Star Trek: Deep Space Nine changed for the better in its fourth season, when Michael Dorn walked into Ops as Lieutenant Commander Worf. Appearing in a record number of Star Trek episodes, from Star Trek: The Next Generation, to Deep Space Nine, to Star Trek: Picard, Worf's status as the first Klingon in Starfleet has made him a staple of the franchise. On TNG, Worf transformed himself from an intimidating loner to a father and a regular member of Commander William T. Riker's poker games. On DS9, Worf's growth only accelerated.