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Does anybody know how Worf (the Klingon) came to join Starfleet on The Next Generation Star Trek series? Also, how is it that he was raised by human parents? I think he's a great character but I don't understand his background.

I love watching The Next Generation episodes on DVD.

He was orphaned in the Romulan attack on Kitomer at age six. I don't recall any specific mention of why he was adopted by humans. But his human parents were hilarious. See the Next Gen episode entitled "Family."

I believe I have seen "Family." The parents have Russian accents and are a bit overbearing, although loving. I agree that they are funny! I also saw Worf's mother on the episode in which they brought Alexander to the Enterprise to stay with Worf. Gee, Worf didn't show much appreciation for his parents taking care of his son all that time.

My whole family thinks Alexander is adorably cute!

I think that the writers created that backstory for Worf in order to make it believable to have a Klingon in Starfleet. When they were planning out TNG it was important to show that Starfleet had progressed to the point where many alien races could be full participants, especially former enemies. But a traditionally raised Klingon simply couldn't subject himself to Starfleet discipline, where a human-raised orphan might.
I agree that Worf is a great character, and I love the sly humor that they slip into his gruff manner every now and then.
I recently finished the complete DS9, and am going through it a second time. I watch one episode an evening, while eating dinner. So I dine with the crew!

I do agree it's strange that a Klingon would ever be in Starfleet since some of his values are so different. Also, I don't understand how he is permitted to wear that sash with his uniform since Ensign Ro was forbidden to wear her fancy earring. But then later I noticed that Ensign Ro was wearing the earring so I guess they relented. I'm certain that I probably wouldn't like a person like Worf in person as a friend but he's great for the show and I imagine that he would be great to work with. I love his sense of honor.

I just saw an episode, I think it was called Chain of Command, in which another captain took over the Enterprise temporarily for a particular mission and he told Counselor Troi that she had to wear a regular uniform. I thought she looked so much better in the regular uniform than that unprofessional body suit; I wondered how she was allowed to wear it before.

My husband and I have been enjoying watching an episode most evenings from our DVDs during the winter when it's dark outside in the early evening. We are engineers so it's a good fit for us.

I do love The Next Generation and used to watch those religiously I know Troi grated on me INCREDIBLY at the beginning but they toned her down over time. I loved the ensemble feel. One of my favorite episodes was the one where Picard "became part" of a culture which had died off and lived his entire life with them. His only item he got to keep at the end was a flute. They have that actual flute in Vegas and I got to see it on a trip out there. I like those episodes where it is about an emotional journey vs a action-battle sequence

I agree that they really toned down Troi a lot as the series continued. I had always liked her and closely identified with her but she seemed to be so stereotypical of the Grecian goddess when the series started. As time went on, she seemed to grow with her role and became much more believable. I really like the character she has become; she seems to be the only one that doesn't have any "issues."

I just watched that episode in which Picard was implanted with a lifetime of memories in an extinct culture that he experienced within about a half hour. I thought it was one of the better episodes -- so touching that I got tears in my eyes. But although Picard was given some wonderful memories to enjoy and the culture was able to live on in this way, I was a bit bothered that he had had no choice in the matter. Nevertheless, I liked the episode and it would be cool to see that flute!

I also prefer episodes that contain a personal story alongside an action sequence.

Another episode I really liked was when a "second Riker" was found - a teleporter beam had gotten split. I thought that brought up a lot of interesting questions but then they sort of just let it go at the end. That could be one they explored for a while, the idea of both having souls, both being unique even though they began the same at that point in time etc. Troi's choices there were very interesting, falling back in love with the "old Riker".

The second Riker showed up later as a member of the Maquis, I think it was in a DS9 episode?
That is one of the things I love about the Star Trek universe, it has been around so long that it is wonderfully rich in history, politics and characters. Ethics, too.

I remember that episode about the "second Riker" but I don't remember what it was called. I thought it was pretty good -- rather poignant. I guess there sometimes isn't enough time in the episodes to fully explore the topic; that's why it's nice to have a forum like this one to talk about it! But I agree it's best when the concept is explored more fully in the show.

I remember another similar episode -- the one in which Worf found himself married to Deanna. I can't remember why though. Was this the one in which there was a temporal shift due to a problem with Geordi's visor? Anyway, I thought it was hilarious when Deanna tried to coax Worf into a massage in the bedroom.