10 Star Trek moments you never saw coming 

Star Trek is a 1966 sci-fi series that has been expanded into movies, books, and more. The series is about Starfleet, a space exploration and defense organization in the future whose goal is to explore the deep secrets of the universe. This legendary series presents a vision for the future and has become a crucial part of pop culture. Here is a list of 10 Star Trek moments you never saw coming.

1) Spock’s Sacrifice (The Wrath of Khan)

During the climax of Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan, we see a very emotional moment in the series. To save the USS Enterprise, Spock enters a radiation-filled engine room. Although he managed to help the enterprise to escape, the radiation took his life. In a very heartbreaking moment, we see Captain Kirk rushing toward Spock to save him, and Spock then says these words to him – "The needs of many outweigh the needs of the few… or the one.”

2) Picard Becoming Locutus (The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1)

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, we see an unexpected twist in the form of Captain Jean Picard being transformed into Locutus of Borg. Captain Picard is captured and taken to work ship, a cybernetic collective that assimilates him and turns him into a chilling figure. Then, using Captain Picard's knowledge, the Borg kills thousands of people in the Battle of Wolf. Although Picard is rescued, his trauma remains with him for life.

3) Kirk’s Death (Star Trek: Generations)

Captain Kirks' death shocked the fans. It was a shock because Captain Kirk is considered one of the biggest heroic figures in the series, and his abrupt death was highly unexpected. Captain Kirk died on a collapsing bridge, trying to save the control pad needed to stop Soran. His death was a homage to sacrifice and duty that comes naturally, when serving for the greater good. His last words were – “Oh my…” ambiguous like his death.

4) Vulcan Gets Destroyed (Star Trek (2009))

The planet – Vulcan was a symbol of security in the Star Trek franchise. It was one of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets, and its destruction was a sign that even the mightiest can be destroyed. The planet Vulcan is destroyed by the villain Nero, who uses red matter to create a black hole at the core of the planet, which then consumes Vulcan. Even though Spock tries his best to prevent it, the destruction of Vulcan is beyond everyone’s control.

5) Destruction of Enterprise-D (Star Trek: Generations)

The destruction of the ship – USS Enterprise – D was another unexpected and heartbreaking moment in Star Trek. After an attack from Klingon Bird-of-Prey commanded by the Duras sisters, the core of the ship is weakened, and eventually, the ship is destroyed. Enterprise – D was a home for the crew throughout the journey, and its unexpected and abrupt loss, especially because of a spy, felt like the end of an era to the audience.

6) Mirror Universe Twist (TOS: Mirror, Mirror)

Another unexpected twist in Star Trek Franchise came through the revelation of the mirror universe. Captain Kirk finds himself in an alternate reality where everything is a bit more brutal. Spock is an evil villain who kills people for breaking rules. During the time this episode was aired, the alternate universe trope was somewhat new, and thus this twist was considered groundbreaking amongst the audience. It was a peek into the theme of corruption and power, showing how if power is left unchecked, it could turn into something evil.

7) Sisko Joining the Prophets (DS9: What You Leave Behind)

During the final episode of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, we see Captain Benjamin Sisko joining the Prophets. Prophets are powerful beings that exist outside of linear time, and in the series finale, we see Sisko throwing himself into the flames, sacrificing his life to stop being the vessel for Pah-wraiths. But instead of dying, he ascends and joins the prophets, making it a shocking moment for the audience as there are very few characters whose journey ends by being a cosmic entity.

8) Relation Between Romulans and Vulcans (TOS: Balance of Terror)

Another very interesting and unexpected twist in Star Trek was the revelation behind the shared history between Romulans and Vulcans. It was revealed that Romulans are descendants of ancient Vulcans, who did not believe in Surak’s Philosophy and left Vulcan during the fourth century. They moved to Romulus and built an empire focused on military and conquest. Thus, Romulans, enemies of the Vulcans, turned out to be two sides of the same coin.

9) Riker’s Betrayal (TNG: The Pegasus)

During season seven, episode 12 of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled The Pegasus, we get acquainted with a shocking betrayal by none other than commander, William Riker. When a lost Starfleet vessel is discovered, it is revealed that it was secretly testing an illegal phase–a cloaking device, which would allow ships to pass through solid matter without being detected. This was a violation of the treaty of Algeron with the Romulans which could have brought danger. Riker shielded this secret and carried it with him for years as a burden from his past, challenging his integrity.

10) Archer’s Betrayal (ENT: Damage)

Another betrayal to shock the audience was by Captain Jonathan Archer. During the Xindi arc, the enterprise is left damaged with a limited supply of warp drive. When they encounter a harmless Illyrian Ship with a warp coil, Captain Archer orders his crew to steal it by force, leaving the poor Illyrians stranded. Although it shows the cost of war, which forces one to make unthinkable choices, it is a betrayal of Archer's personality as he has always been a moral leader who believes in ethics.