10 Star Trek character arcs that got the deserved creative treatment

Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966, and over the years, it expanded into more shows and movies, and now Star Trek is part of a cultural phenomenon. From introducing characters like Captain Kirk, Spock, and also intimidating villains like Gul Dukat, Star Trek is one of the most celebrated global franchises.

With many movies and TV shows, Star Trek introduced many characters, with some of them having brilliant character development. Whether they are a human changing their side from bad to good, or a droid or a different species learning to show emotions or develop empathy — these characters tend to leave a mark with their character arcs, making them well-rounded characters in a huge franchise that has been expanding for the last 60 years.

Here’s a list of 10 such characters from the Star Trek franchise that got the deserved creative treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

10 Star Trek character arcs that got the deserved creative treatment

10) Rom (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Max Grodénchik in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Image via Paramount Television

Rom has been an interesting character since the beginning of DS9. From being a server, assistant, to pit boss, he worked in Quark’s bar in several positions, as he wanted to own the bar someday. Earlier, his greed was the driving force in his life until he started working for O’Brien.

Due to his skills with machines and engineering, he received promotion after promotion in Chief O’Brien’s maintenance team. He even played a crucial role in the Dominion War, as the suggestion of creating self-replicating mines to block the Bajoran wormholes was his. Furthermore, despite being condemned for it, he still sent Nog to Starfleet Academy.

9) Dal R'el (Star Trek: Prodigy)

Dal R'el in Star Trek: Prodigy | Image via Roddenberry Entertainment

Dal R'el, a human-augment hybrid, had a rough beginning. Unaware of what is wrong and right, Dal R'el was taken care of by Nandi, who taught him to steal, among other wrong things, until she sold him as a slave to buy a new and better robot. He spent his time at a prison colony, thinking that he must have been kidnapped.

Later, with Zero and Rok-Tahk, Dal R’el discovered USS Protostar, and they fled from the prison Colony. Dal R’el made himself the captain of the ship, which the crew didn’t like. However, he learned to become a better captain after his several skill test failures when a holographic representation of Spock made him realise that a good captain should listen to his crew.

From being raised as a thief, Dal R’el’s character developed so much, and that too just in one season, that he even volunteered to sacrifice himself to save the others, making him one of those who had a great character arc.

8) Nog (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Aron Eisenberg in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Image via Paramount Television

Nog, a Ferengi, was the first of his kind to join the Starfleet Academy. After being caught for stealing ores, instructed by his Uncle, Quark, Nog was sent to prison, but was saved by Captain Sisko. He became good friends with Sisko’s son, Jake, who taught him how to read and write.

This friendship and spending time at the promenade changed Nog as a person, as he wanted to make his life different from his father's, who only thought about making a profit. He applied to Starfleet Academy, impressing Captain Sisko with his diligence, who helped him get into the Academy. He later became the lieutenant junior grade of DS9 and also has a starship named after him.

7) Kira Nerys (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Nana Visitor in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Image via Paramount Television

Kira Nerys was one of the Bajoran militants. After living a life full of violence, Nerys was dealing with the trauma that was left behind by her several militant activities, which left her addressing herself as a former terrorist several times in the show.

While spending half of her life killing people, she later became a part of DS9 and one of the trusted people of Captain Sisko, and also took part in the Dominion War. She changed her life and accomplished great things.

6) Saru (Star Trek: Discovery)

The first of his species to attend Starfleet Academy, Saru also achieved another great achievement by commanding USS Discovery several times. Born in the pre-war civilization, Saru was from the planet of Kaminar, where the Kelpians lived in constant fear of the Ba'ul. They even made sacrifices to the Ba'ul, which Saru disagreed with.

He then built a communication device that got him to Starfleet, where, after meeting other species and hearing their stories, Saru decided to join the Academy to help people in need just like he was. After Captain Gabriel Lorca drove Discovery to the mirror universe, Saru took over the command of the ship after discovering that Lorca was the mirror counterpart of the real Lorca.

From belonging to the pre-warp civilization to making a journey to a place where he felt he belonged and could live without any fear, it also helped him become someone who would try to help those who did not have anyone on their side.

5) Julian Bashir (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Image via Paramount Television

A brilliant student in the Starfleet Medical Academy, Julian Bashir almost didn’t commence a career there, and might have become a Chief of Surgery, but fortunately, he didn’t give up his passion for working in Starfleet. He was a responsible and admirable character and had saved numerous lives, including the ambassador's, once.

However, initially he was known for being a socially inept person and a snobbish personality, who, with time and helping people around the base, developed as a courageous and righteous character.

4) Michael Burnham (Star Trek: Discovery)

Michael Burnham was a complex character with a complicated past when introduced in the Star Trek franchise. A human growing up around Vulcans, she often struggled with her dual identity. There were several situations where Michael was rejected not for lack of abilities but for being a human amid the Vulcans.

She is also the only Starfleet captain who went to prison for mutiny, but still got a second chance to earn her place when she was offered a place in Discovery by Lorca. However, she soon found out that this Lorca wasn't the real one, but his mirror counterpart, and joined forces with Emperor Philippa Georgiou to defeat Lorca. They complete the mission, making Discovery safe again. Even with her personal struggles, Burnham rose on many occasions to save Discovery, like she did against Lorca.

3) Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager)

Jeri Ryan in Star Trek: Voyager | image via Paramount Network Television

Another important character, Seven of Nine was also shaped by her past and the integration of her quadrant by the Borg when she was just a child. After being liberated by USS Voyager, Seven began learning about her individuality, which was destroyed by the Borg hive mind.

While being in Voyager, Seven learned to become more human and also made enhancements to the alcove to process information more easily. However, even after becoming such an important part of the Voyager, Seven was initially rejected by Starfleet due to her being with the Borg for so long. Therefore, she joined the Fenris Rangers to help bring justice to regions in space where laws were still not made. She was later accepted by Starfleet and even became the commander of USS Enterprise-G.

2) Damar (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Casey Biggs in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Image via Paramount Television

One of the most popular character development arcs happens to be that of Damar, a terrorist-turned-rebel leader. Damar was a military officer who was part of the Cardassian army during the Dominion War. However, he was able to see how this war was hurting their own people rather than helping them, as millions of Cardassians were dying in the war.

He later stopped supporting the Dominion war and became a part of the rebellion army, which opposed the Dominion. Going against the Dominion also made him lose his family forever, as they were killed. He died during an attack on the Dominion headquarters. He encouraged the rebels to keep fighting against the Dominion until his last breath.

1) Spock (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Other than being a beloved character from the Star Trek franchise, Spock also has one of the best character arcs in the franchise. From being a Vulcan with a stoic personality, Spock learned to become more human by the day. Due to him having mixed parentage of human and Vulcan, Spock often struggled with emotions.

Over the years, apart from being proud of his Vulcan heritage, he showed his human side numerous times. For instance, during their fight against Khan Noonien Singh, he sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise crew. Later, he became an important figure from whom many new captains and others learned, just as Dal R'el became a better captain due to Spock’s words.