A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7 episode included a great callback to Star Trek: First Contact. Although Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation were directly next to one another in Star Trek timeline order, the two shows had little in common. DS9 was set on a space station, used a more serialized storytelling format, and dealt with much darker, more nuanced themes than the often very optimistic TNG. However, the two shows did experience some significant crossovers, one of them being Worf (Michael Dorn) joining DS9‘s cast of characters in season 4.

Although he is perhaps best known as a main character on TNG, Worf’s time on Deep Space Nine arguably added more nuance and depth to his character. Worf’s arc on DS9 not only included his marriage to Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) but also his heavy involvement with the Klingon Empire’s participation in the Dominion War, including the killing of Chancellor Gowron (Robert O’Reilly) during the season 7 episode “Tacking Into the Wind.” During their fight to the death, one of Gowron’s lines was a subtle but noticeable callback to something Worf said in a TNG movie almost three years previously.

Gowron’s line referenced Wof’s threat to Picard

Gowron telling Worf “If you were a true Klingon, I would kill you where you stand!” on DS9 is almost a direct copy of Worf’s “If you were any other man, I would kill you where you stand!” to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: First Contact. Although different characters spoke the two lines, their context was quite similar, enhancing their connection. Both lines were spoken at the climax of their respective storylines during a moment of contention between two characters. Likewise, Worf’s line in First Contact was because Picard had insulted his honor, while Gowron’s line in DS9 responded to a similar insult from Worf.

Worf’s threat to Picard still held a degree of deference to his Captain, showing that Worf’s respect for Picard was the only thing keeping him from attacking.

However, given that both lines involve Worf, it is perhaps their differences rather than their similarities that make them more interesting. Worf’s threat to Picard still held a degree of deference to his Captain, showing that Worf’s respect for Picard was the only thing keeping him from attacking. In contrast, Gowron’s line was a complete insult, making it clear that all respect between the two had been lost. These differences could be part of why Gowron and Worf’s conflict in Deep Space Nine ended with violence, while Picard and Worf’s confrontation during First Contact ended with Picard apologizing.

First Contact had some great lines

Including Worf’s line, Star Trek: First Contact is arguably the most quotable movie featuring the TNG cast, with several other great moments that have stood the test of time. The most memorable of all the film’s quotes was definitely Picard’s impassioned speech to Lily Sloan (Alfre Woodard) about the Borg during First Contact‘s climax, including his statement, “The line must be drawn here! This far, no farther!” The scene perfectly illustrated Picard’s hatred of the Borg and was a culmination of his emotional arc that had been building throughout the film.

Star Trek: First Contact
‘s introduction of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) changed the franchise’s Borg lore forever and influenced the Borg’s involvement in later shows like
Star Trek: Voyager
. The Borg Queen’s existence and her connection to Captain Picard has even continued to have ripple effects in the modern franchise, such as in the second and third seasons of
Star Trek: Picard
.

Besides Picard’s quote, lines like Worf’s “Assimilate this!” during a fight with the Borg and the slightly tongue-in-cheek “And you people, you’re all astronauts on… some kind of star trek?” from Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) combined to really bring home the quotability of Star Trek: First Contact. Long-time Star Trek writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga have a knack for writing quotable dialogue, and their combined efforts on the film helped to make numerous scenes pop. Other TNG movies certainly have their memorable moments, but most don’t have nearly as many memorable lines.