One Star Trek: Picard season 3 co-star improved Michael Dorn’s performance as the returning Captain Worf, according to Jonathan Frakes.

Jonathan Frakes credits one of his Star Trek: Picard season 3 co-stars with improving Michael Dorn’s performance as Captain Worf. Michael Dorn returned to Star Trek with scene-stealing performances depicting Worf as a warrior-poet who found a balance between serenity and violence, and showed off bone-dry wit with memorable quips like “Swords are fun.” Gone was Worf’s struggle for purpose, as Worf subcontracted for Starfleet Intelligence and teamed up with fellow operative Commander Rafaela “Raffi” Musiker (Michelle Hurd).

During a Q&A session following the SAG Awards FYC Star Trek: Picard season 3 finale screening in Los Angeles, Jonathan Frakes took a moment to crack wise at Michael Dorn’s expense. In response to a question about joining the Star Trek family, Michelle Hurd expressed gratitude at being able to work with co-stars Patrick Stewart and Jeri Ryan in Picard‘s first 2 seasons, and Hurd named Michael Dorn a similar treat to share scenes with. Frakes interjected, “Kind of a let down,” with a wry smirk, before taking a more serious tone. Jonathan Frakes addressed Michelle Hurd directly with praise. Read Frakes’ quote and watch the video below:

You made Dorn better than he ever was. We’ve said that publicly, privately. His work was better, he was better on the set, he was better prepared, he played with more nuance. And it was because of you. So thank you.

Star Trek Picard Cast & Character Guide: All 3 Seasons

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Will Michael Dorn’s Worf and Michelle Hurd’s Raffi Musiker Meet Again?

These two honorable warriors need to reunite.

Michael Dorn’s Captain Worf and Michelle Hurd’s Commander Raffi Musiker made a great team in Star Trek: Picard season 3, but will they meet again? Worf and Raffi’s last scene together in Picard indicates that their friendship will continue, as Worf is glad to hear that Musiker is on better terms with her estranged family, and Raffi likewise wishes Worf well in his future endeavors with fighting for peace. Commander Musiker was last seen aboard the USS Enterprise-G as first officer to former romantic partner Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), in a setup for the potential Picard spinoff Star Trek: Legacy.

If Star Trek: Legacy does happen, it may be only a matter of time before Raffi sees Worf again. As the best chance to tell Star Trek stories set in the early 25th century, Legacy would likely focus on the adventures of the Enterprise-G and feature Raffi Musiker as one of its main characters. Worf’s connection to Starfleet Intelligence means Worf could easily return again with a mission for Musiker’s new crew, which would let Worf and Raffi reunite after their Star Trek: Picard team up. Perhaps Jonathan Frakes could even direct the episode that would see Michelle Hurd continue to make Michael Dorn even better yet.