The Worf Effect
Nerdology
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| The Worf Effect you say? |
Clearly, I have nothing
better to do than to write about ancient Star
Trek: The Next Generation references. You’re welcome, Nerddom circa 1990!
What is it?
The Worf Effect is the
name given for a plot device deployed by writers to demonstrate to an audience
the superior strength of an opponent. It’s a quick way to show how dangerous an
unknown threat or enemy is by having an established tough-guy character fall or
lose to them.
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| It's not easy being mean. |
Ever notice that the mortal hero of your favorite fandom starts
to appear immortal? Bullets never land. Poisons are cured miraculously, if at
the last minute. They get knocked out and tied to some nefarious device, but
manage to escape unscathed. Put simply, nothing seems to work. And audiences
start to get bored. But before the network pulls the act with a comical,
elongated hook, the writers introduce a villain that has the chops to take on
your hero and raise the stakes. The only barrier is your hero’s seemingly
infallible track record. They can’t topple it without outcry from fans
everywhere pointing out the hypocrisy. And that’s why they’ve been quietly
cultivating that hardened exterior, but lovable side character’s machismo.
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| I'm so badass I can pull this off! |
It became common during the run of Star Trek: The Next Generation to send Worf into combat situations
and have him summarily trounce enemies by the dozen. And he was good at it. But
it wasn’t just for funsies, they were establishing a pattern. A pattern of
badassery. And that pattern would become the standard by which all enemies on
the show were judged. So, when a new, hither-to unknown threat was introduced
and he/she quickly disperses with Worf, we go, “Whoa! That dude’s tough!” And
achievement unlocked.
Did These Shenanigans Die
with TNG?
Au contrare mon frere. It’s ubiquitous. Lots of shows still use
this tried-and-true TV trope. For instance, in the show Chuck (NBC), it was John Casey who became the foil against whose
mettle enemies were tested. In Revolution
(NBC), it’s Miles Matheson’s swordplay and military prowess. In Supernatural (CW), it’s the angel
Castiel. If you can knock him out of the equation, it not only makes you look
badass, but it also puts a wrench in the Winchester’s “get-out-of-jail free
card”. And the list goes on.
In Conclusion...
So, the next time you’re watching your favorite show and the nerd
next to you gripes that their favorite side-hero seems to be kicking a lot of
bad guy bootay, just chuckle and say, “Totally. Here comes the Worf Effect.”
And watch your nerd cred rise, as they beg you to explain yourself.
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