacrifice — Worf Accepts Discommendation
S3E17 · Sins of the Father
Thematic Parallel medium

"Worf's cultural alienation during the dinner scene is echoed in his ultimate discommendation, where he is socially ostracized by his own people."

Dinner of Dishonor: Cultural Rift at the Captain's Table
S3E17 · Sins of the Father
Thematic Parallel medium

"Worf's cultural alienation during the dinner scene is echoed in his ultimate discommendation, where he is socially ostracized by his own people."

Dinner Provocation — Kurn Tests Worf and Starfleet Tolerance
S3E17 · Sins of the Father

Key Dialogue

"PICARD: Worf wants you to live... the name of your father must someday be cleared. He needs you alive... with your honor intact."
"KURN: May you stand here again someday and roar over the fallen bodies of your enemies."
"WORF: We will stand together... ...brother."