10 Greatest Redemption Stories In Star Trek

[@jessesanchez9187]

Nog - child of Rom. He wanted something more than being a Ferengi and convinced Sisko to recommend him for Starfleet academy. He returned to DS9 as an ensign. Worked hard. Learning engineering and command. Eventually he was given command of a starship. First Ferengi to join/ get his own command. Apparently did well in command, because. In the 32nd century, they named a ship after him. An Eisenberg class vessel. Note that the class was a nod to actor Aaron Eisenberg who portrayed the character. He went from a Ferengi who was chased by Odo to an honored Starfleet Captain/Officer.

[@CordialH]

First time I watched the show I was really struck by his break down at the "What's the scam?" question. That was a really powerful scene.

[@jonathanrichter4256]

He couldn't even READ in the first few episodes! A hero at AR-558. Then planning a new casino with Vic Fontaine. What a story.

[@yankeepapa304]

Damar had not only the greatest character arc in DS9...but one of the most challenging roles for an actor. Casey Biggs managed to shine in the role. Negative emotions such as resentment against the Dominion fueled part of his arc...but in the process he/we discovered a different side to him. His humor when hiding in the basement... His sense of theater of the absurd when it appeared that a locked door would prevent the heroic attack. *And* his being the final brick in the redemption of Major/Colonel Kira. Over the course of the series Kira went from mindless hate of Cardassians to a more "humanistic" view of many of them... Starting with "Duet"... Later the Cardassian who thought that he was her father... Pain that she felt for Garak when Zial died. For all her hatred of Damar as being little better than Ducat... She saw the changes in him... She saw him outgrow so many of his negative tendencies...on his way to true greatness...and ultimately, when she reported his death...a flicker of loss. YP

[@mhsbear2k]

Nog. From a troublesome untrustworthy Ferengi kid to someone so revered as to have as starship named after him. How can there be a greater redemption?

[@benjbutton]

But he was never a villain. I agree he came a long way, but it wasn’t redemption-more achievement above expectations.

[@Darxide23]

@@benjbutton Half of this list were never villains, either.

[@benjbutton]

@@Darxide23 and half the list is shite…

[@thebibosez7949]

Neelix. A shady character and middling chef, he overcame his past to become a beloved crewmate, a hero to a colony of his people, and a Starfleet Ambassador. ST:VOY

[@christopherhall5361]

annoying space cat

[@theonlymatthew.l]

You insult middling chefs 🤣

[@darkar8173]

garak from DS9 had a redemption, from assassin to tailor to freedom fighter against his own people to helping save his world

[@nvelsen1975]

Absurd notion, he's a simple tailor and nothing of any of those other things.

[@Rembanspellsong]

a bittersweet redemption in his view, as he failed to save his Cardassia, as he says it was destroyed by the dominion

[@theranter]

No Nog? He started out as a conniving thief and bad influence on Jake Sisko, and became the first Ferengi in Starfleet , a war hero, had PTSD and worked his way through it (with a little help from Vic Fontaine)…

[@ceannrua]

I don't know how the frack nog wasn't top five

[@ellenripley4640]

Nog has a great character arc, but does he really need to be redeemed?

[@theranter]

@@ellenripley4640 His entire arc is a redemption story. Nog starts out as a literal criminal, he helped break into and steal from a shop on the promenade, and ended up as not only a good person, but a war hero and decorated Starfleet Officer. That’s clearly a redemption story.

[@BasaiDai]

I think the best redemption story is Damaar

[@HammerJammer81]

Agreed, I mean, I just had Kanaar, with Damar ...

[@taiwansivispacemparabellum9546]

@@HammerJammer81and watch while they run out of Weiyuns?

[@HammerJammer81]

@@taiwansivispacemparabellum9546 lol wellllll helllllooo ... Maybe you should go talk to Worf again?

[@leeharris7727]

FOR CARDASSIA!!

[@zeljkokuvara6145]

​@@HammerJammer81on Ferenginar?

[@chrisdavis3055]

I really liked the decade-long story arc of Barclay. I still tear up at his ultimate redemption when he successfully contacts Voyager. It was great to see Barclay standing next to Admiral Paris on Voyager's view screen when they finally returned to Earth.

[@GerryIII]

Sito’s death, as far as I’m concerned is on the same cry level at Spock. Fight me.

[@ceannrua]

that is a highly logical response. 🖖

[@jimhuffman9434]

Actually, Sito didn't die. Sito was captured by the Cardassian military and sent to a Cardassian penal colony. She was later returned to the Federation following a prisoner exchange in 2372.

[@ristridin_photography]

I would have loved to see more of suder, he was a great character!

[@NediSafa]

You missed the one about the Cardassian who came to DS9 and admitted to being a war criminal (when he really wasn't) because he thought someone should pay. I think the episode was titled Duet.

[@Sephiroth144]

But he didn't NEED redemption- he took someone else's identity (the war criminal) and attempted to atone for the Cardassian people's crimes; I'd say that was more of an (attempted) sacrifice. (He was the clerk at the camp.)

[@johnpotts8308]

Moritza, posing as Gul Darheel (might have the spelling wrong).

[@charlesh8420]

One of the best episodes of DS9, especially the scene where Maritza broke down when he couldn't keep up the pretense

[@thebibosez7949]

Commodore Matt Decker. After one horrible move after another, his sacrifice and death created a clue that led to the end of The Doomsday Machine. TOS.

[@davidzapen8974]

And his son, ST:TMP.

[@bonusbaby801]

I don't think I'll ever stop tearing up everytime I hear Capt. Picard announce Sito's death😢 And ST:TNG "Lower Decks" is on tomorrow night. Better get a new roll of tissue ready.

[@BenDaresAll]

9 Suder! Loved his inclusion!

[@thecunninlynguist]

Paris was a good one.

[@michaeltortorice9876]

B'Elanna - Thanks to Eddie the Editor for including a snippet of my favorite scene with her: During a meeting with the senior staff, she and Captain Janeway address the problem du jour, bouncing ideas off each other, each getting more excited by the minute, while the others present just look on somewhat stupefied. It only happened once, but that's what I was hoping their relationship would be in my first watch first run and in my recent rewatch. Alas, it was not to be. As for Sean interrupting, whether justified or not, I have just one thing to say: PUPPPYY!!!!!

[@FirstDan2000]

WARP PARTICLES.

[@knarf247]

i never caught those camera angles in Pathfinder, very nice catch :)

[@johnpotts8308]

How about Plain, Simple Garak? A former Secret Policeman and torturer in the Obsidian Order, he ends DS9 as the leader of the Cardassian resistance to the Dominion and was critical in ending the Dominion War (or at least, massively reducing the casualties that could have been incurred).

[@timjerrom7173]

17:01 minutes long, nice one 🖖

[@cjt217]

I always love how good the editing is for these lists ❤

[@ajaiiz]

Ro Laren?

[@stethespaniard2]

She betrayed the enterprise crew. That’s the opposite of redemption

[@sureshmukhi2316]

​@@stethespaniard2i take it you haven't seen Picard season 3.

[@stethespaniard2]

@@sureshmukhi2316 I have not

[@sureshmukhi2316]

@@stethespaniard2 Ro Laren makes an appearance there. I won't spoil the rest.

[@stethespaniard2]

@@sureshmukhi2316 you might as well because I’m not going to watch it

[@METerrell]

I'd give an honorable mention to Captain Ransom. After killing countless space dwelling creatures to power his ship across the Delta quadrant faster & at the expense of some of his crew, he finally made the right choice to stop what he & his crew were doing & attempted to turn his crew & himself over to Captain Janeway. And even after his first officer & other crew members mutinied, still had some of them beamed over to Voyager thanks to a crew member who sided with them. He then sacrificed himself to move his heavily damaged ship away from Voyager after the remaining crew members were killed by the beings they had been exploiting.

[@PantherSpectre]

What about Nog? From delinquent to war hero!

[@sureshmukhi2316]

I was about to mention that. They mention Rom but not his son Nog. That's a glaring omission.

[@nickpond9337]

Real Good List so Thank You ;

[@zooropa04]

Also, impeccable breakdown of the camera and filming tricks used to represent other characters' views on Barclay. I would totally watch a whole video on those.

[@frankiFracture]

I felt Garek had a good redemption arc all while experiencing many back slides in the process.

[@jonni129]

Lower Decks is for me one of the best TNG episodes. I really love the emotional ending!

[@WrestlingWithGaming]

People lamenting Nog and other people they think are "missing" can relax. They didnt forget them. Trekculture always does multiples of their lists, usually in blocks of ten. I'm sure we'll see "another 10 greatest redemption stories in star trek" if this video does well. The real crime is Damar at nunber 10 behind Suder. Edit: finished the video and although everyone makes sense to be on this kind of list, the entire order of the list is absolutely wild

[@richardsaunders9412]

Nog was the appidamy of going from bad to good as he started out a criminal and at the end of the series finale is promoted to second lutenent

[@reedcockrell8126]

"Epitome".

[@tempvsfrangit3854]

In the mythical next season of DS9 (What We Left Behind docu), Captain Nog had command of a ship... right before he gets blown up and Mr Eisenberg storms off-stage at the news. Appreciate the call-back to Nog's mispronunciations of human words (appidamy vs epitome). Jake & Nog on the Promenade; their voices joyous.

[@christopherhall5361]

I watched the episode with Suders death yesterday, and I thought to myself that he was given a good end. It was a little questionable when Neelix came with his dinner (Leola root stew of course) and he just sat there in the dark with dead eyes, but he did redeem himself even though he thought there was no redemption for him.

[@jazzsax357]

HOW DARE YOU NOT MENTION NOG!!!!!! This Ferengi went from being arrested for looting in the 1st episode of DS9 to being Jake Sisko's mischievous friend who couldn't pass Kaiko O'Brien's class to proving himself to Cap't Sisko to being the 1st Ferengi in Star Fleet to getting injured and suffering PTSD to finally becoming a bridge officer on the Defiant AND a Star Fleet promotion. He went from looter to lieutenant from the first episode to the last episode.

[@grahamcann1761]

As always, thank you so very much to all the Cultured Trek folks... And a special shout out to the surprise cameo, Seán's doggo! (Much cuter I think than the "alien creature" in "Star Trek: The Enemy Within" I think.

[@zooropa04]

As much as I love Star Trek, nothing in it entirety touches the shifting roles of G'Kar and Londo on Babylon 5. Still, a massive thank you for pointing out Damar's self-serving "redemption." That gets overlooked far too often.

[@ernestcline2868]

What about Mirror Spock or Kelvinverse Kirk?

[@dkSilo]

Good list. Thanks.

[@promontorium]

I always thought it would have been a more poetic end for Sudor if he had to go on a Die Hard level killing rampage to save the ship before dying, thus usurping all he had worked to overcome, which he had done to be good, in the end, needing to be a far more savage killer than ever to be hero. He'd be tapping into his deepest worst desires, while also destroying his own psyche that he had built convincing himself to be better. Would have worked even better if there was a situation where he was faced with killing another Star Fleet member that was getting in his way (maybe allude that hid did kill, and you justify it in your mind, but you find out in the end he didn't kill the person, redeeming himself and making the viewer question their own morality) . Voyager is the only series that could use a reboot.

[@FredandGeorge]

Delighted to see Suder on the list! What about Rayner, though? Cut a little bit short, but still a good season-long redemption arc. Granted he started out more arrogant and boneheaded than really and truly bad, but then Barlcay was never anything worse than maladjusted.

[@kristinpagan2361]

3 to start a new list - Nog, The Doctor and Major Kira!

[@knitcrochettiger361]

best part of Lon Sudor's characxter was that is the actor who is "CHUCKY"....Brad Dourif....he also played Grippa Wormtongue in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King......it's amazing how many "GREAT" actors pass through Star Trek

[@HariSeldon913]

And even more fun is that the mom who bought Chucky for her kid was the whale expert who hitched a ride to the 23rd century in ST:IV.

[@Crimson-m9o]

Brad Dourif also played a serial killer in an episode of "Babylon Five," and of course portrayed the twisted mentat Piter de Vries in the original version of "Dune."

[@ronm6585]

Thanks.

[@Soul-cry1]

The federation navel patrol would have been a great concept for a new star trek series

[@QBCPerdition]

They could call it SeaQuest....oh wait...

[@Soul-cry1]

@@QBCPerdition well they would have to put a star trek spin on it but everything is just a remix of something else so why not

[@Maddolis]

Nice video, I'd probably mirror the numbers and chuck Nog right after Damar at #2. I love characters like Sito and Suder (Brad's amazing in everything!) but couldn't put a 3 episode arc ahead of multi-season arcs like those of Nog and Damar.

[@YoRocky89]

First to say: Live long and prosper! 🖖🏻

[@ltcmdrstamets]

Did Burnham really redeem herself if that mutiny though? In the FIRST episode of season 5 she threatens to withhold critical information from her superior officer unless she was added to a mission. A mission she just proved herself incapable of following orders or advice as she fucked up so bad she had to get book out of community service.

[@AprilLVideos]

great video but i'm surprised there was no mention of gwyn or dal from prodigy

[@NickCC23]

Ro Laren, anyone?

[@CyberVforVictory]

Nog deserved his own entry

[@kevinbraid9739]

we really did NOT need an almost 2 min intro jfc.

[@JanHurych]

Number 3..... TrekCulture remindng us they have bills to pay :-D

[@charlenevarada--Stargazer]

I think the best redemption story is Worf's name being restored. Sure, it's 2 episodes, but I think it covers alot of Klingon honor codes that are interesting to me since I identify with many of them myself.

[@euchiron]

Damar was a fascinating mirror to Dukat

[@TheSithLord]

Damn. So many good choices in the comments. I need to go to a trek con. Anyone know the website for that?

[@kylecarmichael5890]

OKOKOKOK...Sean.... You have a Doxie in your lap. I think I can speak for the "interwebs" if that is your doggo we NEED TO SEE MOAR! of the doggo. If not yours I lament your loss.

[@twocvbloke]

Garak; Outcast to hero of Cardassia, even if he never did like root beer... :P

[@kenwynn3871]

What about Weyoun, via a defective clone. Or Kira from terrorist blindly hating cardassians to surrogate daughter of Tekeny Ghemor then liberator of their planet. Odo went from allowing innocent people to die just to keep order in a shopping mall to convincing a genocidal enemy to surrender in war. Saru from fear factor to action stance. Ash Tyler?

[@blackopspilled]

"I have taken the music from her mind" - Kevin from TNG survivors who tried to redeem himself.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

11:25 why do you make it sound like it's a good thing..? Are you a hater of beauty?

[@ThomasLJonesJr]

Ro???? Hello???

[@yankeepapa304]

Her story went both ways. She was never evil... In the end, she was a victim of conflicting loyalties. Prior to having to make the final choice...she was genuinely loyal to both...which makes for complexity...and tragedy... YP

[@stevemayes8799]

"Prodiginous" - not a word.

[@rsbandbj1]

Commander Ro... dude... i almost cried when she met with jean luc

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Out of all the Star Trek characters, Reginald Barclay deserve to have a cameo in Nu Treks.

[@akaArria]

Don't you think there is glaring oversights? *cough* Garak & Nog

[@gbkworf]

Major Kira Narese. Terrorist to Station Commander. Nog, Ferengi to Star Fleet Officer

[@davidbonk1672]

Don't forget lieutenant James T Kirk, who blamed himself for the deaths of half the USS Farragut's crew due to his hesitation, and pushed himself to become one of Starfleet's best captains.

[@DerArvel]

Where‘s Garak?

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

According to RDM, the difference between Locarno and Paris is that Locatno is a jerk who presents himself as a good guy whereas Paris is the opposite.

[@Darxide23]

So much of this isn't redemption. We didn't see 90% of the trouble that B'Elanna and Tom got up to before they were on screen. They don't count. And if Bruce Maddox isn't #1 on this list then the entire list is invalid.

[@marilynsobel7414]

They are too small to be redemption arcs, but there were two mini-arcs involving Romulans. In "The Enemy" Bochra goes from being murderous to cooperative to a genuine respect for Geordie. In "Eye of the Needle" R'Mor starts off stiff and suspicious and will not give Voyager any information (even his name); he also thinks they are lying. When Janeway appeals to their common humanity he begins to soften but is still mainly a bureaucrat. Later the scientist in him admires Voyager's technical achievements and finally he mourns with the Voyager crew when they find he comes from the past and is therefore unable to help them. He is the only Romulan in Star Trek who ever sees humans as equals.

[@Extinguisher10]

Rom wasn't an idiot, just a Dork

[@rlin]

georgiou?

[@olafkloppel9]

You mean emperor's Georgiou?

[@colinleat8309]

Rom and 7 shouldn't be on this list. They have nothing to redeem. Damar should be no.1 .

[@KariWebster-z6t]

And the Andorran said..."That's NOT my antenna".

[@klblissdish]

What about L'Rell?!?

[@NeilCoates]

Hi 👋 👋 👋 ❤❤

[@desmondfedaykin8872]

I wish with Barkley that you would have stuck to his first appearance in TNG. I usually try to ignore all things Voyager related.

[@MKDumas1981]

14:39 - Cashiered*

[@SMD2x]

The Empress Georgio should've made the list

[@markloveless1001]

Lon Suder, aka Brad Dourif. Talk about born that way. "Don't go to the devil, Agent Mulder".

[@FirstDan2000]

Rom was initially shown as confident and bossy. Able to stand his ground. Then by the third episode of DS9 he had inexplicably changed.

[@CarlHardiman-jc7br]

How about...Q...in Picar?

[@Saavik256]

Sito's death still makes me choke, all these years later.

[@olafkloppel9]

How are about Gwyndala (Prodigy)? Daughter of the main evildoer, first hated by the other Heroes of the series. Then becoming part of the command duo and valued member of that crew. Yes. It is foreseeable But it's still good entertainment!

[@Donnagata1409]

10:47 You can say that again. The less said, the better. P.S. How could you hide that marvelous teckel from us, Sean? What's their name? They has to appear in every video, please! The beauty level would improve, and that's saying something!

[@OnSilverWings]

Burnham went from Mary Sue to Mary Sue,. Heck Tom Paris, any of the Marquis had a bigger redemption arc than her.

[@bloglazer9410]

You left out the tidbit that unlike Locarno, Paris came clean on his own.

[@JohnSmith-bk9iz]

Lacarno looks just like Tom Paris… weird🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stephandolby]

Nog, Michael Eddington, Matt Decker.

[@podemosurss8316]

Damar: "Are we the Baddies?"

[@Emanon...]

Damar and Ro Laren. Too bad Ro was done dirty on Picard's final season.

[@alm2187]

Uh, and how about if we say Seven's promotion was just a joke? They establish right in the episode that the Enterprise G isn't really an Enterprise, therefore she should know already that she's not really a captain.

[@Lordoftheapes79]

Paris would have topped this list forever if Nick was Tom. I'm still sad they put that debate to rest.

[@Sephiroth144]

He now, Tom isn't his bastard half-brother...

[@Lordoftheapes79]

@@Sephiroth144 No. They wrapped it up with a bow the size of a planet. Before, it was an honest argument, but I'm not going to lie to myself just because I don't like the answer.

[@Sephiroth144]

@@Lordoftheapes79 Disagree; they laid out that they aren't the same person, not that they were unrelated- and given the undeniable resemblance and other similarities, you're telling me its inconceivable that Admiral Paris didn't knock up some impressionable young Mama Locarno...?

[@Lordoftheapes79]

@@Sephiroth144 no. I'm saying they took the fun out of the debate. It was never about Nick or Tom. It was about Robert Duncan McNeill playing two nearly identical characters in the same franchise and despite that nonsense, loving them both.

[@TheReally4rob]

OK, Discover head cannon here. Why did Georgieu 'wake up early' from the nerve pinch? Setting Burnham on her path ... my vote now, after the finale, is Daniels interfered, snuck in with a hypo. Lost opportunity.

[@mrbojangles8133]

Damar initially behaved exactly like a Cardie should

[@warwolf88]

the less said about michael burnham the better

[@tdrewman]

There was plans to bring Sito back to DS9. It would turn out that she was not dead, that she was held captive and the message about her being killed on the escape pod was a lie. She would be returned in a prisoner exchange and be posted to DS9, but whatever reason it did not pan out.

[@promontorium]

That could have worked. There was a lot of POW taking going on with the Cardassians DS9 freed many and saw others taken.

[@TheRadical42]

UGH! Great list but I'm getting commercial interruptions after each different section. Makes for very annoying watching. I don't really see the commercials, just a black screen with a spinning circle in it as if something is loading, then a still shot from the commercial that was just bypassed but even that is SO ANNOYING! WhatCulture - if you have any say in this please stomp down on the commercial breaks!

[@cheetarah9199]

I clearly don't watch enough Trekculture. Ellie not signing off with River Song sounds odd to me

[@robertlecomber481]

You should have signed off with "live long and prosper"

[@emilybemily4397]

Still hoping there's some redemption for Tom Riker.

[@douglasdea637]

The Klingons Kang and Kor. Kang, who loses his ship to an alien attack blames Kirk and the Federation and is ready to fight forever until he he convinced that it was indeed an alien who is manipulating events. Although it is not cannon it is revealed in one of the computer games that Kang later becomes a professor who reforms the Klingon Academy, modeling it after the Federation's academy after being impressed by what he saw of the human crew members. Kor, a bully who attempted to murder innocent civilians and start a war with the Federation goes on to a glorious career who's exploits are mandatory reading. Went on to become a Da'har (spelling?) master and a leader who met with the Dax symbiote. Died in battle with the Dominion.