One of the big selling points of the Star Trek franchise is its theoretically infinite room for expansion. New writers and crew members could come in to come up with new worlds, species, and storylines until the end of time, but fans prefer to see their favorites keep coming back. The Klingon race is one of the most iconic and its abnormal prodigal son happens to be Worf.
The Klingons were introduced as a fairly stereotypical planet of hats. They're all honor and combat, devoted entirely to the pursuit of violence and strength. Worf was the first proper main character to come from the Klingon race, and he's added a lot to their perception in the fanbase.
Where did Worf Grow Up?
Worf was born on the Klingon home planet of Qo'noS. At the age of five, his parents moved the family to the Khitomer colony. That choice would prove disastrous the following year. Worf lived a normal life on Khitomer. He had a pet, he started his training, and he went on hunting expeditions. One such trip left Worf with a scar he would carry for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, when Worf was six, the Klingon Empire was betrayed by the Romulans, who attacked Khitomer. Nearly the entire population was brutally slaughtered, leaving young Worf a homeless orphan. Luckily, a kind Federation officer found Worf among the rubble and brought him home.
Worf was raised on a quiet farming colony called Gault. His adoptive parents Sergey and Helena Rozhenko brought him up like any other child. He was treated as a sibling by their son Nikolai and grew up in a loving home. Tragedy gave way to new opportunities as Worf learned the ways of his new home. He was a gifted athlete and a great student, but he struggled to control himself around his frail new neighbors. Worf accidentally killed a kid in a soccer game, so the Rozhenko family finally made the move to Earth. He lived somewhere in Russia and frequently camped with his family in the Ural Mountains. Worf tried to return to his original homeland, but the Klingons rejected him for his exposure to humans. He wasn't welcomed home, but a legendary warrior of his species appeared in a vision to tell him he'd break new ground. He eventually did so by becoming the first Klingon to join Starfleet.
Worf Chose to Be More Klingon
Worf spent the lion's share of his life feeling pulled between his human upbringing and his Klingon blood. However, he gradually came to grips with both identities as crucial parts of his life. In many ways, he was an integral bridge between the Federation and the warlike people. Some twenty years after his birth family's death, the rival House of Duras made heinous accusations against Worf. Worf appeared in his family's stead to plead their case and presented evidence to exonerate them. The local chancellor knew the truth and laid the blame at the feet of the House of Duras. Worf had only two options. He could either lie and accept the black mark against his blood or tell the truth and incite a civil war. Wisely, he chose to allow his reputation to fall to ruin.
Worf's sacrifice only delayed the war. When it finally broke out, Worf entreated Starfleet to join the conflict and won back his family's honor. From his position of power, Worf was instrumental in rebuilding the Klingon Empire after the war. Worf discovered a world of Klingons and Romulans living in peace. This shook his belief system to the core and forced him to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew about his culture. Worf chose to consult a familiar voice, the legendary warrior that initially told him of his heroic destiny. He swiftly discovered Kahless the Unforgettable, but he also found several holes in his story. This Kahless was weak and unable to recall many of his legendary tales. Sure enough, Worf had discovered a clone of Kahless who sought to be installed as emperor. Over time Worf decided to place clone Kahless in the largely ceremonial role to guide his people toward the old teachings that made them great.
Worf was born of one culture and raised by another, locking him in a permanent state of conflict. The day he joined Starfleet, he became an anomaly among his people and bridged a gap that lasted for centuries. He's one of the most important Klingons who ever lived, and he's long outlived the days when his people rejected him. From humble beginnings, Worf became more Klingon than any other member of his species. Though humans taught him how to live among them, he's always been a member of the rubber-foreheaded race from the beginning. Worf earns every one of his epithets and deserves just as much Klingon cred as the rest of his species.