They had to kill Tasha Yarr because if she hadn’t died before Ro Laren came onto the bridge their combined Top Energy would’ve killed Riker on the spot.
I am sad that Worf trying to find a reason he won’t be around for the birth of Keiko’s child is played for humour in DS9. And by sad I mean it actually seriously lowkey annoys me.
Don’t get me wrong, in TNG he was obviously not expecting to deliver a baby that day. But he was established to have some experience with it, and he did then actually do it. Because it’s his job to help his crew, because it’s a Federation philosophy to help, because this is a friend going through this; take your pick. I would hope that surely everyone, barring those with actual medical barriers of some sort, would be prepared to help someone through labour to the best of their ability in an emergency if need-be.
A more respectful, and imo in-character, response would have been to comment on how thankfully this time she would hopefully have access to the infirmary and Bashir’s expertise. Especially because we’re not talking about the average civilian here. He’s a trained military officer. Not only has he seen all sorts, but also I’m not convinced Keiko’s child would be the first or the last he’s delivered. Labour doesn’t wait for emergencies to be over. …Also he’s a fucking Klingon? I don’t know if canon has ever gone into Klingon births but I bet they fucking embrace the pain/strain/blood. They probably think it’s a glorious event. He’s hardly going to be screamish about entrails when he’s a fucking Klingon.
Anyway I wish it wasn’t played as a shitty “hur hur women and their weird bits right?” joke, especially when it’s Worf the Fucking Klingon. He would probably consider Keiko to be a badass warrior after having one, and for her to do it again is like… double admirable. I mean fuck, actually why doesn’t he just go ahead and volunteer to deliver the baby again in that scene?
I hate that shitty joke and I think it’s really out of character for Worf. It’s jarring af every time I see it.
(P.S. As far as I’m concerned, Klingons think childbirth is the first trial of the warrior, and both the parent and the child are even greater warriors through it. It’s an honour to be present at your comrade’s labour. You support them in their battle and you bond.)
