Star Trek The Next Generation
S3E17
· Sins of the Father

The Turning of Backs — Worf's Chosen Discommendation

In the Great Hall Worf accepts a ritual, public exile to spare his brother and avert civil war. K'mpec and the High Council formally condemn him; the assembled Klingon crowd and even Kurn turn their backs in the ceremonial gesture that severs Worf from honor and community. Picard walks beside Worf as his lone ally. This beat is a grim turning point: a negotiated sacrifice that preserves the Empire's fragile stability while costing Worf his social identity and kinship.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Worf, Kurn, and Picard stand before the council; Worf acknowledges judgment while K'mpec condemns him as a coward.

defiance to condemnation ['Great Hall']

The council and crowd symbolically turn their backs on Worf, casting him into dishonor.

social tension to resolution ['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

"K'MPEC: "Coward.""
"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.""