Star Trek: Deep Space Nineintroduced General Martok (J.G. Hertzler), the best Klingon character inStar Treksince Worf (Michael Dorn). Klingons were introduced as villains inStar Trek: The Original Series, and Worf broke the mold inStar Trek: The Next Generationas the firstKlingon in Starfleetwho was also a heroic protagonist. Yet Worf remained largely alone among Klingon heroes, althoughStar Trek: Voyagerintroduced the half-Klingon Starfleet engineer, Lt. B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson).Star Trek: Deep Space Ninefinally createdanother Klingon who became a beloved hero in his own right.
General Martok debuted inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 4’s premiere, “The Way of the Warrior,” but with a twist: It wasn’t the real Martok. The Klingon General’s first two appearances inDS9season 4 andDS9season 5’s premiere, “Apocalypse Rising,” were a Changeling impersonating Martok.The real Martok wasn’t revealed until midway throughDS9season 5when Worf discovered the General was a prisoner of the Dominion. Following their escape and return to the Alpha Quadrant, Star Trek: Deep Space Ninemade Martok a recurring character whose popularity and importance increased simultaneously.
Why Martok Is Star Trek’s Best Klingon Besides Worf
Martok is the best Klingon friend Worf ever had
General Martok isStar Trek’s first full-blooded Klingon main character since Worf who is honorable, admirable, and heroic.Star Trekhas introduced many other Klingons who weren’t villains, butMartok was a significant and welcome presence onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.During the Dominion War, Martok became Supreme Commander of the Klingon Ninth Fleet, and the one-eyed Klingon General worked closely with Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Starfleet. Aboard his Klingon Bird-of-Prey, the IKS Rotarran, Martok led many missions against the Dominion, and he emerged a war hero who kept his honor against the devious Changelings. Best of all, Martok was more Klingon than Worf, and they became each other’s entertaining counterbalance.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had the biggest cast of characters of any Trek show, meaning that Captain Sisko had numerous allies in the Dominion War.
General Martok also became what Worf always needed but never found onStar Trek: The Next Generation:a Klingon who was a friend, brother, and mentor. Martok understood Worf’s disgraced status among Klingons, and he brought Worf into the House of Martok. The General even tookWorf’s son, Alexander Rozenko(Marc Worden), under his wing aboard the IKS Rotarran. Martok celebrated with Worf when he married Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) and he mourned her death along with Worf. General Martok was a man of honor, a great warrior, and was one ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s best recurring characters.
What Happened To Martok After Star Trek: DS9
Chancellor Martok still gets mentioned in Star Trek
General Martok became Chancellor of the Klingon Empireat theend ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. When Chancellor Gowron’s (Robert O’Reilly) lust for glory and poor judgment jeopardized the Klingon-Federation alliance against the Dominion, Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Worf agreed something had to be done about Gowron. Worf challenged Gowron to personal combat and slayed his sometime friend and adversary. Rather than become Chancellor himself, Worf passed the leadership of the Klingon Empire to Martok.
Martok’s status as one of the greatest Klingons is assured after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Star Trek: Lower Decks, set several years after the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,established thatMartok was still the Klingon Chancelloras of 2381. Martok is so popular, he’s the host of the tabletop gameBat’leths & BiHnuchsplayed by the Lower Deckers of the USS Cerritos.Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 revealed Chancellor Martok sent a Klingon geneticist to find a way to defeat the Klingons' enemies, the Tribbles. With no upcoming live-actionStar Trekset in the late 24th or early 25th centuries currently in production,it’s unlikely J.G. Hertlzer will play Martok in the flesh again, but Martok’s status as one of the greatest Klingons is assured afterStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
