cleon from star trek

The Klingons ( tlhIngan in Klingonese ) were a humanoid warrior species that originated from the planet Qo'noS (pronounced Kronos ), an M-class planet in the Beta Quadrant . One of the major powers of the galaxy , the Klingons were a proud, tradition-bound people who valued honor and combat. The aggressive Klingon culture had made them an interstellar military power to be respected and feared.

1.1 Parallel universes
3.1 Origins
3.2.1 Anatomy
3.2.2 Augment virus
3.2.3 Hybridization
3.2.4 Physiology
4 Religion and tradition
5 Science and education
6.1 See also
8 Klingon space
9 Food and beverages
10.1 Appearances
10.2 Background information
10.3 Apocrypha
10.4 External links

History and politics [ ]

A clone of Emperor Kahless

Recorded history begins with the story of the creation of Kortar and his mate , who were recognized as the first Klingons. Together they were responsible for destroying the gods who created them. ( VOY : " Barge of the Dead ")

Kahless the Unforgettable founded the Klingon Empire some time in the 9th century through the performance of many heroic feats. He unified the Klingon people when he killed the tyrant Molor . Kahless came to be revered in Klingon society to the point of near-deification, and many aspects of Klingon culture came to revolve around an emulation of Kahless' life. ( TNG : " Rightful Heir ")

The warrior ethos had been an important aspect of Klingon society since the time of Kahless, but the warrior aspects became much more dominant beginning in the early 22nd century . Over time, the warrior caste gained greater prominence to the point where the Klingons widely came to be regarded as a "warrior race." ( ENT : " Broken Bow ", " Judgment ")

A Klingon's cranial ridges dissolving

The Klingons' relationship with Humans and the Federation was rocky at best. Following the disastrous first contact between the two species during in the Broken Bow Incident , tense rivalries and unavoidable conflicts often developed between the two races. ( ENT : " Broken Bow "; TNG : " First Contact ") In the year 2154 , the Klingons gained access to the genetic material of Human Augments and tried to adapt this genetic engineering to improve themselves. The test subjects did gain increased strength and intelligence, but then, their neural pathways started to degrade and they died in agony. One of the subjects suffered from the Levodian flu , which was modified by the Augment DNA to become a fatal, airborne, mutagenic plague that spread rampantly through the Empire, from world to world. In the first stage of this plague , Klingons lost the ridges on their foreheads and began to look more Human. With the help of a Klingon scientist named Antaak , Dr. Phlox of the Earth starship Enterprise was able, using the DNA of Captain Archer , to formulate a cure that halted the genetic effects of the virus in the first stage. This retained the changes in appearance, along with some minor neural re-ordering. The neural ordering caused changes in the emotional make-up of the Klingons. For example, the infected started to feel fear. Even though the infected did not develop any stage-two characteristics – such as enhanced strength, speed, or endurance – they did not die from it. This left millions of Klingons changed. These alterations were even passed on to their children. ( ENT : " Affliction ", " Divergence ")

In the 2250s and 2260s , groups of Klingons with and without ridges had been encountered by the Federation. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello "; TOS : " Errand of Mercy ") By the 2270s it had become more commonplace to encounter Klingons with forehead ridges than not. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture , et al.) Klingons did not discuss the circumstances of this mutation with outsiders and, by the 24th century , the reason for smooth-forehead Klingons was not widely known outside the Empire. ( ENT : " Affliction ", " Divergence "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ")

By 2223 , relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire degenerated to a point of relentless hostility, which lasted for several decades. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ; TNG : " First Contact ")

T'Kuvma , a Klingon leader in 2256

The lingering tensions between Klingons and Humans continued to rise, eventually leading to the Battle of Donatu V , near Sherman's Planet in 2245 and the Battle of the Binary Stars in 2256 , which was provoked by T'Kuvma in order to unite the squabbling Great Houses against the Federation. ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles "; DIS : " Battle at the Binary Stars ") This resulted in the first Federation-Klingon War , where the Klingon Empire successfully invaded and occupied nearly twenty percent of Federation space. ( DIS : " The War Without, The War Within ")

Later, another conflict erupted into the Federation-Klingon War of 2267 . The Organians quickly intervened and ended the war after only four days of fighting. ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ", " Errand of Mercy ") Over the next several decades an uneasy peace developed, broken only by brief but fierce skirmishes and conflicts. ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ) A true and lasting peace finally came in 2293 , with the signing of the Khitomer Accords , thanks to the efforts of Chancellor Gorkon and the Human Starfleet officer James T. Kirk . ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ; TNG : " Unification II "; VOY : " Flashback "; DS9 : " You Are Cordially Invited ") Since then, despite several periods of rocky relations (see Federation-Klingon War (2372-73) ), the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been steadfast allies, especially in the face of Dominion aggression in the 2370s . ( DS9 : " The Way of the Warrior ", " By Inferno's Light ")

Qo'noS on fire during the Civil War

The Klingon relationship with the Romulan people was extremely erratic. The Klingons typically regarded the Romulan Star Empire as a "blood enemy" since at least the 23rd century . Sporadic Romulan attacks against Klingon colonies , such as the Khitomer Massacre , and interference in Klingon affairs, including the Klingon Civil War , continued to sour relations between the two peoples. ( TOS : " The Enterprise Incident "; TNG : " The Neutral Zone ", " The Enemy ", " Sins of The Father ", " Redemption II ")

Parallel universes [ ]

In the mirror universe , the Klingons were one of the races subjugated by the Terran Empire . ( DIS : " Vaulting Ambition ") By the 24th century Klingons and Cardassians founded the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance and eventually defeated their Terran occupiers. ( DS9 : " Crossover ")

In the alternate reality , in 2233 , the crew of the USS Kelvin briefly considered whether a particular lightning storm effect, observed by the Kelvin near the edge of Klingon space, might be Klingon in origin. Starfleet discarded this possibility. The phenomenon preceded the arrival of the Romulan mining vessel Narada from the prime universe . The Narada attacked and obliterated an armada of 47 Klingon warbirds in 2258 . ( Star Trek )

Klingon patrol officers

By 2259 in the alternate reality, after Starfleet's first contact with the Empire, the Klingons had conquered and occupied two planets known to the Federation and fired on Starfleet ships half a dozen times. Tensions between the two powers were high and an all-out war was considered inevitable. During that year, before surrendering to the Federation, Khan Noonien Singh destroyed three D4-class patrol ships on the Klingon homeworld, killing the crews of the vessels. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

According to Daniels , the Klingons joined the Federation by the 26th century in one possible timeline. ( ENT : " Azati Prime ")

Society [ ]

Klingon society was extremely complex. Before its decline in the mid-22nd century and again in the late 23rd century, Klingon society was based on a feudal system organized around traditional Great Houses of noble lineage, to which various parts of the population owed fealty. The Great Houses are traditionally represented in the Klingon High Council , which was led by a Chancellor , replacing the heredity leader of Emperor .

The decline of Klingon culture was demonstrated in the acts of the Klingons themselves. They stopped caring about their weapons to the point that they let them rust and even stopped caring for true honor. ( ENT : " Marauders ", " Judgment ") Sometime after the augment virus took hold of the Klingon Empire , a new regime took control, turning the Empire into an authoritarian state that kept tabs on all who served. ( DIS : " Battle at the Binary Stars "; TOS : " Errand of Mercy ") The old ways returned in the latter 23rd and early 24th centuries respectively.

Males traditionally dominated public life in the Empire, assuming the leading roles in politics and the military with only rare exceptions. ( TNG : " Redemption ") There were three notable exceptions to the prohibition of women serving on the High Council. In 2257 L'Rell rose to High Chancellor and Dennas served on the High Council. The third instance occurred in 2293 when Azetbur became Chancellor of the High Council after her father, Gorkon, was assassinated ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ). Women traditionally dominated the household and the management of the family's affairs. ( DS9 : " You Are Cordially Invited ") Klingon women were treated as equals, except in politics and matters of inheritance. Law prohibited them from serving in the High Council and they could not take control of their Houses unless they had the money and no male successors of the lineage. Otherwise, Klingon women were expected to exhibit the same physical prowess and lust for blood and honor as the men.

Klingon society functioned through a system of family reputation and honor. Tradition was an integral part of their lives and breaking from observances was considered a grievous insult to society, an insult not forgotten easily. An offense usually brought shame to the offender's name for several generations. The highest shame was discommendation , an action by the High Council to officially strip a Klingon of his personal or family honor. Bloodlines and relations were also taken very seriously by any "true" Klingon. Lines comprised more than mere family members. ( TNG : " New Ground ")

The military was integral to Klingon society, as it provides opportunities for warriors to die in battle. For the same purpose, the Empire often seeks to expand through conquest. Discipline was strictly enforced, by one's superiors and subordinates both; the latter may assassinate his superior and take his place. This gives Humans the false impression that there are no rules, but in fact, this can be done only under certain conditions, dereliction of duty and cowardice among them, and the challenge can be made only to a direct superior. ( TNG : " A Matter Of Honor ", " Sins of The Father ")

An integral part of tradition was the various rituals that marked milestones in a Klingon's life or the history of the Empire. Most notable of the rites was the Rite of Succession , which a future leader of the Empire had to complete with a valid Arbiter of Succession ( Captain Jean-Luc Picard , in the case of Gowron ) overseeing the proceedings. Before the Rite could begin, there was another elaborate ceremony needed to confirm the death of the previous leader. This was known as the Sonchi ceremony . ( TNG : " Reunion ") Individual Klingon warriors were expected to go through the Rite of Ascension to be recognized as a full adult. ( TNG : " The Icarus Factor ") If the house that an individual Klingon belonged to was dissolved or fell into dishonor, he could be adopted into another house through the R'uustai or alternative ceremonies that symbolically marked the joining of kinship and allegiance. ( TNG : " The Bonding "; DS9 : " Sons of Mogh ", " Soldiers of the Empire ", " Sons and Daughters "). The Right of Vengeance , allowed Klingons to seek redress for the deaths of their family members by engaging the one responsible in single combat. The right was so important, that even the discommended could claim it against important political figures, as the discommended Worf was able to challenge Duras (a candidate for the title of Chancellor. ( TNG : " Reunion ")

Klingons were extremely territorial. According to the first known Klingon linguist, there was no such thing as an "insignificant corner of Klingon space". ( ENT : " Bounty ")

Evolution [ ]

Origins [ ].

Worf's transformation into a de-evolved Klingon

Like their Human, Cardassian , Vulcan , and Romulan counterparts, Klingons and many of the Milky Way's species all shared a common ancestry back to the ancient humanoids and the DNA code they produced and seeded across the galaxy. Though each evolved under separate conditions from each other, their shared DNA allowed these species to remain roughly compatible and viable with each other. ( TNG : " The Chase ", " Genesis "; VOY : " Distant Origin ", " Threshold ")

Possessing extreme strength and speed, early Klingons were quite large, weighing up to 200 kilograms . They were armored with an exoskeleton , with spines and bony plates protruding from their sides, upper arms, and back, arms ended with clawed pincers. On their face were venom sacs , filled with bio-acidic compound and spitting glands inside their mouth that were used for defense and to mark territory. Along with these sacs, these early Klingons had two mandibles protruded from their lower jaw. ( TNG : " Genesis ")

These prehistoric males used vocalizations to frighten other predators , mark its territory, and commence its mating process. These early Klingons mating rituals involving biting its intended mate, to induce pheromone production in the sebaceous glands . Once the mate was ready, the pheromones drew the male Klingon back to its location. ( TNG : " Genesis ")

The Modern Warrior [ ]

Modern Klingons developed a varied line of physical attributes, ranging from well pronounced cranial ridges to what was best described with the dysphemism "pointy-headed", as coined by Harry Mudd .

Anatomy [ ]

Like most humanoids, the essence of the Klingon anatomical form consisted of a head , neck , torso , and four limbs .

Internally, the Klingon anatomy was markedly different from that of other humanoids. There was a great deal more multiple redundancies in their organs, a principle they called brak'lul . This allowed Klingons to survive severe injuries in battle. They had twenty-three ribs , two livers , an eight-chambered heart , three lungs , two urinary tracts , and even redundant neural function as well as multiple stomachs . Some geneticists believed that the extra organs, notably the third lung, evolved to give Klingons greater stamina on the battlefield. Klingons had relatively little knowledge of their own biology and their medicine was very poorly developed. This was largely due to their warrior traditions – a Klingon who was wounded was expected to be left to either survive through his own strength, die, or undergo the hegh'bat , a form of ritual suicide. ( TNG : " Ethics "; VOY : " Lineage "; DIS : " Will You Take My Hand? ") Conversely, their society having dueled and killed each other for generations taught them what is immediately lethal for their species. ( TNG : " Reunion "; DS9 : " Tacking Into the Wind ")

The most distinctive feature of the modern Klingon was a sagittal crest, beginning on the forehead and often continuing over the skull. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture , et al.) Klingons head shape differed between individuals, with some having skulls that extended backwards into an elongated cone shape. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", " Choose Your Pain ", " Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad ") The cranium, itself, was encased in an exoskeleton, which possessed a feature known as the tricipital lobe . ( TNG : " Descent ")

The lower half of the face tended to follow a familiar humanoid appearance, and even the ridges on the back of their heads if any tend to be less pronounced and slight, leaving the general shape as Human skull and covered in more skin than bone (see Chang for example), it was in these regions where hair was most likely seen to grow. Eyebrows tend to grow in a more diagonal direction than other humanoids, but also had noticeably diagonal suborbital ridges where eyebrows otherwise existed.

Klingon features ranging from cranial ridges...

Klingons ears included both external auricle and pinna and recessed pinna. External auricle structures tended to be rounded, and the recessed pinna tended to come to a point before forming into the back of the head, Klingons of the alternate reality had pointed auricles of a similar size and shape to the recessed pinna, with slight ridges along the top. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Klingon eye

Klingon eyes were generally round in size and shape (consisting of varying shades with white sclera). They may flash more white of their eyes which they use to intimidate a rival or enemy. ( TNG : " Reunion "; DS9 : " Tacking Into the Wind ") Other Klingon eyes had large corneas, pink sclera, and almost gem-like reflective quality to them. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", et al.) Klingons, especially females, were said to lack tear ducts . ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ) However, for males Klingon myth stated that Kahless once filled the ocean with his tears, and at least one Klingon, Kurn , produced tears. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part II "; DS9 : " Sons of Mogh ")

They also had more physically pronounced cheeks, and a vertical ridge that went down their chin into their neck which expanded into ridges on their upper chest and shoulders and between the breasts of at least the females. The neck structure varied from smooth flesh to flesh containing pits and bony structures that led up the side of their head, and down the back of their head and spine.

Klingon nose

Klingon noses tended to vary having between several slight horizontal ridges on the brow of their noses, or a single vertical ridge or crack from the top of the brow to the tip of the nose to being wider and flatter, nearly flush against the forehead. They also had heavier ridges over their nostrils, compared to the two minimally ridged or un-ridged nostrils. The nose tended to lay flatter on the face than in other Klingons as well and wider. ( TNG : " Heart of Glory "; DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ")

Klingon teeth typically consisted of two sharp fangs (incisors) with crooked or sharpened teeth (it was said they sharpen their teeth, often before going into battle). ( VOY : " Unimatrix Zero "; ENT : " Broken Bow "; DS9 : " Apocalypse Rising ") However, not exclusive, others had pronounced thick lips with sharp teeth, with each tooth being considerably larger size. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", et al.)

Klingons of both sexes usually had hair on their heads while male Klingons often had facial hair as well. ( TOS : " Day of the Dove "; TNG : " Redemption ") Hair was usually long, curly and wavy, described as thick and luxuriant. ( TNG : " Schisms ") Accelerated hair growth was often experienced by Klingons during puberty, or jak'tahla , along with severe mood swings and unusual aggressive tendencies. ( Star Trek: Insurrection ) Klingon hair greyed with age. ( DS9 : " You Are Cordially Invited ") Other Klingons were completely bald , lacking facial hair. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", et al.) For Klingons with hair, cases of receding hairlines or full or partial baldness existed during 2160s , and later in the 2260s through 2290s ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture ; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ; Star Trek Into Darkness ; ENT : " Divergence "; TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ", " Day of the Dove "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ") Klingons as young as those who had reached the Age of Ascension , typically did not wear beards. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part II "; DS9 : " Sons and Daughters ", " You Are Cordially Invited ", " Penumbra ") Klingons of the alternate reality vary from balding and no facial hair, to those with long hair and beards. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Some Klingons also had sharp thick talons on their hands that make up the end of their digits.

The chest of the Klingon males appeared to be largely smooth and slick, while the females had a large chest area with ridges that came down to the top of their breasts across their shoulders. The backs of these Klingons were highly covered with ridges from shoulder to shoulder and across the small of their back radiating from highly defined and thickly ridged spines. The sides of the abdomen of at least the females appeared to be highly defined with rib-like ridges as well. The buttocks region was even heavily ridged. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", " Battle at the Binary Stars ", " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum ", " Into the Forest I Go ")

Klingons had ridged spines, chests and feet (though these ridges and other armor like structures extend out covering almost the entire back, sides and abdominal region on the 'pointy-headed' Klingons). ( TNG : " Ethics "; DS9 : " Sons of Mogh "; ENT : " Broken Bow ") After birth, some Klingon infants experienced a pronounced curvature to the spine, a form of scoliosis, which was correctable by surgery. This "defect" tended to run in Klingon families, especially among females. Federation medicine, fortunately, advanced beyond that, allowing an additional choice of treatment involving genetic modification of the fetus. ( VOY : " Lineage ")

Augment virus [ ]

The anatomy of a Klingon male afflicted with the Augment virus

Klingons afflicted with the augment virus , propagated by a mutation of the Levodian flu was inadvertently created by Klingon researchers who were attempting to bio-engineer enhanced warriors using DNA from genetically-modified Human embryos left over from Earth 's Eugenics Wars . These Klingons lost their cranial ridge features, and were in essence, remarkably similar in appearance to modern Humans. ( ENT : " Affliction ", et al.)

Though the cure for the virus had been distributed throughout the Empire, the afflicted Klingons' DNA had been altered by the virus, and condition was passed onto the descendants of the infected. Initially there were millions of Klingons who had to live with the disfigurement for well over a century. ( ENT : " Divergence "; TOS : " Errand of Mercy ", et al.)

Though Human in appearance and distinguishable primarily by tricorder readings alone, Tribbles were still able to single out and identify these Klingons. ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ")

Hybridization [ ]

Klingon pregnancies normally ran thirty weeks, but with mixed species, gestation times were shorter. As early as seven weeks (at which point a Human fetus doesn't even have legs) a fetus with a single Klingon grandparent was already able to kick the uterine wall hard enough to be felt externally. ( VOY : " Lineage ") Klingons were said to have a different, not fully compatible number of reproductive organs than Humans. ( DIS : " Choose Your Pain ") However, basic anatomy does actually appear to align between Humans and Klingons. ( DIS : " Into the Forest I Go ") Whenever Klingons interbred with other species they showed characteristics of both species.

The odds against Klingon-Human conceptions were rather high. However, when successful, Klingon and Human metabolisms sometimes clashed, causing biochemical fluctuations in the mother, which may lead to fainting. Klingon traits remained dominant for several generations, even with a single ancestor; therefore, a child even ¼ Klingon still possessed forehead ridges. It is possible to see the eventual phenotype of a hybrid while the fetus is still gestating using a holographic program and projection. If early enough in development, genetic manipulation can be taken to remove Klingon DNA from the developing fetus. ( VOY : " Lineage ")

Hybridization revealed that Klingon DNA tended to be more dominantly expressive in the physical appearance of their offspring .

Ba'el: 50% Klingon (mother) 50% Romulan (father)

This was found to be especially true in the case of hair color and appearance of cranial ridges, especially with Humans. ( VOY : " Lineage "; TNG : " Reunion ", et al.) In the case of Romulan -Klingon hybridization, the ears were the only visible telltale indication of their non-Klingon heritage. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part II ")

An extrapolation of Miral Paris with Klingon DNA...

Physiology [ ]

Skin colors ranged from olive, brown, and black to pearlescent/metallic across the entire spectrum of the rainbow, varying from purple, pink, burgundy red, yellowish tan, dark orange, umber brown, grey, blue, dark green, coal black, and chalky white. Their skin had a shimmery slick metallic semi-reflective sheen to it. Albino Klingons were often considered outcasts in Klingon society. ( DIS : " Battle at the Binary Stars ")

Klingon children matured far more quickly than Human children. At the age of only one Earth year, a Klingon child had the appearance a Human child had at about four. By the age of eight Earth years, a Klingon attained the maturity a Human did not reach until about age sixteen. ( TNG : " Reunion "; DS9 : " Sons and Daughters ") Rop'ngor was a common childhood disease among Klingons. ( TNG : " Up The Long Ladder ") When Klingon children began growing into adults, they went through jak'tahla , a Klingon form of puberty. ( Star Trek: Insurrection ) Like other mammalian species, Klingon females were capable of lactating to breast-feed infants. ( TNG : " A Matter Of Honor ")

Klingons tended to live for over 150 years. Even into advanced old age, Klingons were usually still strong enough for combat, but were still susceptible to various mental conditions associated with old age. ( DS9 : " Blood Oath ", " Once More Unto the Breach ")

Klingons were notably stronger than most humanoids, at least as strong as Vulcans. They might have even been stronger, as the half-Klingon B'Elanna Torres was able to wrestle with the Vulcan Vorik on equal grounds and eventually defeat him, despite the fact that he was larger than her. However, despite their endurance and general robustness, Klingons had a considerably lower tolerance to the cold than Humans. ( VOY : " Blood Fever ", " Displaced "; DS9 : " Change of Heart ", " Take Me Out to the Holosuite ")

The Klingon sense of smell was notably acute; in fact, it was powerful enough to be used effectively to track down prey during a hunt. Their sense of smell was also suggested to play an integral role in their mating practices. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part II ", " Genesis ")

Doctor Julian Bashir once sarcastically noted that the natural odor produced by Klingons was comparable to an "earthy, peaty aroma with a touch of lilac ." ( DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ") To Humans and Vulcans alike, Klingon ships smelled bad. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; ENT : " Sleeping Dogs ") For example, Leonard McCoy once referred to the environment of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, operated until recently by Klingons, as having a "stench." ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

Klingons such as Kurn had the instinctive ability to sense the decision to kill by looking into the eyes of their opponents. ( DS9 : " Sons of Mogh ") Worf despite being raised by Humans on Earth, retained this ability when he sensed Martok's warrior spirit returning enough to win their duel without killing Worf. ( DS9 : " Soldiers of the Empire ")

Klingon blood floating in zero gravity

Klingon blood could contain ribosomes that were compatible for transfusion with a Romulan. ( TNG : " The Enemy ") Klingon blood varied in color from dark red to more of a lightish pink. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , DIS : " Point of Light ")

Klingon nutritional requirements were typical of most humanoids, whereas, Dr. Pulaski once noted that, while their food was considered by most to be unpalatable, usually, "what kills us, kills them." ( TNG : " A Matter Of Honor ") One exception of this observation was the tea used in the Klingon tea ceremony , which was toxic to the point of being deadly to Humans, and capable of seriously sickening Klingons, as it did. ( TNG : " Up The Long Ladder ")

Religion and tradition [ ]

Klingon death ritual

Ritual was a very important element in Klingon society.

Klingons did not believe in fate; however, they did appear to believe in some form of luck . ( DS9 : " Rules of Engagement ", " Tears of the Prophets ")

A Klingon who was unable to fight, and hence unable to live as a warrior anymore, had the traditional obligation of committing the hegh'bat , which was the Klingon ritual suicide. Tradition dictated that the eldest son or a close personal friend must assist. That person's role was to hand the dying Klingon a knife so that he could plunge it into his heart, remove it, and then wipe the blood on his own sleeve. ( TNG : " Ethics ")

Klingon rituals included the R'uustai , a bonding ceremony which joined two people together in a relationship similar to brotherhood. ( TNG : " The Bonding ") Klingon tradition held that "the son of a Klingon is a man the day he can first hold a blade." ( TNG : " Ethics ")

If a Klingon warrior struck another Klingon with the back of his hand, it was interpreted as a challenge to the death. Klingon warriors spoke proudly to each other; they did not whisper or keep their distance. Standing far away or whispering were considered insults in Klingon society. ( DS9 : " Apocalypse Rising ")

According to Worf, taking hostages was considered by Klingons to be a cowardly act. Although, there was an incident in which a Klingon aimed his disruptor at the Enterprise-D's warp core, thus taking the ship hostage, in effect. ( TNG : " Heart of Glory ")

When choosing a mate, it was traditional for a female Klingon to bite the male's face, allowing her to taste his blood and get his scent. Males were also known to bite the face of the female they were interested in. ( VOY : " Blood Fever ", " Prophecy ", " Infinite Regress ")

A Klingon can divorce their mate by backhanding them across the face and saying “N’Gos tlhogh cha” which means “our marriage is done”. (Star Trek Adventures: “the Klingon Empire Core Rule Book)

Worf once told Wesley Crusher that, per Klingon mating rituals , " Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects. And claw at you. " Of men, Worf said, " He reads love poetry. He ducks a lot. " ( TNG : " The Dauphin ") Klingon daughters traditionally were given a piece of jewelry called a jinaq when they became old enough to select a mate. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part II ")

Long hair was important part of the ancient traditions of Klingons as told in the legend of Kahless ; it was said he took a lock of his long hair thrusting into the caldera of the volcano of Kri'stak, where it began to burn, and then after plunging it into the lake of Lusor, he molded and twisted into his legendary Sword of Kahless , which he used to kill the tyrant Molor, and then gave it the name Bat'leth, the sword of honor. ( TNG : " Rightful Heir ") To grow a beard was an ancient tradition, to Klingons in the 24th century especially it was a symbol of courage, which they were against shaving (though they were okay with a trim). Klingons did not like having too much hair removed either, letting it continue to grow, and only a little bit of trimming. ( TNG : " The Quality of Life ", " Schisms ", " Family ").

Science and education [ ]

As of the 2150s , the warrior caste had a dominant role in Klingon society, causing science and education to be neglected virtues. Nevertheless, Kolos ' father was a teacher and his mother a biologist at a university . Antaak , on the other hand, was disowned by his father when he chose to become a " healer ", i.e., a doctor. In 2149 , he was an expert in metagenic research and attended an Interspecies Medical Exchange conference, albeit in disguise, as the Klingons were not invited. By 2151 , Klingons possessed technology to encrypt intelligence data within an operative 's DNA . ( ENT : " Broken Bow ", " Judgment ", " Affliction ")

As of 2154 , medical research was not considered "a priority" for the Klingon High Council, which was why the Empire did not possess the medical expertise to confront the Augment virus without assistance . ( ENT : " Affliction ")

By the late 23rd century , the Klingon Empire sent out expeditions, one of which made first contact with the Ventaxians in 2297 . Hired Klingon craftsmen went on to construct homes on Ventax II . ( TNG : " Devil's Due ")

As of 2365 and onward, Klingon vessels had dedicated science stations . ( TNG : " A Matter Of Honor "; DS9 : " Soldiers of the Empire ")

In 2369 , Kurak was a warp field specialist from Qo'noS. While she was a brilliant expert in the field of subspace morphology , her efforts went unappreciated by her fellow Klingons. ( TNG : " Suspicions ")

Although the concept of a healer tending a warrior's wounds after a glorious battle was considered sufficiently honorable to be mentioned in songs (e.g., Dr. Bashir and Worf at Internment Camp 371 ), Klingon medical expertise kept having a bad reputation in the 24th century . In 2367 , Lt. Cmdr. Hobson of the USS Sutherland remarked that no one would ever suggest a Klingon to be a good ship's counselor , as he considered them unsuited for such a position. In 2374 , Klingon General Martok preferred to be treated by the Human Dr. Bashir, opining that "Klingons make great warriors, but terrible doctors." In 2376 , when Lewis Zimmerman was faced being treated by an "obsolete" EMH Mark I , he claimed he would be "better off being treated by a Klingon field medic ". In one particularly extreme case, the crew of Kohlar's battle cruiser , a Klingon generational ship, lived with the Nehret , a fatal virus, for over a century, without ever even considering it might be an actual illness, instead believing it was simply " old age " that kills those unlucky enough to not die in combat. ( TNG : " Redemption II "; DS9 : " By Inferno's Light ", " A Time to Stand "; VOY : " Life Line ", " Prophecy ")

In the year 2404 of an alternate timeline that diverged in 2378 , Klingon scientist Korath created the chrono deflector , a time travel device. ( VOY : " Endgame ")

Technology [ ]

According to Quark , Klingons achieved warp drive sometime after 1947 . By the year 2152 , Klingon vessels were capable of warp 6 . ( DS9 : " Little Green Men "; ENT : " Judgment ")

As of the early 2150s , Klingon vessels were comparatively advanced. In contrast to their Earth Starfleet counterparts, Klingon ships were equipped with photon torpedos , deflector shields , tractor beam emitters , and had thicker hulls reinforced with a coherent molecular alloy . However, as of 2151 , Klingons had no knowledge of holodeck technology. ( ENT : " Unexpected ", " Sleeping Dogs ", " Judgment ", " The Augments ")

By 2256 , cloaking screens began to be used on Klingon vessels, such as the Sarcophagus , but Starfleet was quickly able to penetrate them. As of 2268 , the Klingon D7 class battlecruiser design was used by the Romulans. In 2269 , Starfleet assumed at least Cmdr. Kor's IKS Klothos to possess effective cloaking capability against their sensors, a technology thought to be uniquely Romulan the previous year. Kor would later reminisce that, when his ship was equipped with a cloak, it was still a new piece of technology for the Klingons, understood only by a handful of engineers in the Imperial Fleet. By 2285 , at least one more Klingon ship was definitely using a cloaking device. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello "; TOS : " The Enterprise Incident "; TAS : " The Time Trap "; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; DS9 : " Once More Unto the Breach ")

As of 2367 , Klingon transporter systems had a range of 20,000 kellicams , which was a common Klingon unit of length measurement as early as 2285 . (e.g., Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; TNG : " Redemption ")

Klingon space [ ]

See : Klingon space

Food and beverages [ ]

See : Klingon foods and beverages

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

A list of all appearances of Klingons (excluding the regular appearances of Worf and B'Elanna Torres).

" Errand of Mercy " ( Season 1 )
" Friday's Child " ( Season 2 )
" The Trouble with Tribbles "
" A Private Little War "
" Elaan of Troyius " ( Season 3 )
" Day of the Dove "
" The Savage Curtain " ( Excalbian recreation only)
" More Tribbles, More Troubles " ( Season 1 )
" The Time Trap "
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek Generations
Star Trek: First Contact ( Borg drones )
Star Trek Into Darkness
" Hide And Q " ( illusion only) ( Season 1 )
" Heart of Glory "
" A Matter Of Honor " ( Season 2 )
" The Icarus Factor " ( holograms only)
" The Emissary "
" Shades of Gray " (archive footage only)
" The Offspring " (hologram only) ( Season 3 )
" Sins of The Father "
" Ménage à Troi "
" Reunion " ( Season 4 )
" Future Imperfect " (hologram only)
" The Drumhead "
" The Mind's Eye "
" Redemption "
" Redemption II " ( Season 5 )
" Unification II "
" Unification I "
" New Ground "
" Cost Of Living "
" Imaginary Friend "
" Rascals " ( Season 6 )
" A Fistful of Datas "
" Birthright, Part I "
" Birthright, Part II "
" The Chase "
" Suspicions "
" Rightful Heir "
" Gambit, Part II " ( Season 7 )
" Firstborn "
" Preemptive Strike "
" Past Prologue " ( Season 1 )
" Dramatis Personae "
" Invasive Procedures " ( Season 2 )
" Playing God "
" Blood Oath "
" The Maquis, Part II "
" Crossover "
" The House of Quark " ( Season 3 )
" Visionary "
" Through the Looking Glass "
" The Way of the Warrior " ( Season 4 )
" The Sword of Kahless "
" Return to Grace "
" Sons of Mogh "
" Rules of Engagement "
" Shattered Mirror "
" Broken Link "
" Apocalypse Rising " ( Season 5 )
" Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places "
" Nor the Battle to the Strong "
" Trials and Tribble-ations "
" In Purgatory's Shadow "
" By Inferno's Light "
" Soldiers of the Empire "
" Children of Time "
" Blaze of Glory "
" Call to Arms "
" A Time to Stand " ( Season 6 )
" Sons and Daughters "
" Favor the Bold "
" Sacrifice of Angels "
" You Are Cordially Invited "
" In the Pale Moonlight "
" His Way "
" The Reckoning "
" Tears of the Prophets "
" Image in the Sand " ( Season 7 )
" Shadows and Symbols "
" Treachery, Faith and the Great River "
" Once More Unto the Breach "
" The Emperor's New Cloak "
" Chimera "
" Strange Bedfellows "
" The Changing Face of Evil "
" When It Rains... "
" Tacking Into the Wind "
" The Dogs of War "
" What You Leave Behind "
" Flashback " ( Season 3 )
" Real Life " (hologram only)
" Day of Honor " (hologram only) ( Season 4 )
" The Killing Game " (hologram only)
" The Killing Game, Part II " (hologram only)
" Infinite Regress " ( Borg drone) ( Season 5 )
" Someone to Watch Over Me " ( photo only)
" Barge of the Dead " ( dream only) ( Season 6 )
" Unimatrix Zero " (Borg drone)
" Unimatrix Zero, Part II " (Borg drone) ( Season 7 )
" Flesh and Blood " (hologram only)
" Lineage "
" Prophecy "
" Endgame "
" Broken Bow " ( Season 1 )
" Unexpected "
" Sleeping Dogs "
" Marauders " ( Season 2 )
" Judgment "
" The Expanse "
" Borderland " ( Season 4 )
" The Augments "
" Affliction "
" Divergence "
" The Vulcan Hello " ( Season 1 )
" Battle at the Binary Stars "
" Context Is for Kings "
" The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry "
" Choose Your Pain "
" Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad " (as Ash Tyler)
" Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum "
" Into the Forest I Go "
" Despite Yourself "
" The Wolf Inside "
" Vaulting Ambition "
" The War Without, The War Within "
" Will You Take My Hand? "
" Point of Light " ( Season 2 )
" Perpetual Infinity "
" Through the Valley of Shadows "
" Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 "
ST : " The Escape Artist " ( Season 1 )
" Envoys " ( Season 1 )
" Temporal Edict "
" Kayshon, His Eyes Open " ( Season 2 )
" We'll Always Have Tom Paris "
" An Embarrassment Of Dooplers "
" wej Duj "
" The Least Dangerous Game " ( Season 3 )
" Mining The Mind's Mines " ( nightmarish illusions only)
" Room for Growth "
" Reflections "
" Hear All, Trust Nothing "
" The Stars At Night " ( sculpture only)
" Twovix " ( Season 4 )
" The Inner Fight "
" Kobayashi " (holograms only) ( Season 1 )
" Crossroads "
" Preludes "
" The Broken Circle " ( Season 2 )
" Under the Cloak of War "
" Subspace Rhapsody "

Background information [ ]

See : Depicting Klingons

The Klingons are the only non-Federation species to have appeared in twelve films. In Star Trek: The Motion Picture , they attempt to attack V'ger and are vaporized. They appear in the simulation of the Kobayashi Maru test in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . They are the primary villains after the Genesis technology in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , the primary vessel is a Klingon Bird-of-Prey and the Klingon ambassador appears early on, to have Kirk extradited . In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , a Klingon ambassador is featured again, on Nimbus III , and they also appear as secondary villains, as a young brash Klingon officer chases Kirk for the glory of defeating an infamous enemy of the Empire. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , General Chang is the primary villain as a Klingon and they also appear throughout the film during the peace process of the Khitomer Accords .

In all TNG movies, Worf appears despite his commitments to Deep Space 9 , and the Duras sisters appear in Star Trek Generations . At least three Borg drones seen in Star Trek: First Contact are also of Klingon origin.

Star Trek: Picard is currently the only series in which no Klingons appear (though an image of Klingons from a TNG episode does appear in first episode during a news report). Martok ’s skull appears in season 2; and Worf appears in Season 3.

The Klingon ships once again appear in the Kobayashi Maru scenario in the film Star Trek . Their full appearance was cut from the film, their prevalence up to then leading Damon Lindelof – who worked on the movie as a producer and a writer of the film's screenplay – to remark, " What Trek film would be complete without Klingons? The answer is... ours. " ( deleted scene "Klingons Take Over Narada" audio commentary , Star Trek (Special Edition and Three disc Blu-ray) ) Klingons were shown on Ketha Province of Qo'noS in Star Trek Into Darkness . Klingons do not appear in Star Trek Beyond however in Star Trek Beyond - The Makeup Artistry of Joel Harlow , it is revealed a Klingon was intended to appear in the film, but ultimately cut.

Alex Kurtzman has explained that if Worf is ever introduced into Star Trek: Picard , he would look the same as he did in previous shows, and explained that Discovery Klingons differences are regional racial differences like the differences between Romulans is explained in Picard.

Apocrypha [ ]

In the novel Summon the Thunder , part of the Star Trek: Vanguard series, the Klingons who had a Human appearance (descendants of the victims of the Klingon Augment virus) are referred to as " QuchHa ", or "the unhappy ones". They usually served in their own units although they also were known to mix with the rest of the fleet on occasion.

" Against Their Nature ", the first installment of " Star Trek: Klingons - Blood Will Tell ", an IDW Comics series which tells the stories of " Errand of Mercy ", " The Trouble with Tribbles ", " A Private Little War ", and " Day of the Dove " from the Klingon point of view, suggests that, while Phlox and Antaak's cure removed Augment strength and Augment intelligence, those affected retained the superior ambition of Augments, and as such these Klingons were largely responsible for the Empire's expansion in the century between Star Trek: Enterprise and TOS , eventually becoming powerful enough to achieve a majority on the High Council.

In the novel Pawns and Symbols , Klingons are discovered to be color blind in the Human sense, unable to distinguish red from black. It is also discovered that their vision extends into the ultraviolet, to 32,000 Ångströms .

In the novel Ishmael , the Klingons are described as having been economically conquered and uplifted by the Karsid empire. The Klingons then rebelled and overthrew the Karsids, obtaining their high technology. This was given as one reason for why the Klingons were the way they were, and also how they could have developed star-faring technology given their current social structure.

In Star Trek Online , most Klingons are once again enemies with the Federation by 2399, having taken advantage of the Romulans by conquering much of their territory in the wake of the death of Shinzon and then the destruction of Romulus . The Klingons have also conquered the Gorn , the Orions , and the Nausicaans . Evidently, Klingons are seen joining Starfleet, if unlocked. The Federation-based mission "Past Imperfect" gives a possible answer to how the Augment virus' alterations was eventually cured by revealing that the mad Klingon Admiral B'Vat had kidnapped Miral Paris and brought her to the past, where they used her Klingon/Human DNA to manufacture a cure.

In the online game Star Trek Timelines , includes all three types of Klingons appearing from their various respective eras accurately portraying each character's respective and different physiological differences in appearances. Kor , Koloth , Kang appear reflecting the 23rd century TOS era "Human-augment" part of the history, T'Kuvma appears representing the 23rd century era Klingon/Federation war, characters such as Chang, Kruge, Colonel Worf representing the 2270s-90s period, characters such as Gowron , Worf , Martok , Alexander , B'Elanna Torres , and Duras Sisters appear reflecting the 24th century.

The Discovery related event which introduces T'Kuvma and involves Katherine Janeway (including a 24th century Klingon variant Janeway) is described as such " The USS Shenzhou has arrived in the 24th Century, engulfed in a destructive temporal anomaly. Starfleet has yet to make contact with the crew, but the anomaly has brought all manner of things from the Shenzhou's time into the present day... " [4]

External links [ ]

Klingon at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Klingon at Wikipedia
The Evolution of Klingon Foreheads at Ex Astris Scientia
KlingonSearch.com – dedicated Klingon search portal
1 Daniels (Crewman)

A Complete History of Star Trek's Klingons in The Original Series Era

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The origin of the klingon empire in star trek, the klingon empire acquires warp drive and a new level of war, starfleet and the klingons engaged in hot and cold war, the klingons vs. captain james t. kirk and how he brought peace.

Star Trek has six decades of history behind the scenes, but the aliens and characters in the narrative go back millennia. Despite being created on a whim for Star Trek: The Original Series , the history of Klingons is one of the most fully realized in the universe. Even though much of it was defined after that first show, how the Klingon Empire took shape is important.

The Klingons were created by Gene L. Coon as a surrogate power for the Soviets to the Federation's United States of America. When the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the final film with The Original Series ' cast was in production. It told the story of how the Federation made peace with its most iconic enemies. The Khitomer Accords mark a significant point of transition in what it meant to a Klingon. Even though antagonism continued into the 24th Century, the way the Empire (as created by Kahless the Unforgettable) found a way to accept the peace-loving Federation is a remarkable Star Trek story. It's made better with Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds adding new details to this part of the timeline.

The Planned Opening for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Was a Disaster

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is one of the best "franchise enders" of all time, but the original opening for the Enterprise crew was bad.

The Klingons shared genetic markers, found in Vulcans and Romulans that point to a single humanoid ancestor more than four billion years in the past. This progenitor race seeded planets with unknown technology that encouraged the evolution of creatures with a head, two arms and two legs. Klingons, however, could trace their origins back to large reptilian or insectoid predators with exoskeletons and redundant organs .

The Klingon homeworld Qo'noS was ruled by Malor in the 10th Century CE on Earth. A common warrior, Kahless led a revolution that became the founding myth for the Klingon Empire. Legends of his battles were shared among Klingons into the 24th Century. He eventually killed Malor in single combat and founded the Klingon Empire. Kahless became a god-like figure in the culture, inspiring wars and warriors for millennia . There were a number of ruling dynasties and civil wars, continuing once Klingons took to the stars.

Four hundred years after Kahless united Qo'noS, the Hur'q species from the Gamma Quadrant sacked their homeworld. This started a period of uncertainty about war as a way of life. During the Second Dynasty, General K'Trelan killed the Imperial Family, installing more democratically minded Klingons in power. They claimed to be members of the Imperial houses to gain the respect of those bloodlines, but eventually they returned to their warlike ways.

Star Trek: Discovery's Klingons Were More Accurate Than the TNG-Era

The most controversial thing Star Trek: Discovery did when it debuted was redesign the Klingons, but in one aspect they were more accurate than TNG.

The Klingons acquired warp drive sometime in the Earth's 20th Century, and they turned their attention on the galaxy at large. While they still warred with each other, there were new planets to conquer and people to fight. Vulcans, who also were new to warp drive, encountered Klingons who opened fire on them. Until diplomatic relations were officially opened, Vulcans would fire first on any Klingon ship, eventually called "the Vulcan Hello." Klingons traveled the stars, warring and exploring, including sending a vessel into the Delta Quadrant.

In the 2150s, a Klingon crash-landed on Earth and was shot by a farmer. Dr. Phlox, a visiting alien, saved his life, and the NX-01 Enterprise was launched taking the Klingon back to Qo'noS. Captain Archer helped this Klingon maintain his honor and relations between humans and Klingons were off to an amiable start, but this didn't last. The NX-01 Enterprise helped refugees flee the Klingons by engaging them in battle. This led to Captain Archer being wanted as an enemy of the state. He was put on trial on Qo'noS and sentenced to the Rura Penthe colony. He escaped, leading to multiple hostile encounters with them throughout the Star Trek: Enterprise series.

In 2154, tyrannical, genetically augmented humans attacked the Klingon Empire, but the Enterprise was able to avert war. However, a Klingon scientist tried to use the augment DNA to create superior Klingon warriors . Instead, a deadly virus broke out, and Dr. Phlox was kidnapped to help cure it. He was successful, but the treatment led to the Klingons losing their distinctive cranial ridges. The Klingons then withdrew from Federation territory, until the Klingon-Federation war.

Why Uhura Speaks Klingon in Strange New Worlds, but Not Star Trek VI

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Uhura is adept at speaking Klingon, which doesn't match a scene in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

The Klingons weren't seen in what would become Federation space for much of the late 22nd and early 23rd Centuries. They had again entered into a period of infighting and civil war, as any house sought to rule. When Starfleet did encounter the Klingons, there were open hostilities. There was a raid on a planet called Doctari Alpha and a battle at a planet called Donatu V. The Klingons resorted to spiritual studies, usually based on the Kahless myth, though a sect studied time travel at the Borleth Monastery .

In 2256, T'Kuvma, a unique-looking Klingon spiritual leader , united the great houses on the ancient Sarcophagus Ship. He provoked a war with the Federation at the Battle of the Binary Stars, dying at the hands of Michael Burnham. General Kol, who originated Klingons' use of cloaking technology, took control. The war raged for a year, with the Klingons nearly defeating the Federation . When General Kol was killed and the Sarcophagus Ship destroyed, things only got worse. Eventually, Section 31 developed a plan to destroy the Klingon Homeworld, but Michael Burnham prevented it from reaching fruition. Instead, she gave control of the hydrobombs to L'Rell.

A less war-hungry acolyte of T'Kuvma she was able to continue his mission of uniting the warring factions on Qo'noS. She even allied her fleet with the Federation to stop a rogue AI that threatened all life in the Alpha Quadrant. The Timekeepers at the Borleth Monastery also helped Starfleet solve the mystery of the "Red Angel," and helped Captain Christopher Pike fix the timeline after he tried to prevent his future debilitating accident. Time itself needed James Kirk and Spock to take the helm of the Enterprise. However, the tenuous peace wouldn't last for long.

What Made Worf a Better Klingon Warrior on Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Since Star Trek: TOS, the Klingons were enemies of the Federation. But The Next Generation's Worf redefined what it meant to be a Klingon warrior.

A new war broke out between the Federation and the Klingons in 2257, but it was short-lived. When the USS Enterprise and General Kor's fleet arrived at Organia, the powerful beings that lived there forced them to negotiate an end to hostilities. The Treaty of Organia ended the war, but there were still clashes and battles throughout the sector. Klingons armed pre-warp species, as did Kirk and the Enterprise crew, albeit reluctantly. A Klingon who went by the name Arne Darvin was surgically altered to look human, and almost carried out a terrorist bombing on a starbase.

After a little more than a decade of relative peace, a rogue Klingon commander named Kruge took a Bird of Prey to the newly-created Genesis planet. There he destroyed the Starfleet science vessel studying it and killed David Marcus, the son of James Kirk. He defeated the Klingons, killing all but one of them, and stole the Bird of Prey. Another rogue Klingon Captain named Klaa tried to battle Kirk and the Enterprise, but Klingon Ambassador Korrd ordered Klaa to save him from the God of Sha Ka'Ree. With the destruction of the moon Praxis in 2293, the Klingon homeworld was threatened and peace finally had a real chance.

Chancellor Gorkon knew the Klingon Empire wouldn't survive unless it made peace and accepted help from the Federation. A conspiracy of Starfleet officers, Romulans and Klingons (including General Chang) assassinated Gorkon and framed Captain Kirk for it. He was sent to Rura Penthe, escaping with the help of Spock and the Enterprise. They arrived at the peace summit just in time to save the Federation president. Captain Kirk's heroics led to the signing of the Khitomer Accords and all-but the end to open hostility between the Klingons and the Federation . While not completely allies with the Federation, the Klingons and Starfleet were no longer at war.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Everything You Need to Know About the Klingons, Star Trek 's Ever-Changing Space Warriors

Klingons are one of the most iconic Star Trek alien races. In 51 years they’ve evolved from deceptive villains to honorable allies—and now, with the arrival of Star Trek: Discovery this week, they’re becoming spiritual warriors once again, at odds with our heroes. Here’s everything you need to know about the past, present, and future of Qo’noS’s finest.

The Fall and Rise of the Klingon Forehead

How the Klingons grew from the mustachioed, smooth-headed humanoids of the original series to the ridged aliens of The Original Motion Picture and beyond has been a canonical puzzle Star Trek fans have theorized and debate about for decades. There was never a reason provided for the difference in either the movies or The Next Generation —it was simply declared that these new aliens were still Klingons and that was that.

For years, the closest the series ever got to acknowledging the change was a one-off joke in the special Deep Space Nine anniversary episode “Trials and Tribble-ations,” which saw the crew sent back into the past to the events of the original series episode “The Trouble with Tribbles.” When asked by his colleagues why the Klingons of Kirk’s time looked so different to the Klingons they know of in the 24th century, Worf offers a brief but stern rebuttal: Klingons don’t talk about it with non-Klingons.

Fans finally got an explanation for the disparity between the two kinds of Klingons nearly 40 years after their first appearance thanks to Star Trek: Enterprise , which was set in the years before the formation of the Federation. A two-part story in the show’s fourth season revealed that Klingons have actually always had forehead ridges, but a virus accidentally unleashed on the Klingon homeworld when scientists tried to augment Klingons with human DNA caused victims to develop human physical characteristics, including smooth foreheads. A treatment for the virus was developed by Enterprise ’s resident medic, Dr. Phlox, but the physician theorized that it would take generations for Klingon children to be born with ridged foreheads again.

It remains to be seen whether Discovery , which features pre-original series Klingons with forehead ridges, will have something to say about the bizarre evolution of the feature, given its place in Star Trek ’s timeline. But we do know that the series will provide a biological reason for the ridges : they’re covered in extra-sensory receptors, to help Klingons detect and hunt their prey.

The Long Road to Sto’Vo’Kor

Although Klingons have been established as a warrior race from the beginning (honorable or otherwise), one major element of Klingon culture introduced in their post-original Trek appearances is an emphasis on spirituality, borrowing elements from familiar mythological cultures in our own past to turn the Klingons into quasi-warrior monks. The honor-bound nature of the Klingons has led to many instances of their culture clashing with that of the Federation through a love of rituals and remembrances, especially around the act of honoring the dead.

In the Klingon belief system, the body after death is an empty shell. The soul of a fallen Klingon goes to one of two places. If they lived an honorable life and fell in battle, they go to Sto’Vo’Kor, which is pretty much Klingon Valhalla, a heavenly plane of battles and feasting. If they were dishonored or didn’t die fighting, they go to Grethor, a fiery hellscape where their souls suffer for eternity—after the prerequisite journey on a barge through a river of death to Grethor’s gates, of course. Relatives of the deceased can perform honorable acts in their own lives to ensure their fallen relative’s soul goes to Sto’Vo’kor if they didn’t die in battle—which, in some cases, can include offering their own soul for torture in Grethor in their place, as B’Elanna attempted to do for her mother in the Voyager episode “ Barge of the Dead .”

Aside from their ritualized beliefs and honor codes, Klingon spirituality includes no gods, as legendary warriors killed them thousands of years ago. There is one important figure in Klingon religion, though: Kahless, who was the first ruler of the Klingon Empire and established its honor code. Weirdly enough, by the time of The Next Generation and beyond, the Empire was once again led by Kahless... except this time it was a lab-grown clone of the original, a slightly less intimidating figure and more of a figurehead for Klingon society than an actual ruler.

Talking Klingon

As Star Trek ’s portrayal of Klingon culture developed, so did the need to make the race feel alien beyond the makeup-drenched actors of the original show—and part of that was the development of a whole new language for Klingons to speak in. Originally devised by Scotty himself, James Doohan, and Motion Picture producer Jon Povill as part of the film’s wide-scale re-imagining of the Klingons, the Klingon language (sometimes referred to as Klingonese) as we know it today was really developed during the making of The Search for Spock by Dr. Marc Okrand.

Okrand expanded the handful of words created during The Motion Picture into a fully constructed language, and in 1985, he published The Klingon Dictionary. Originally intended as source material for writers and actors, the dictionary expanded on Klingon grammar, such as its unconventional object-verb-subject form. It also gave Klingon phrases for everything as menial as “Happy Birthday” (qoSlIj DatIvjaj) to insulting someone’s mother with the smoothness of their forehead (Hab SoSlI’ Quch!)

Okrand’s work on the Klingon language flourished, not just because of his own additions to it as Star Trek continued, but through the works of fans. Shortly after The Klingon Dictionary ’s release, fans started to learn and teach the rules Okrand had laid down, and groups like t he Klingon Language Institute started forming in the early ‘90s to study the entirely fictional language. In the years since, translations of famous texts have been made available in Klingon—from Bible passages, to the epic Gilgamesh , to Shakespearian plays (inspired by the line from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , “ You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon ”), as well as an entire opera performed in the language , ‘u’ , all done by ardent fans.

Klingons are one of Star Trek ’s most enduring features—their reliable presence across 51 years of the franchise is as defining as their ability to change each time we meet them. Whether it’s in big ways or small, change is fundamental to the Klingons, from the mustachioed brutes of the original series, to the dominating, brutal, and alarmingly spiky armored hunters we’re about to meet in Star Trek: Discovery . No matter how many times they show up, it’s always guaranteed that there’s always going to be something new to learn about them.

Speaking "Star Trek": Meet the Man Who Made Up the Klingon Language

How to create an alien tongue from scratch.

Starting From Scratch

The Klingons made their first appearance during "Star Trek's" first season, in a 1967 episode titled "Errands of Mercy." They appeared in low-budget (and perhaps racially insensitive) makeup , and they spoke English . Twelve years, in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture , their appearance and speech was rectified.

In the opening scene of the first Trek movie , Klingons, now with their iconic ridged foreheads, shout commands in midst of a space battle. This was the first time Klingonese was spoken on screen (though the TV series mentioned that the Klingons had their own language). These few bits of dialogue, which were subtitled with commands like "Tactical, stand by on torpedoes," were actually created by actor James Doohan who played the Enterprise's chief engineer, Scotty. An experienced voice actor, Doohan aimed to create dialogue that was not of this planet . That he did, though it was not clear whether he devised a grammatical structure to go along with the basics, like the recurring word for torpedos ("cha").

That's when Okrand came along. In the early 1980s, Okrand was hired as the supervisor of captioning at the National Captioning Institute . There, he worked on the first television closed captioning systems for the hearing impaired. While captioning movies, sitcoms, and other scripted programing was relatively easy, doing "real-time" programs like news, sports and award shows was a new and major challenge. The 1982 Academy Awards in Los Angeles was to be the first live special to include real-time closed captioning .

During preparations in L.A., Okrand was having lunch with an old friend when serendipity struck. The friend was working on what would become Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , and the film just so happened to need a linguist to dub a conversation between Vulcans Spock and Saavik (played by a young Kirstie Alley). Using clues from the little bit of Vulcan spoken in the first film , Okrand got to work. But Vulcan at this time wasn't really a language. "The scene was filmed with the actors speaking English. My job was to make up gobbly-goop that fit the lip movements and then was dubbed in," Okrand says. Two years later, he was asked backed to work on the third Star Trek movie, but this time the task was a bit more complex: to develop the Klingon language.

.css-2l0eat{font-family:UnitedSans,UnitedSans-roboto,UnitedSans-local,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.625rem;line-height:1.2;margin:0rem;padding:0.9rem 1rem 1rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-2l0eat{font-size:1.75rem;line-height:1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-2l0eat{font-size:1.875rem;line-height:1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-2l0eat{font-size:2.25rem;line-height:1;}}.css-2l0eat b,.css-2l0eat strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;}.css-2l0eat em,.css-2l0eat i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;} "There are no sounds in Klingon that you can't find in other languages, but the collection of sounds is unique."

How to Sound Like an Alien

While Okrand was essentially starting from scratch with Klingonese, he did have a few clues. There were the sounds and commands from the first movie, the character names from the original series , and the script's stage direction that said the Klingon's language had to be guttural. And while the language needed to sound alien, he faced all-too-human constraints. "(Klingon) was going to be spoken by actors very much of this planet," says Okrand, "So, they had human tongues, teeth and throats... so I could only use sounds they could make."

Luckily, Okrand already had considerable experience doing something similar. While studying for his Ph.D. in Linguistics at Berkeley, Okrand did his dissertation on Mutsun , a Native American language from California that had gone extinct in 1930 with the death of its last speaker (it's now in midst of being revived ). Using only historical documents, he reconstructed many of the language's features. After studying a language that is no longer spoken, creating a language that did not exist seemed like less of a leap.

All languages have patterns and rules, so the first step was to establish those for Klingon. As Okrand explained in a 2011 interview, he created a "skeleton" of the language by figuring out the syllables from Star Trek: The Motion Picture's limited dialogue. To make the language more alien, he combined sounds from existing languages with sounds that don't appear in those languages. This, Okrand says, "violated tendencies... I put sounds together that are all legitimate (and human) sounds but should not belong in the same language."

He also played with grammar. In the most simplistic terms, there are three basic elements in every sentence in every language: subject, verb, and object. Setting aside certain exceptions and tricks, there are six possible way to order the three elements, and you can find examples of all of them in the world's languages . The most common is subject-verb-object, and that's what English follows. ("He hit the ball" is a simple subject-verb-object sentence) Okrand decided Klingon would follow one of the least common permutations, object-verb-subject (like the South American language Warao ). He also decided the language would not have a word for "to be" (which turned out to be a problem when he was asked to translate the Hamlet "to be or not to be" soliloquoy for Star Trek VI ). While many languages do not use it all the time (Russian and Turkish are examples), English relies on this phrase, hence making Klingon very "un-English-like."

Put it all together and Klingon is essentially a human language disguised as an alien language. "There are no sounds in Klingon that you can't find in other languages, but the collection of sounds is unique. Likewise for grammar. There's no grammatical feature in Klingon that you can't find in another language... you shouldn't have those particular things all in the same language."

Klingon Culture

This new, sophisticated, fully developed Klingon premiered in 1984's Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . The next year, the Klingon Dictionary was published. Okrand continued to develop the language for subsequent television shows and movies. He helped to create Star Trek 's Romulan language, too, but he'll always be proud of the guttural weirdness of Klingon.

"When I was working on it, the (production) crew would come up...and say 'it sounds like..' Arabic, Russian and so forth," says Okrand, "As long as they say kept saying something different, I was happy."

Today, according to the Guinness Book of World Record s, Klingon is the most spoken fictional language in the world. There's are Klingon weddings , a Klingon "Christmas Carol, a Klingon translation of the Bible and the Klingon Language Institute , a nonprofit corporation that "exists to facilitate the scholarly exploration of the Klingon language and culture." Even Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum recently got in the act, releasing their highlights tour in Klingon on their new app.

May the Klingon language live long and prosper. Or, as the Klingons would translate that famous Vulcan phrase into their native tongue, "yItaH 'ej yIcheptaH."

Matt is a history, science, and travel writer who is always searching for the mysterious and hidden. He's written for Smithsonian Magazine, Washingtonian, Atlas Obscura, and Arlington Magazine. He calls Washington D.C. home and probably tells way too many cat jokes.

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A history of Klingon, the language.

There's no klingon word for hello, a history of the gruff but surprisingly sophisticated invented language and the people who speak it..

There's something missing from J.J. Abrams' reboot of the moribund Star Trek franchise, and that something is Klingon. I mean Klingon the language. If that sounds like a minor omission, consider this: The very first lines of the first Star Trek movie in 1979 were in Klingon: wIy cha'! HaSta! cha yIghuS! And those few words—which were subtitled as "Tactical … Visual … Tactical, stand by on torpedoes!"—have since blossomed into, if not a full-fledged language, one at least fledged enough to have a dictionary, a translation of Hamlet , and a small but dedicated community of (nonfictional) speakers, who'll feel miffed by Abrams' oversight.

Let's just skip over the customary jokes about 40-year-old virgins who still live in their parents' basements. Klingon speakers have heard them all. But the insults don't bother them, because they know something you don't. They know that Klingon is a sophisticated, extremely complex language that very few can master. I first came to Klingon as a linguist doing research for a book on artificial languages. My intention was to observe from a nice, distant, scientific perspective, but somehow I ended up with a little bronze pin indicating that I'd passed the first-level certification exam. The grammar offered an irresistible linguistic challenge. Klingon is difficult but not impossible, weird yet totally believable. Anyone can put on a pair of pointed ears or memorize some lines of dialogue, but learning to speak Klingon requires genuine hard work.

Most languages created for fictional worlds involve simple vocabulary substitutions, such as moodge for man in A Clockwork Orange , or meaningless streams of noise, like the high-pitched jabbering of the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi . Klingon is something altogether different. There is a logic behind it; a linguist doing field research among Klingon speakers would be able to work out the system and describe it as he would an exotic indigenous tongue. This is not surprising, considering that Klingon was created by Marc Okrand, a linguist whose dissertation was a grammar of a now-extinct Native American language.

Okrand was originally hired by the producer of Star Trek II to write dialogue in Vulcan for a scene, between Leonard Nimoy and Kirstie Alley, that had been filmed in English. His task was to create lines that could be dubbed over the actors' mouth movements in a believable way. Two years later, when the production team of Star Trek III wanted some scenes in Klingon, they called on Okrand again. This time he was not constrained by pre-existing mouth movements—the actors would be filmed speaking Klingon—but there were two other conditions that he had to take into account. The first was the existence of those few words of Klingon spoken in the first Star Trek movie (written by James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty). Second, he knew the language was supposed to be tough-sounding, befitting a warrior race. Klingons are rough, crude, loyal, violent, and honorable—a sort of Viking-Spartan-samurai motorcycle gang. They eat live worms, sleep on hard surfaces, and desire nothing more than to die in battle. So Okrand filled the language with back-of-the-throat sounds and made up a rich war vocabulary but left out social pleasantries like "Hello." (The closest translation for hello in Klingon is nuqneH —"What do you want?").

Knowing that fans would be watching closely, Okrand worked out a full grammar. He cribbed from natural languages, borrowing sounds and sentence-building rules, switching sources whenever Klingon started operating too much like any one language in particular. He ended up with something that sounds like an ungodly combination of Hindi, Arabic, Tlingit, and Yiddish and works like a mix of Japanese, Turkish, and Mohawk. The linguistic features of Klingon are not especially unusual (at least to a linguist) when considered independently, but put together, they make for one hell of an alien language.

Despite the fact that more than 250,000 copies of Okrand's Klingon dictionary have been sold, very few people know how the language really works. There are maybe 20 or 30 people who can hold their own in a live, unscripted Klingon conversation and a few hundred or so who are pretty good with written Klingon. But most Star Trek fans who buy the dictionary skip the grammatical rules that constitute the first half of the book and turn straight to the word list. They make up wedding vows, song lyrics, or insults to lob at their opponents in role-playing games, but they ignore the grammar, simply popping dictionary words into English sentences. So Star Trek discussion boards end up peppered with phrases like this: yIn nI' je chep .

That is some seriously bad Klingon. It's a string of words that's supposed to mean "Live long and prosper" but instead says something like "life … something is long … and … something prospers." It's ungrammatical. (Plus, it's a Vulcan sentiment; Klingons don't say such things.)

The correct form of the phrase in Klingon would be yIn nI' DaSIQjaj 'ej bIchepjaj .

And it breaks down (word for word) like this: "Life long you-it-endure-may and you-be-prosperous-may." Or, in proper English, "May you endure a long life and may you prosper."

Klingon sentence structure is about as complex as it gets. Most people are familiar with the idea that verb endings can indicate person and number. In Spanish, the - o suffix on a verb like hablar (to speak) indicates a first-person singular subject ( hablo —I speak) while the - amos suffix indicates a first-person plural subject ( hablamos —we speak). But Klingon uses prefixes rather than suffixes for such purposes, and instead of having six or seven of them, like most romance languages, it has 29. There are so many because they indicate not only the person and number of the subject (who is doing) but also of the object (whom it is being done to). In the "Live long and prosper" translation above, for example, the Da - on SIQ indicates a second-person subject and a third-person object ("You endure it"), and the bI - on the verb chep indicates a second-person subject and no object ("You prosper").

Klingon also has a large set of suffixes. Attached to the end of the verbs SIQ and chep is the ending - jaj , which expresses "a desire or wish on the part of the speaker that something take place in the future." Klingon has 36 verb suffixes and 26 noun suffixes that express everything from negation to causality to possession to how willing a speaker is to vouch for the accuracy of what he says. By piling on these suffixes, one after the other, you can pack a lot of meaning on to a single word in Klingon—words like nuHegh'eghrupqa'moHlaHbe'law'lI'neS , which translates roughly to: They are apparently unable to cause us to prepare to resume honorable suicide (in progress).

Just saying a word like this one requires Klingon-like discipline and fortitude. To the layman, the time commitment involved in studying this invented language may seem ridiculous—why not take up a language with practical value, one that might earn you a little respect, or at least not encourage jeers? But Klingon isn't about practicality, or status, or even about love for the original Star Trek series. It's about language for language's sake, and the joy of doing something that's not easy, without regard for worldly recognition. Hence the Klingon Hamlet , which took years to compose and which maybe 100 people can appreciate. What a piece of work is man indeed. Or as Wil'yam Shex'pir put it, toH, chovnatlh Doj ghaH tlhIngan'e'.

Creating the Klingons

We now know the Klingons as a people driven by honor and tradition, but they started out as the opposite. The Making of Star Trek , co-authored by Gene Roddenberry while The Original Series was still in production, describes the “number-one adversary of the Federation” as “[m]ore powerful than the Romulans” and “less admirable characters.”

Their only rule of life is that rules are made to be broken by shrewdness, deceit or power. Cruelty is something admirable; honor is a dispicable trait. They will go out of their way to provoke an incident with the Federation.

The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine would reverse the roles, with the Romulans becoming duplicitous and never striking the first blow.

The Original Series

The Making of Star Trek goes on to describe the Klingon Empire as an “absolute dictatorship” where assassination is common:

Their society is totally devoted to personal gain by the cleverest, strongest or most treacherous. As a result, their vessels often operate much like “privateers” and warlike acts are a way of life. Life on all levels is completely supervised and extensive use is made of “snooping devices” to help maintain total control.

Gene Coon, who wrote the episode “Errand of Mercy” in which the Klingons first appeared, deliberately modeled the species on America’s communist rivals in the Cold War: primarily Russia, to a lesser extent China. Much like the proxy wars of the twentiethe century, the Federation and the Klingons supported opposing sides in a civil war in “A Private Little War”.

The Klingons were allowed no redeeming qualities. Producer Robert Justman wrote to fellow producer Fred Freiberger at the time “Day of the Dove” was being made:

[L]et us never set up a situation whereby those adversaries of ours give any indication of ever being anything but highly aggressive and self-seeking opponents.

Gene Roddenberry disagreed. During the 1990 SeaTrek cruise, Majel Barrett recalled that her husband “never did like the Klingons, because they were represented as being ‘all bad.’ Gene said, ‘There is no such thing as a whole race that is all bad.’ He really hated that.”

The script of “Errand of Mercy” described the Klingons as “Oriental”-looking. Beyond that, makeup designer Fred Phillips had little to go on. “I had never heard of a Klingon before,” he is quoted as saying in These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One . “And nothing in the script that I read told me what it was.”

John Colicos, the actor who played the Klingon commander Kor in “Errand of Mercy”, had a significant influence on the makeup design. He proposed to take inspiration from Genghis Khan, another ambitious military commander, and Dr Fu Manchu. Phillips “thought that was a hell of a good idea,” Colicos told Star Trek: Communicator in 1995.

The look took only about 20 minutes to apply, according to Colicos, and it was relatively cheap. As a result, the Klingons replaced the Romulans as Star Trek ’s favorite villains.

For the aborted Star Trek television series Phase II , John Meredyth Lucas wrote a two-part episode “Kitumba” that would have radically changed Klingon culture and society.

Lucas, who had produced half of the second season of The Original Series , borrowed from Japan give the Klingons a god-like ceremonial head of state, called the Kitumba, who resides on a Sacred Planet. Day-to-day authority would rest with a Warlord — analogues to the Japanese shogun — who lives on Ultar, the Klingon home world.

The story would have revealed that only members of the warrior caste are called “Klingons”. They are served by technicians and subjects.

The Next Generation established the existence of a Klingon High Council, chaired by a chancellor. But the emperor returned in “Rightful Heir”, when a Kahless clone is elevated to the long-vacant Klingon throne.

Fred Phillips was given the chance to recreate the Klingons for Star Trek: The Motion Picture , which had a much bigger budget, but it was costume designer Robert Fletcher who invented the now-distinctive Klingon cranial ridges.

“I did sketches for the Klingon, including the knobby forehead and head,” Fletcher said in an interview for the 2002 DVD of Star Trek III .

The Makeup Department, very generously, said, “That’s great, we’d like to use it.” Gene Roddenberry was not too enthusiastic. He thought they should look more like just people. I said, “Yes, but these are real aliens, and they’re evil aliens.” I think the people, the audience, wants to see something that is not just folks, that goes beyond just folks.

Roddenberry came around and suggested that the cranial ridges might be an outgrow of the Klingon spinal cord, proceeding up the back of the neck and over the head.

Fletcher agreed:

In my mind, all the bumps on the forehead and so forth are vestigial remains of a people that evolved like crustaceans, like lobsters, who have their skeleton on the outside of their bodies.

The makeup went through various iterations. The final product was uncomfortable for the actors to wear. Mark Lenard, who played one of the Klingon commanders in the movie, recalled in an interview with Starlog that the nose piece, which extended down from the upper area of the head piece, over the actor’s nose, was “pretty warm” and itched.

Fletcher refined the Klingon look for Star Trek III , telling Cinefantastique in 1987:

There had never been a good marriage between the forehead appliance and the actors’ faces. We tried to keep them in character rather than have these obstructive things on their heads.

Applying the makeup took two hours per actor each day. By the time of Star Trek IV , John Schuck, who played the Klingon ambassador, spent up to four-and-a-half hours in makeup before shooting.

The Klingon costumes were inspired by Japanese culture. Fletcher is quoted in The Making of the Trek Films as saying, “I always liked to think of them as authoritarian, almost feudal, like Japan had been.”

William Campbell, who had played Koloth in “The Trouble with Tribbles”, and who would reprise the role three decades later for the episode “Blood Oath” of Deep Space Nine , said during the 1991 SeaTrek cruise that he had a “difficult time” with the makeup changes:

When they did the first movie, it looked like the Klingons had gone through some metamorphic stage. In the classic series, the Klingons looked like humans. I never understood the reasoning behind the extensive makeup change except for the reason that it is a new show.

Roddenberry and Phillips came up with the explanation that there might be different Klingon races, but this was never mentioned on screen.

The Next Generation

Roddenberry initially wanted no Klingons, nor Romulans, on The Next Generation in order to differentiate it from The Original Series . Writer and Co-Producer Herb Wright claimed credit for softening Roddenberry’s position in an interview with Cinefantastique in 1992, “by squeezing a Klingon on the bridge.”

It was Justman who provided the most persuasive argument: putting a Klingon in Starfleet would be a great way to show that a century had passed since the original show, and that both human and Klingon attitudes had grown.

Dorothy C. Fontana, a veteran writer of the first Star Trek , agreed there would be story opportunities if the second showed the Federation and the Klingons at peace.

Roddenberry relented, which led to the creation of Worf. But he was still adamant that there would be “no stories about warfare with Klingons” on The Next Generation , and that these Klingons should be different.

Michael Dorn, who had watched the original Star Trek growing up, recalled in a 1991 interview with The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine that Roddenberry told him, “Forget everything you’ve ever read or heard about Klingons.” Klingons would have redeeming qualities after all.

Makeup artist Michael Westmore could borrow from the movies to create Worf’s look. He also wanted to add something of his own, writing in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Makeup FX Journal that he got Roddenberry’s and Producer Rick Berman’s permission “to lend a little more ferocity to their overall appearance.”

Westmore made the forehead ridges more pronounced, so they were more visible on the small television screen. “I took it a step further,” he told Cinefantastique in 1991, “and brought it into their nose area, so it doesn’t just look like a forehead that we’ve added on.”

Westmore and his team created a different ridge pattern for every Klingon — a decision he would quickly regret:

It was the beginning of what I would eventually call “Klingon Hell”: the self-imposed task of sculpting a new and different head for virtually every Klingon actor.

Maurice Hurley, the Season 1-2 producer who co-wrote “Heart of Glory”, believed the Klingons helped bring a sense of balance to the series. “The show gets so intellectually smug and self-serving,” Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman quote Hurley as saying in Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages . “With the Klingons you’re dealing with emotion and passion,” and that’s something The Next Generation needed every now and then: “someone willing to storm the barricades.”

Ron Moore fleshed out these concept. His first script, “The Bonding”, was Moore’s ticket aboard the Star Trek staff.

“I didn’t start out with the intention of focusing on Worf,” he told Cinefantastique in 1990. But when Michael Piller, who had by then taken over from Hurley as producer asked him to combine two stories into a script that would become “Sins of the Father”, Moore had the chance to put his mark on Klingon culture.

“They had these real intricate codes of honor and poetry, like the samurai,” Moore told Star Trek: The Magazine years later.

They were also like the Vikings; they were big, brawling, larger than life, they liked to drink and sing big songs like the Vikings, or at least our conception of the Vikings. That was where I began with the culture.

Contradicting The Original Series , Moore insisted that Klingons weren’t “evil, tyrannical pirates bent only on pillage and plunder.”

They have a strict, almost unyielding code of ethics and honor and take their responsibilities as rulers seriously. … Klingons respect courage, strength and cunning, in that order … Klingons respect the declared war, the killing stroke, the blood feud, death in the field of battle and clear positions of hostility.

Moore also argued it was time to stop thinking about the Klingons as Star Trek ’s version of the Soviet Union:

The place where the Russians were when I was doing the Klingon shows just wasn’t as relevant any more. The [Berlin] Wall had fallen and it was all about the collapse of this empire, and what they were going to do internally, and how do they become a democracy. I didn’t want to take the Klingons down that road, because it would have essentially defanged them, and I liked keeping them more dangerous.

One Russian influence remained: like the Communists who once governed the Soviet Union, the Klingon elite didn’t live up to its stated ideals.

That was one of the great contradictions of the empire; the society is built around a concept of being honorable, but those principles are often sacrificed and compromised by people like Duras.

Conspiracy, intrigue, larger-than-life personalities — the Klingons lend themselves to what Moore described as “Shakespearean” drama. “It made it more interesting if it wasn’t quite so clear whose side was right.”

Klingon women

The writers’ bible of The Original Series claimed the Klingons had “no patience with women, even their own, and treat them as sometime useful animals.”

“Dave of the Dove” had suggested that wasn’t entirely true. There were two women in Kang’s crew.

Moore established in “Redemption” that women were not allowed to serve on the Klingon High Council (although a female Klingon had been present in the Great Hall during “Sins of the Father”). It differentiated them from the Federation and the Romulans, he argued: Klingons were “a traditionally patriarchal society, even if many elements have disappeared with time.”

Indeed, from Kahlest (Thelma Lee), who calls the Klingon chancellor “fat” to his face, to Worf’s love interest K’Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) to the Duras sisters (Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh), none of the Klingon women of The Next Generation seemed particularly deferential to patriarchy.

Improved makeup

The appearance of ever more Klingons forced Westmore to give up his practice of creating a unique look for each one. “Instead of making a cast of each actor’s head,” he explains in Star Trek: The Next Generation Makeup FX Journal , “I would measure their head when they walked in the door.”

If their head size was close to that of a preexisting mold, we would create our new design on an available head mold. Quite often, if we had two actors with similarly-sized heads, I would sculpt the first forehead design and after taking a mold from it, the clay sculpture would still be intact. This would eliminate the need for “basing it up”; the process of putting the clay on the mold.

Rather than spend a whole day on a new sculpture, Westmore would be able to resculpt the second head design in three or four hours.

William Shatner gave Westmore’s counterpart on the fifth Star Trek motion picture, Richard Snell, leeway to experiment with different forehead designs. “I always felt that their foreheads should be like a thumbprint,” Snell told Cinefantastique , “and on V , Shatner said, ‘Go ahead, make ’em different.’ I thank him for that. That opened the door and now the sky’s the limit.”

Michael J. Mills, one of Snell’s makeup artists, recalled in a 1992 interview with Cinefex that Nicholas Meyer gave slightly stricer instructions on Star Trek VI : “He wanted the audience to watch the actors’ faces and not be distracted by the makeups. So every one had to be a custom job – which translated out to be about three-and-a-half hours.”

Deep Space Nine

When Moore transitioned from The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine , he felt Klingon culture had been established well enough to poke some fun at it. “This is a point where you’re saying they are kind of silly,” he told Star Trek: The Magazine in 2000. “Let’s enjoy that and laugh at them. Not make them look like fools, but let’s not kid ourselves; they do some pretty crazy stuff.” The Klingons of Deep Space Nine were rambunctious, but the Dominion War arc also gave them the chance to prove that they really were brave warriors.

In an attempt to persuade more Next Generation viewers to switch to Deep Space Nine , Michael Dorn joined the third series in its fourth season. “The Way of the Warrior” put Worf and the Klingons front and center.

The writers initially toyed with a Vulcan exit from the Federation, but Ira Steven Behr suggested it should be the Klingons who break off diplomatic relations. “That might have more heat to it.” Rick Berman loved the idea.

So did Dorn, who told Jeanne M. Dillard for the book Star Trek – Where No One Has Gone Before that allowing the Federation and Klingons to be at war again “makes the Klingon characters what they were originally created to be.”

John Colicos, John Garman Hertzler and Michael Dorn

“Trials and Tribble-ations” forced Deep Space Nine to reckon with the still-unresolved issue of the Klingons’ changed appearance from The Original Series . But even Moore, who created so much of Klingon culture, couldn’t think of a simple way to explain the discrepancy.

So we just said, “Just have Worf say it’s a long story and leave it at that, you know? And that’s fine.” And it’s a wink and a nod to the audience, like, “Okay, we know this doesn’t make sense. Just go with us, okay?”

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens ultimately came up with an explanation for Star Trek: Enterprise : in an attempt to create a biological weapon, Klingon sciencists inadvertently unleashed a virus that smoothened out the Klingon forehead.

Moore did rethink the limited role of Klingon women. While writing “You Are Cordially Invited”, in which Worf would marry Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), he realized he had done Klingon woman a “disservice” by not allowing them to get involved in politics. “The fallout from [that] was that the role of Klingon women got much smaller, and I hadn’t intended to do that,” he told the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion .

So I figured that if men run the Council and rule the houses, maybe women rule the social structure, and within that structure the mistress of a great house wields pretty much unchallenged power.

Moore barely got a chance to write Star Trek ’s most prominent female (half-)Klingon: B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson). He transferred to Voyager after Deep Space Nine ended in 1999, but quit within weeks when he fell out with Producer Brannon Braga. He was able to write “Barge of the Dead” before he left, which revealed the Klingon version of Hell.

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Published Feb 21, 2023

The Klingon Language is Star Trek's Secret Empathetic Weapon

It turns out that linguistics play a huge part in bringing our fandom community together.

Robert Sherbow

Premiering in 1966, Star Trek is universally beloved and often regarded as the most famous science fiction television series and franchise of all time. And while some might point to the far-flung adventures, bold-but-beloved captains, or wacky holodeck romps when trying to explain the show’s universal entertainment value, I’ve always pointed towards one particular aspect of the show — the Klingons — or, to be more specific, the Klingon language.

By looking at their unique, often guttural language, we can better understand how it contributes to creating the committed viewership and devoted fandom we know and love today. Stay with me here; I promise it’ll all make sense in the end.

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One of the most popular definitions of sci-fi comes from the Croatian science fiction critic Darko Suvin, who in 1979, identified a concept and phenomenon in the genre that he calls cognitive estrangement . Cognition is what Suvin calls an “imaginative framework” that can be understood by the audience — a world that makes logical sense and could be explained easily and believably. Estrangement stipulates that there has to be something different about the world that sets it apart from our world; something a little off or distancing, hence, “estrangement.” So together, cognitive estrangement allows viewers an alternate world different enough from our own — that still makes sense logically and often scientifically, as it’s not fantasy! — that allows them to perceive the sci-fi world and work in a new, untainted way.In Star Trek , we too can see examples of both cognition and estrangement. It’s easy to pick out examples of cognition, like the technological and scientific advancements such as the U.S.S. Enterprise — viewers understand space travel and the concept of teleportation, even if an advanced spaceship and a device like a transporter are both beyond our scientific grasp. Star Trek offers up estrangement simply in the show’s setting of the future — the Federation as a central government is certainly something we can imagine, but it’s clearly very different from our own world’s current political systems. Thus, when placed together, audiences are forced to put their own spin on the material because it’s a world that’s familiar, but not familiar enough to be able to interpret in the exact same way that we can interpret our own reality. Audiences can then develop new opinions, hopefully leave behind biases, and generate nuanced views of the fictional sci-fi world.

So where does Klingon come into play? Paramount Pictures commissioned American linguist Marc Okrand to create Klingon for Star Trek , which makes Klingon a constructed language (a language specifically created by someone for a purpose). Klingon itself has been heavily studied by both academics and fans alike, and in her 2009 book In the Land of Invented Languages , American linguist Arika Okrent described Klingon as having certain traits that fulfill both cognition and estrangement. She stated that Klingon has “the feel of a natural language,” while at the same time, it “gets its alien quality from the aspects that set it apart from natural languages.” Sound familiar?

Klingon seems like it could logically fit in our own world, but it has something alien and something off about it, which makes it fit cognitive estrangement rather perfectly. In the same book, Okrent also said that Klingon “[makes] a certain kind of linguistic sense,” but by an academic definition, “the phonological system of the language is by design harsh, guttural, and alien.” It seems like it fits into our world, but upon closer examination, there’s something estranging about it. Placed together, we find that cognitive estrangement is very clearly at play in many aspects of Klingon.

However, beyond cognitive estrangement, constructed languages like Klingon have other important roles in a sci-fi world like Star Trek — world-building. In Joseph Lo Bianco's 2004 article “Invented Languages and New Worlds” and in Lawrie Barnes and Chantelle van Heerden's 2008 article “Virtual Languages in Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature,” the linguists contended that constructed languages function in ways that are very similar to natural languages in that they support the worlds of the stories and also play an extremely important role in “[constructing] meaning and identity.” Many linguists also see constructed languages as a tool to build not only the sci-fi worlds, but also their constituent parts, including life, communities, and civilizations. Because of the vital role of language in our own lives to communicate and more, a constructed language becomes an integral component of a science fictional society because it is required for the society to function.

When Okrand created Klingon, he wanted to make the language as believable as possible, which also helped to craft the Star Trek world. In his 2011 From Elvish to Klingon: Exploring Invented Languages , English historian Michael Adams discussed how Okrand decided that the “best way to make the language sound real was to make it real — to devise phonological and grammatical systems and to make use of a consistent vocabulary” — and Okrand went on to create one of the most popular constructed languages ever. Okrand added more and more vocabulary, and eventually, Klingon went above and beyond the language’s intended usage for the imagined world of Star Trek and began to unintentionally influence the sci-fi world and societies in it beyond simply existing in it. Adams described how “the motive for inventing Klingon in the first place was more or less instrumental,” while “inventing more Klingon became important to the Star Trek brand” as we know and love it today. Nevertheless, the expansion of Klingon into a full constructed language did so much more than just serving to make the show believable; it brought an “imagined civilization to life” and assisted in “[immersing] people in the invented worlds and cultures presented to them.”

Star Trek's Klingon Meditation

Klingon goes far beyond simply being spoken on the show — it’s extremely popular as a language for learning. According to Okrent, in her book In the Land of Invented Languages , Klingon is second only to Esperanto in terms of the number of speakers, and Esperanto is a language that was devised for a function purpose in real life. She also describes the phenomenon of Star Trek as an obsession and love, and she suggests that Klingon is so popular because the challenge of learning it is actually the most engaging and interesting part about it. Klingon is a form of language and communication familiar to us, but the difficult-to-learn, alien quality of the constructed language is so fascinating that it brings in even more fans and learners. This quality of estrangement in Klingon allows viewers to connect empathetically with Star Trek , but the language rooted enough in our own cognitive understanding of language that we can both learn it like we can any other language and understand how it functions in the world of Star Trek .

Klingon is only one example of constructed languages in television, film, literature, and other works of sci-fi and more. However, it is one of the most well-known and has such a strong linguistic basis that the extent to which someone could speak in Klingon is nearly the same as English. Okrent estimates that there are perhaps at most a few dozen fluent Klingon speakers. Being one of the most complete examples of a constructed language, Klingon is on the extreme end of the spectrum, as many constructed languages in science fiction television are only developed enough for the sake of being seen on television or in other mediums (think Kryptonian — sorry, Superman and Supergirl).

But other fully constructed languages are also growing in popularity — think about how languages like Dothraki and Valyrian (both constructed languages built for the show by linguist David J. Peterson) contribute to the life-like, extraordinary fleshed-out world of Game of Thrones . Yet the depth and breadth of Klingon’s vocabulary, popularity, and ability for usage places Klingon in the unique position of being both linguistically and artistically supported by academic communities and the public, which makes it hugely popular around the world. The communities that are passionate about Star Trek and Klingon are enormous — linguistics and popular culture nerd finally have something to talk about together at a con!

Other constructed languages may not have as strong of an empathetic effect on people as Klingon does because of how similar it is to a natural language as well as its qualities of cognitive estrangement. Nevertheless, Klingon’s strong linguistic background together with its otherworldly, alien nature is enticing to so many speakers, making it an interesting, wonderful, and simply delightful language to learn and also just learn about.

As such, Klingon is an example of how constructed languages can serve to strongly connect viewers with a work of science fiction television and provide a source of empathy. Perhaps the ability to bond with linguistics at a Star Trek convention are more common than you might think; Okrent herself went to a Klingon language con for research and discovered that Klingon “suited the personal taste of a certain group of people so well that as soon as they saw it, they fell in love, clamored for more, and formed a community that brought it to life.”

Klingon may contribute to the innately complex world-building of Star Trek , but it also connects audiences much more deeply to the story and characters as well. While constructed languages do contribute to the crucial job of world-building in sci-fi television, they also serve as an extremely important way for audiences to build empathetic connections with the material through cognitive estrangement (and thank you, Darko Suvin — awesome name as well, by the way). So sci-fi creators out there, take note; maybe you’ll want to build a constructed language of your own.

Mary Chieffo Teaches the Perfect Beginner Klingon Phrase

This article was originally published on July 23, 2019.

Olivia Popp is a freelance writer, artist, and all-around sci-fi nerd. She enjoys filmmaking, traveling, and eating hefty quantities of barbecue sauce. Find her on Twitter @itsoliviapopp.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

1 History and specifics
2.1 Connections
2.2 References
2.3 External link

History and specifics [ ]

In the year 2368 , the Federation starship USS Endeavour was in this system. When the Ktarians used a game to hypnotize the crew of the Enterprise -D , the next step in their plan to take over Starfleet was to have Enterprise personnel travel to Cleon and board the Endeavour . ( TNG episode : " The Game ")

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], references [ ].

TNG episode : " The Game "

External link [ ]

Cleon article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
2 Intrepid class
3 Wesley Crusher

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Known for their proud warlike mentality and adherence to a code of honor, Klingons have been one of the most influential species in the history of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants since at least the 22nd century, and have acted both as enemies and allies of the Federation.

1.1 Evolution
1.2 Internal anatomy
1.4 Cranial ridges
1.5 Hybrids
1.6 Other variants
2 Culture and society
3 Notable members
4.1 Mirror universe
7 External links

Biology [ ]

Klingons are a humanoid species of plantigrade bipeds with an erect body posture and no tail. Their hands have five fingers, including an opposable thumb.

Their physical strength is at least on par with Vulcans , which are three times stronger than Humans . However, Klingons are not as strong as Human augments such as Khan Noonien Singh , which are five times stronger than regular Humans.

The Klingon lifespan is well over a hundred Earth years, as demonstrated by individuals such as Kang, Kor, Koloth and Arne Darvin, all of whom met Captain Kirk in the 2260s and were still alive and in good physical health by 2370. It appears that Klingon children develop much faster than Human children of comparative age, based on the accelerated growth rate observed in the hybrid Alexander Rozhenko (who is ¾ Klingon, ¼ Human).

Like Humans, Klingons have a variety of skin colors.

Like Humans, Klingons have mostly hairless skin, with thick hair on their scalps, and males may grow facial hair in the form of mustaches and beards. According to Bolian barber Mot, Klingon hair is thick and luxuriant, which he described as "a pleasure to cut". Additionally, Klingons experience accelerated hair growth during jak'tahla , which is equivalent to Human puberty, along with other physiological changes such as gorchs , which look like large pimples. Like many other humanoids, Klingon hair turns grey in old age.

Klingons are more vulnerable to cold weather compared to other humanoids, such as Trills . Judging from the environment aboard Klingon ships, it appears that they prefer a darker environment as well. Alcohol has the same effect on them as it does on Humans. Unlike Humans, Klingons have a ribosome structure similar enough to Romulans to allow transfusions between the two species.

One peculiarity of Klingon biology is that they're entirely unaffected by the tranquilizing effect of Tribbles . In fact, Tribbles become furiously agitated in the presence of a Klingon.

According to Spock , Klingons don't have tear-ducts. However, it is known for a fact that they can still produce tears, at least under certain circumstances. History also tells that after the Klingon Kahless unified his people and taught them the principles of honor, he departed from the city and the people wept because they didn't want him to go. Similarly, another legend claims that Kahless wept for his deceased father, and the ocean was filled with his tears.

Most Klingons possess cranial ridges adorning their foreheads, which vary in shape from individual to individual, some being more elaborated, others less so. However, Klingons encountered in the 2260s lacked cranial ridges entirely and had a far more humanoid appearance as a result, to the point that some could easily pass off as Humans during that age. The reason for this is that the Klingon species was affected by a mutation due to a widespread infection by the Klingon augment virus, created as a failed attempt to enhance their species using genetic material from Human augments in the mid-22nd century. The mutagenic virus proved both infectious and lethal, and threatened to exterminate the Klingon population, until a Denobulan doctor named Phlox, working with Klingon physician Antaak, found a way to stabilize the condition by neutralizing the latter stages of the disease. While this solution saved the Klingon species and prevented harmful symptoms from the infection, the virus still altered the subjects' DNA , and the influence of Human genetics resulted in entire generations of Klingons being born without cranial ridges.

Evolution [ ]

An unnamed evolutionary ancestor of the Klingon species.

Klingons evolved from large predators. The prehistoric ancestors of the Klingon species were formidable creatures with thorny exoskeletons, large mandibles and venom glands specialized for spitting a corrosive toxin at their prey: features that are no longer present in modern Klingons.

Internal anatomy [ ]

Klingon anatomy without the Augment virus.

The Klingon internal anatomy is characterized by a phenomenon known as brak'lul , described by Human scientist Toby Russell as "unnecessary redundancies". Compared to other humanoids, they have built-in backup systems in the form of additional or "overdesigned" organs, including 23 ribs, two livers, an eight-chambered heart and double-lined neural pia mater. According to Dr. Beverly Crusher, "almost every vital function in their bodies has a built-in redundancy in case any primary organ or system fails". This has the beneficial effect to allow Klingons to survive and recover from grave injuries better than most other humanoids. The downside, as expressed by Dr. Russell, is that "all the extra organs means just that much more can go wrong".

Due to the particularities of their culture, Klingon medicine hasn't developed as much as that of other spacefaring races, and there are aspects of their internal workings that remain unknown, even to Klingon authorities. For example, since a Klingon who suffers a paralyzing injury is usually left to die, research on neurological trauma was almost nonexistent as of 2368.

Purplish-pink blood.

Klingon blood is often red, hardly distinguishable from Human blood, but can also be purplish-pink. It's not known whether the difference in blood color is due to phenotypic diversity, a difference between arterial and venous blood, or other reasons. It is even possible that Klingons might have two circulatory systems and two types of blood in their bodies, which might represent another aspect of their remarkable brak'lul (anatomical redundancy).

In 2293, a Human agent disguised as a Klingon had his identity exposed after being shot when Colonel Worf noticed that his blood wasn't Klingon blood. Since Klingon blood is often red, the fact that Worf was able to identify West as an impostor might have to do with other aspects of his blood, such as consistency or smell, rather than coloration. Alternatively, it's possible that Klingon eyesight can distinguish between Human blood and Klingon blood even if both might look red to Human eyes.

In 2381, a Klingon named Ma'ah claimed that "Klingon blood runs as reddish-pink as ever".

Cranial ridges [ ]

K'tal, a Klingon with pronounced ridges.

Klingons with less pronounced ridges.

Klingon cranial ridges vary in size and shape on an individual basis, and seem to be extraordinarily variable.

After the mutagenic virus spread through their species in 2154, Klingons acquired genetic traits from Human augments and lost their cranial ridges. The descendants of those afflicted with this condition were likewise born without ridges, and as a result look superficially Human-like, to the point that some can easily pass off as Human.

Eventually, at some point after 2269, the Klingons found a way to restore their original phenotype. Previously smooth-headed Klingons such as Kor, Kang and Koloth regained their ridges in old age, although whether as a result of genetic treatment or cosmetic surgery is not known. 24th century Klingons are born with cranial ridges, and look exactly as they did prior to 2154.

There appears to have been a transitional period in the latter half of the 23rd century in which some Klingons displayed very smooth cranial ridges, quite unlike those of their 22nd and 24th century counterparts. Particularly, Klingon females from the late 23rd century such as Valkris, Vixis and Azetbur all have far less pronounced ridges than most contemporary males; although there are some males from this same period with very unpronounced ridges as well, as notably demonstrated by General Chang and others.

According to a Borg drone, shattering a Klingon's "cranial exoskeleton" at the tricipital lobe results in immediate death.

Klingon back ridges.

In addition to cranial ridges, Klingons also have ridges on their backs, running along the spine. It's currently not known whether the smooth-headed 23rd century Klingons share this particular trait.

Hybrids [ ]

K'Ehleyr, a Klingon-Human hybrid.

Being descended from DNA molecules planted by the Ancient Humanoids , Klingons are distantly related to the other humanoid species of the galaxy such as Humans, Romulans and Cardassians , even though each evolved independently on their respective homeworlds. As a result, Klingons are genetically-compatible and can produce hybrid offspring with Humans and Romulans.

The Klingon phenotype tends to be prevalent in hybrids. Klingon-Romulan hybrids such as Ba'el can pass off as full-blood Klingons just by hiding their Romulan pointed ears.

Other variants [ ]

A Klingon with elongated skull.

A radically different type of Klingons appear to have been the dominant phenotype in the 2250s, making up both the Klingon High Council and the population of Qo'noS. Strangely, this type of Klingon has only been observed during that period.

These aberrant Klingons have a inhuman appearance, exemplified by such influential figures of the era as T'Kuvma and Chancellor L'Rell, look radically different from any other variant ever observed before or since. They have elongated skulls, broad noses with four nostrils, ears partially fused to the sides of their heads, sharp teeth which appear fused together, and talons on their fingers. They also seem to have more varied skin tones than normal Klingons, ranging from ebony to purplish-grey or copper.

Overall, these Klingons seem to be entirely unrelated to the smooth-headed Human-like Klingons who crewed the ships alongside the Federation frontier in the 2260s. While it is possible that some kind of segregation happened to prevent the augment virus from reaching the capital of the Empire, the origin of the T'Kuvma-style Klingons is not known. Assuming they're also mutated (albeit in a different way), that might be a contributing factor in their fervent hatred of the Federation.

Culture and society [ ]

Qo'noS, homeworld of the Klingon species and Capitol of the Klingon Empire, is an M-class planet located in the Beta Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Klingons are a warrior race which take pride in conquest and victory, seeking prestige and validation for both themselves and their bloodlines by deeds of honor and courage.

They're native to the M-class planet Qo'noS, which serves as capital of the Klingon Empire. Klingon families make up the Great Houses, which are represented in the Klingon High Council. A Chancellor serves as leader to the entire species.

Outside of battle, Klingons are a boisterous people who engage in festivities and enjoy eating, drinking, singing and trading playful insults. Their culture is rich in music, from songs that immortalize battles to the celebrated Klingon operas. Despite their historical enmity with Humans, they also have an appreciation for some aspects of Human culture, notably the plays of William Shakespeare: a sentiment expressed by Chancellor Gorkon, who joked that "you have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon".

Klingons are a monogamous and patriarchal race, and place great importance in familial ties. Rather than using surnames, a Klingon will introduce himself by stating his name and the name of his father (e.g. "I am Worf, son of Mogh"). They share the honors and the dishonors of their immediate relatives: a disgraced father equals a disgraced son. Klingon tradition holds that the son of a Klingon is a man the day he can first hold a blade.

Even in old age, Klingons remain warriors.

Klingon culture is centered around the concept of honor, as taught by the founder of modern Klingon civilization, the warrior-emperor Kahless, who originally unified his people and created a code of conduct to be followed for centuries after his death. Honor and dishonor are more important than life and death for a Klingon. They prefer to die honorably in combat than to face the dishonor of being captured alive. Emphasis is also placed on courage, loyalty and battle skills.

However, Klingon honor differs somewhat from what most Humans would regard as honor. While they're usually upfront and hardly ever resort to the sneaky tactics employed by their Romulan and Cardassian enemies, they're not averse to deception, and will always ponder their options based on which strategy has the best chance of resulting in victory. To a Klingon, nothing's more honorable than victory.

Suicide is considered dishonorable among Klingons. However, a form of ritual assisted suicide exists, known as Hegh'bat , to allow those who can no longer fight and have become a burden to their families to die honorably, with the assistance of a friend or family member, preferably the warrior's own son. Similarly the controversial rite of Mauk-to'Vor allows a Klingon to kill a wrongfully disgraced brother and restore his honor upon death.

One (in)famous aspect of Klingon culture that has been often misunderstood by Humans is the custom that allows a Klingon officer to climb in rank by murdering his superiors. While this is technically true, there are strict restrictions: a superior officer can only be challenged by his immediate subordinate if the latter is convinced that the former is no longer fit to perform his duties. This practice serves to ensure that Klingons face pressure to perform their duties correctly, both from their superiors and from their subordinates.

Due to the strong emphasis on warrior mentality, Klingons who seek other professions may not be very well-regarded by their kin. Antaak was disowned by his father for becoming a physician, and Klingon scientists such as Kurak resent the lack of appreciation for their work. However, some Klingons have become respected in other fields, such as advocates who view the courtroom as a battlefield in which uncovering the truth represents victory.

A Klingon D7-class battleship, used by the Klingon Empire during the 23rd century.

Like the Romulans, Klingons have been known to employ cloaking technology on their ships. This, along with the Romulans using Klingon designs on their ships in 2268, suggests that the two species have acquired technology from each other, possibly via a short-lived alliance before becoming blood enemies. The Klingons have also acquired holographic technology from the Xyrillians in 2151, long before holodecks became commonplace among other species.

Despite having access to advanced technology, a Klingon's favorite combat weapon is the bat'leth : a bladed weapon that can be held with one hand or both.

Klingon cuisine includes live racht .

Klingon cuisine, much like Ferengi cuisine, includes live invertebrates. The many varieties of gagh and racht are to be consumed alive. Half-dead racht is considered poor quality.

Klingons, for the most part, speak a single language across the Empire known as Klingonese, or simply Klingon, although dialects are known to exist. The Klingon language makes heavy use of guttural sounds and has phonetic features that are highly unusual compared to most Human languages, but can still be learned and spoken by other species, including Humans, Trills and Elaysians .

Klingon death ritual.

According to Kang, Klingons have no belief in the devil . However, they do believe in two types of afterlife: Sto-Vo-Kor is the destiny of those who die with honor, and its halls are guarded by Kahless himself. In contrast, those who die without honor end up in the hellish realm of Gre'thor , guarded at the gates by a monster known as Fek'Ihr. When a Klingon dies, it is customary for his peers to howl at the sky as a warning that a Klingon warrior is about to arrive in the afterlife.

Klingon courtship and mating rituals are violent by Human standards. It is traditional for Klingon females to roar, hurl heavy objects at their mates and claw at them, while the males read love poetry and duck a lot.

Klingons have domesticated species such as the Targ , the Klingon Monster Dog and the Jackal Mastiff .

The Klingon unit of currency is called the darsek.

Striking someone with the back of one's hand is considered a challenge to a battle to the death among Klingons. Keeping distance and speaking softly or whispering is considered extremely insulting.

Notable members [ ]

Commander Kruge.

Chancellor Gorkon.

Kahless: Emperor of the Klingon Empire, Kahless was also referred to as "Kahless the Unforgettable". He is also known to have forged his very sword, the first Bat'Leth, out of a lock of his own hair, thrust into the magma of the volcano at Kri'stak. During the 24th century, Kahless was cloned and this version of him came to rule the Klingon Empire once more, albeit as a religious figurehead rather than political.
Worf: Son of Mogh and former lieutenant and current lieutenant commander of the USS Enterprise . Worf is also a friend of many aboard the Enterprise , including Jean-Luc Picard, Data, Tasha Yar, etc. He was initially a dishonored Klingon, until Gowron became chancellor, allowing Worf to regain his honor, after evidence of his family's innocence in the Khitomer Massacre was made known.
Koloth: Former captain of the I.K.S Gr'oth and a legendary warrior among many Klingons. He was known to have had several run-ins with Capt. James T. Kirk during the 23rd century, most of which involving Tribbles.
Kurn: The youngest son of Mogh and brother of Worf, Kurn was known to be a supporter of Gowron during the Klingon Civil War. This earned him a seat on the high council, but would be taken away when Worf refused to aid the Klingons in their attempted invasion of Cardassia.
Gowron: Former Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, Gowron was a major player during the Klingon Civil War and was supported by Worf's brother Kurn. He allowed Worf to regain his honor, following new evidence of the Khitomer Massacre coming to light, proclaiming his father's innocence. Gowron however died on Deep Space 9 during a duel with Worf.
Martok: Nicknamed the "Butcher" by the Tzenkethi , Martok is a well respected high ranking general of the Klingon Empire during the 24th and 25th centuries. Martok was a key player in the Dominion War, allied with the Federation against their common enemy and eventually, following Gowron's death, he rose to the rank of Chancellor of the Klingon High Council.
Kruge: A commander in the Klingon Imperial Fleet of the 23rd century, Kruge was obsessed with gaining the Genesis Project for the Empire in hopes of using it as a weapon. He is indirectly responsible for the death of David Marcus, James T. Kirk's son. He engaged in combat with the Admiral, however died after falling into a lava stream beneath him.
Korax: Captain Koloth's former executive officer aboard the I.K.S. Gr'oth , Korax, like his superior officer, was known to have descended from Klingons afflicted with the Augment Virus. He is also known to have started a bar fight with Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise , Montgomery Scott on Space Station K7. This fight resulted in shore leave to be cancelled for both ships at the command of Captain James T. Kirk.

History [ ]

Ba'el, a Klingon-Romulan hybrid.

According to the Klingon belief system, the ancient Klingons killed the gods who created them because "they were more trouble than they were worth".

The father of modern Klingon civilization is Kahless the Unforgettable, who unified his people at some point in the 9th century and became the first Emperor of Qo'noS. Many centuries after his death, he remains the most influential figure in Klingon history and a name to be honored and respected by all Klingons. In 2269, an Excalbian described Kahless as "the Klingon who set the pattern for his planet's tyrannies".

After his job of unifying and teaching his people was done, Kahless departed to Sto-Vo-Kor , but promised his followers that he would return someday and pointed at a star in the night sky, telling the others to look for him there. The star system in question was later colonized by the Klingons, who found an M-class planet named Boreth, and built the Boreth Monastery to wait for the eventual return of Kahless.

In the 14th century, the Klingon homeworld of Qo'noS was invaded by a Gamma Quadrant species known as the Hur'q (a Klingon word that means "outsider"), which raided the planet and stole priceless treasures, including the Sword of Kahless.

It's not known precisely at which point Klingons developed space flight and warp drive. A Ferengi named Quark, having traveled back in time to 1947, claimed that if he could scavenge the warp drive of his ship and bring it to his home planet, the Ferengi would have access to warp drive "centuries before Humans or Klingons or even the Vulcans". The veracity of this statement is debatable, as it's known that the Vulcans were already a spacefaring civilization during that time, although it's possible that they might have used different forms of propulsion other than warp drive, the same being potentially true of the Klingons.

First contact between Klingons and Vulcans happened in 2016, and ended with the Vulcan ship being unceremoniously destroyed. After this failed attempt at diplomacy, the Vulcans adopted a new policy for every time they crossed paths with Klingons: opening fire first. This actually earned them the Klingons' respect. In 2367, when explaining the Federation's first contact procedures to the Malcorians , Captain Jean-Luc Picard claimed that "centuries ago, a disastrous contact with the Klingon Empire led to decades of war".

Dr. Antaak after losing his ridges from the modified Levodian flu.

In 2154, an attempt by the Klingon government to use genetic material from Human augments to enhance their species backfired gravely when it was found that one of the subjects was infected by the Levodian flu. The augment DNA modified the (normally harmless) Levodian flu virus, giving rise to the deadly Klingon augment virus, which quickly became epidemic. A treatment developed by Phlox and Antaak neutralized the lethal stages of the disease, but didn't prevent it from altering the subjects' DNA, resulting in the creation of smooth-headed Klingons, and entire generations of Klingons being born without cranial ridges.

For the next century following the outspread of the augment virus, the Klingons became far more isolated. While the smooth-headed phenotype made up the crew of Klingon vessels in the outskirts of the Empire, closer to the Federation border, it appears that not all Klingons were smooth-headed during that period. In 2256, the Klingon High Council and the planet Qo'noS itself were populated by a different type of Klingons with elongated skulls, taloned hands, different skin tones and more alien-like facial features. It is possible that the apparent segregation between these aberrant Klingons and the smooth-headed descendants of those afflicted by the augment virus came as an attempt to prevent the disease from reaching the capital of the Empire, although at this point this is mere conjecture. By the latter half of the 23rd century, the Klingon original phenotype was restored, and 24th century Klingons look the same as they did prior to 2154.

A Klingon ambassador.

Throughout the better part of the 23rd century, the Klingon Empire was inimical towards the United Federation of Planets: a situation that resulted in armed conflicts, such as the Battle of Donatu V in 2245, and culminated in a brief full-scale war in 2267, although the Organians intervened to put an end to it, forcing both sides to agree to the Organian Peace Treaty.

Despite the Organian treaty, relations between the Federation and the Klingons remained mostly sour: an uneasy peace punctuated by skirmishes and minor conflicts; until the signing of the Khitomer Accords of 2293, in which the two nations finally arranged for a true lasting peace on their own terms, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon and the Human Starfleet officers James T. Kirk and Spock. After this, relations improved to the point that the Klingons were more often allies of the Federation.

Worf, the first Klingon to join Starfleet.

Worf, a Klingon raised by Humans after his biological parents were killed in a Romulan attack on Khitomer, became the first Klingon to join Starfleet and served in the USS Enterprise -D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and as strategic operations officer on space station Deep Space 9, under Captain Benjamin Sisko.

At some point after 2268, the Klingons were responsible for the systematic extermination of Tribbles, which they regarded as pests. Tribbles would be later brought back from extinction after the USS Defiant crew traveled back in time to 2268 and retrieved some living specimens.

In 2373, the Klingon Empire joined forces with both the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire in the Dominion War, fighting against Dominion , Breen and Cardassian forces to prevent a Dominion conquest of the Alpha Quadrant.

According to the temporal agent Daniels, by the 26th century, Klingons have joined the Federation.

Mirror universe [ ]

In the mirror universe, the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance rose to prominence in the 24th century, following the downfall of the Terran Empire, and enslaved Humans and Vulcans.

Gallery [ ]

A real Klingon opera named ʼuʼ premiered in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2010, and tells the story of Kahless. Before that, A Klingon Christmas Carol was the first play to be performed (almost) entirely in Klingon, premiering in 2007.
This discrepancy was acknowledged, but not resolved, in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Trials and Tribble-ations": a celebration of the franchise's 30th anniversary in which the Deep Space Nine cast travels back in time to prevent the assassination of Captain Kirk. When asked about why the Klingons looked different back then, Worf responds that Klingons don't discuss that with outsiders. An explanation was eventually provided by the Star Trek: Enterprise two-part episode "Affliction" / "Divergence", introducing the mutagenic virus responsible for the change.
The appearance of the historical emperor Kahless as a smooth-headed Klingon in the original series episode "The Savage Curtain" doesn't contradict canon because that Kahless was a simulation created by the Excalbians, who presumably recreated his appearance based on how Kirk and Spock would expect Kahless to look like, rather than how he actually looked like in life.
Klingons have been portrayed with red blood in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , but with purplish-pink blood in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek: Lower Decks .
In the first season of Star Trek: Discovery , the Klingons were also portrayed without hair, contradicting canonical acknowledgements that Klingons have hair, such as in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Schisms" and "Rightful Heir", and in Star Trek: Insurrection . This particular discrepancy was remedied in the second season, which shows the Klingons with hair and beards, and mentions that they had previously shaved for the war.
Comparing L'Rell's appearance in the first and second seasons of Star Trek: Discovery reveals that, besides growing hair, the shape of her skull was altered radically, from elongated and alien in the first season, to a far more human-like shape in the second season. No explanation has been given for this, but since it's unlikely that Klingons can alter the shape of their skulls, it's probably best regarded as a simple make-up alteration, similar to how Worf's appearance changed throughout his appearances in TNG.
The Klingon species was indirectly mentioned via the first Klingon emperor, Kahless, in Joan D. Vinge's 1977 short story "To Bell the Cat". The story mentions " Piper Alvarian Jary, who had served a man who made Attila the Hun, Hitler, and Kahless look like nice guys ".
A Klingon Embassy is featured in the Futurama episode "A Taste of Freedom". Humorously, the embassy is pink and looks the opposite of what would be expected from Klingon aesthetics.
While not portrayed, the Klingons are also a species in Michael Herbig's Bullyparade universe, being mentioned in two sketches of the sketch series Unser Traumschiff .
The Klunkins from Duck Dodgers are a parody / homage to the Klingons.

External links [ ]

Klingons at startrek.com
2 Asteromorph
3 Star Person (All Tomorrows)

Who Actually Created The Klingon Language In Star Trek?

When it comes to "Star Trek" aliens, the Klingons are second in popularity only to the Vulcans. Often serving as primary antagonists, especially in "Star Trek: The Original Series" and its films, the warmongering Klingons became an iconic part of that universe. And as the "Star Trek" mythos deepened over the years, so too did that of the Klingons. What started out as a vicious warrior race in perpetual conflict with the Federation soon became a tentative but respected ally with a strong culture of loyalty and honor.

This was most outwardly exemplified in Lieutenant Commander Worf (Michael Dorn), the Klingon Federation officer who served as a trusted member of the crews of both the Enterprise and Deep Space Nine. However, the Klingons' development is also shown in their visual design, the inclusion of their distinctive head ridges, and their culture. And when it comes to culture, no other element of "Star Trek" displays the evolution of the Klingons more than their iconic constructed language.

Since it was first spoken out loud in 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," the Klingon language has become an institution among certain die-hard Trekkies. As it evolved in later films and shows, it became more robust, and fans began learning to speak it themselves. Some fans can hold entire conversations in Klingon, and people have scripted both a play (via The Wall Street Journal ) and an opera (via The New York Times ) in the language. But that begs the question, who actually created the Klingon language, and how did they make it so complex?

Marc Okrand is science fiction's finest language nerd

The most surprising thing about the Klingon language might just be that its original creator was actually one of the original cast members, James Doohan, who played Scotty. According to StarTrek.com , he was the one who came up with the few spoken lines of Klingon in the first "Star Trek" film. However, during the production of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," executive producer Harve Bennett came into contact with an old friend named Marc Okrand, a professional linguist. He soon enlisted Okrand to write the lines spoken in Vulcan in "Wrath of Khan" and fully flesh out Klingon in its sequel, "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." Afterward, Okrand authored the official Klingon dictionary and became the father of science fiction's most well-known language.

"I wrote 'The Klingon Dictionary' hoping that people would like it, of course, but I honestly expected that people would look at it, try to say a few words – maybe memorize one or two – and that would be it. I never imagined that people would study it so seriously," Okrand told StarTrek.com . "When I hear people I've never met before ... speaking the language, it's still an odd sensation."

Over the years, Okrand further built upon the Klingon language in later films and series, although writers would often rely solely on "The Klingon Dictionary." Even so, you can hear Okrand's work in nearly every alien language in every iteration of "Star Trek," including the more recent "Star Trek: Discovery."

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Star trek: discovery actor explains controversial klingons were “an ancient sect of outcasts”.

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Why It Took Star Trek Almost 24 Years To Visit The Klingon Home World

How star trek: discovery’s new number one compares to riker, 1 star trek: discovery ending detail makes burnham’s son like kirk.

Star Trek: Discovery's bold redesign of Klingons sparked controversy but added depth to the warrior race's history and culture.
Mary Chieffo, who played L'Rell, delves into the backstory of the Klingons, including their language and societal structure.
Chieffo's D-Con Chamber podcast interview reveals the thought process behind creating a unique version of Klingons for Discovery.

Mary Chieffo, who played Chancellor L'Rell, explains why Star Trek: Discovery 's controversial Klingons were different from the prior iterations of the warrior race. Star Trek: Discovery' s Klingons were widely disliked during seasons 1 and 2, as the prequel reinvented the Klingons' design to be bald, more alien, and animalistic , setting the stage for the Klingon War with the United Federation of Planets. By Star Trek: Discovery season 2, L'Rell had risen to become the Klingon Chancellor, and Discovery began slowly shifting the Klingons' look toward the more popular 24th-century design.

Mary Chieffo joined Star Trek: Enterprise 's Dominic Keating and Connor Trinner on their new podcast, The D-Con Chamber , for a far-ranging conversation about her career and role as L'Rell on Star Trek: Discovery. Discussing the methodology she used to create the dialect specific to Star Trek: Discovery 's version of the Klingons , Chieffo delved into the Klingons' and L'Rell's backstory, which helps to explain why Discovery 's Klingons were different . Read her quote and watch The D-Con Chamber video below:

In the way we were speaking the [Klingon] language, because we were speaking it more than any Klingon had in the past, we were really diving into, also, an untouched version of the language. Because at that point, timeline-wise, there was a moment in Enterprise, obviously - the pilot, right? [Where Enterprise met Klingons.] But since then, the idea was that there had been no contact. Or, throughout whatever y’all exprienced on Enterprise, once you had your experience, then nothing until this point. I loved the idea, particularly with T’Kuvma, that they were kind of this ancient sect of Klingon houses, and that we were also kind of the outcasts. For L’Rell, as is disclosed, I love a good expositional line, when I do start speaking English, I’ve captured Lorca, and I say, ‘I’m descended from spies’. That’s why I know English really well. (laughs) But I did love that House Mo’Kai, which is my mother’s side of the family, is a house of spies, is one of the few female-led Klingon houses, and I love that they were spies because, in a lot of ways, that was the way these women were able to function in this patriarchal Klingon society. Because the Klingon world is still much more partriarchal than the utopian Federation.

The Klingons have been an integral part of Star Trek for almost 60 years, so why did it take nearly 24 years to visit their home world, Qo'noS?

What Happened To Star Trek: Discovery's Klingons?

Klingons returned in strange new worlds.

Klingons were never seen again in Star Trek: Discovery after season 2. Klingons like L'Rell, Voq/Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif), and T'Kuvma (Chris Obi) were major characters in the early years of Star Trek: Discovery , with historic firsts depicted like L'Rell's rise as the first female Klingon High Chancellor and Voq becoming the first Klingon surgically altered into a human. However, audience reaction to Star Trek: Discovery 's Klingons was so overwhelmingly negative, the series' time jump to the 32nd century literally distanced itself from the controversial Klingons of Star Trek: Discovery 's first two seasons.

Tenavik (Kenneth Mitchell), the son of L'Rell and Ash Tyler, showed Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) his unavoidable tragic future in Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

23rd century Klingons finally returned in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, set in the immediate years after Star Trek: Discovery season 2. But gone were Discovery 's Klingons, and Strange New Worlds depicted the warrior race to resemble how they look in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's 24th century . Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 8, "Under the Cloak of War" retconned the Klingon War so that Klingons did not look as they did on Star Trek: Discovery . Meanwhile, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds introduced singing Klingons , which didn't receive the vitriol that the Klingons did on Star Trek: Discovery.

Source: The D-Con Chamber

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As my Star Trek character commanded the weight of a starship, I was hours away from becoming a father

The lines between fiction and reality collided when i welcomed my child into the world.

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This First Person column is the experience of Patrick Kwok-Choon, who was born and raised in Montreal. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ .

I was on the set of Star Trek: Discovery and my character Gen Rhys had been thrust into the captain's chair, burdened with making life-and-death decisions for himself and his crew.

I can't believe this was happening to me.

It was a milestone for my character — the first time as acting captain on the Starship Discovery — but also an important moment for me as a lifelong fan of the franchise.

Sitting in that chair, I couldn't help but think of the iconic performances by Patrick Stewart, Kate Mulgrew and Avery Brooks. The weight of their legacy was palpable, and being part of that tradition felt incredibly significant.

But my real concern wasn't the scene; it was the crisis unfolding at home.

At 3 a.m., my wife went into labour. When her contractions increased, we called our midwife at 9 a.m. Despite the unpredictability of childbirth, she assured me, based on her extensive experience, that it was OK for me to go to work. She mentioned that while it's not guaranteed, deliveries typically occur at night, offering me some peace of mind.

A screenshot of CBS/Paramount+ show Star Trek: Discovery.

I was contractually obligated to go into work that day and my wife reassured me that her contractions were only uncomfortable, not painful. She insisted I go.

With a heavy heart, I asked my neighbour to watch over my wife and to call me if there was any emergency. I would come home immediately, regardless of the consequences.

When I arrived at work, my castmates greeted me with joy. The higher-ups were quickly informed and a production head came down to assure me that everything was being done to expedite my departure. The shooting schedule was rearranged so all my scenes would be filmed first. I immediately called my wife to share the news.

As I spoke with her, another production head approached, offering congratulations and reiterating the plan. But he added, "If things get too crazy at home and we haven't finished, just bail." I told him my wife felt we were still in the early phases of labour, and we should still have time. He leaned in, gave me a hug, and whispered in my ear, "Just bail."

A man takes a photo of him sitting in a hair styling chair.

All hands on deck

I was at a loss for words — studios aren't obligated to accommodate actors in such situations. I've heard terrible stories of actors unable to attend births, weddings and even funerals due to rigid shooting schedules. Yet here, amid the bustling set of a multimillion-dollar shoot, this person was giving me permission to prioritize my family. It was a heartfelt gesture that I'll never forget.

Returning to the chair, it felt like an actual "all hands on deck" moment straight out of Star Trek. Each department rallied together with precision and urgency, and I could feel their support willing me forward. Together, we navigated the challenges of the day, ensuring I could fulfill my duty as both actor and father-to-be.

After what felt like an eternity, the first assistant director called out, "That's a wrap on Patrick. He's free to leave."

The cast and crew of Star-Trek: Discovery behind the scenes with the director.

I leaped out of my chair and shouted, "I'm going to have a baby!" to the applause of the cast and crew.

At this point, I had been at work for nine hours and it was 8 p.m. I rocketed out of that studio at warp speed. When I got home, my wife's contractions had reached the point where the midwife advised it was time to go to the hospital. I couldn't believe my luck. Despite the chaos of the day, I had made it just in time for the delivery.

Five hours later, as I held my newborn in my arms, I was overwhelmed with a sense of relief and profound joy. The juxtaposition of the day's events felt surreal — acting out life-and-death stakes on set only to experience the miracle of life in reality.

Patrick pictured with his baby in a sling around his front.

My child is now 20 months old. Just this weekend, I had the luxury of taking my child out for a morning stroll, pushing them for what felt like an eternity on the swings, and sitting in silence together on a park bench as I watched them slowly gobble up a muffin, basking in the absolute wonder of this little miracle. A gift. My gift.

Patrick's baby pictured from the chin down wearing a yellow Star-Trek shirt.

I am miles away from the fearful day on set and have come safely to the other side of things – just as I'm light-years from my youth when I feared becoming a parent because, in my naive mind, it meant getting trapped into something or sacrificing my career, time and energy.

But I think most parents would agree: what you gain is absolutely priceless. No longer do I find myself consumed with work or clinging desperately to career aspirations. I have reshaped my understanding of what's really important to me and my life is immensely richer for it.

The day I spent in the captain's chair on Discovery will forever be etched in my memory, not just for the professional milestone it represented but for the personal journey it paralleled. The lines between fiction and reality blurred, the weight of commanding a starship colliding with the anticipation of welcoming new life into the world.

It was a stark reminder of the beautiful, unpredictable nature of life, where our most significant moments often unfold in the most unexpected ways.

Do you have a compelling personal story that can bring understanding or help others? We want to hear from you. Here's more info on how to pitch to us .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Freelance contributor

Patrick Kwok-Choon was born and raised in Montreal. He is best known for the five seasons he spent on the hit CBS/Paramount+ show Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek's Hidden Connection To The Big Bang Theory

Posted: June 19, 2024 | Last updated: June 19, 2024

<p>During its insanely successful 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory included plenty of references to Star Trek and even had Wesley Crusher actor Wil Wheaton as a frequent guest star. Historically, though, this was a one-way street, with the sci-fi franchise never directly referencing the ensemble CBS comedy. However, Star Trek: Discovery snuck in one homage to The Big Bang Theory in the most unexpected way: Harry Mudd’s insect helper, “Stuart,” was named after the hapless comic store owner who frequently sold issues to characters like Leonard and Sheldon.</p>

Star Trek’s Hidden Connection To The Big Bang Theory

During its insanely successful 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory included plenty of references to Star Trek and even had Wesley Crusher actor Wil Wheaton as a frequent guest star. Historically, though, this was a one-way street, with the sci-fi franchise never directly referencing the ensemble CBS comedy. However, Star Trek: Discovery snuck in one homage to The Big Bang Theory in the most unexpected way: Harry Mudd’s insect helper, “Stuart,” was named after the hapless comic store owner who frequently sold issues to characters like Leonard and Sheldon.

<p>If you’re a Star Trek fan who has never watched The Big Bang Theory, you may need a little context. In the latter show, Stuart Bloom isn’t a member of the core gang…instead, he’s the owner of The Comic Center of Pasadena, a place that the core characters frequently visit to buy and discuss all things nerdy. Even as Stuart became a steadily more prominent member of the show (with actor Kevin Sussman becoming part of the regular cast), he was often presented as even nerdier than the original gang, someone whose meek nature and poor social skills made him unlucky in both love and business. </p>

The Stuart Bloom Connection

If you’re a Star Trek fan who has never watched The Big Bang Theory, you may need a little context. In the latter show, Stuart Bloom isn’t a member of the core gang…instead, he’s the owner of The Comic Center of Pasadena, a place that the core characters frequently visit to buy and discuss all things nerdy. Even as Stuart became a steadily more prominent member of the show (with actor Kevin Sussman becoming part of the regular cast), he was often presented as even nerdier than the original gang, someone whose meek nature and poor social skills made him unlucky in both love and business.

<p>Over the years, Star Trek became a more prominent part of The Big Bang Theory episodes, with characters doing everything from debating which Enterprise captain was better to frequently dressing up as Starfleet characters and even playing Boggle in the Klingon language. Star Trek stars frequently made guest appearances on the show, including LeVar Burton and George Takei. By far the most frequent guest star is Wil Wheaton, who (despite some bumps along the way) becomes a good friend to Sheldon and the other characters.</p><p>As we mentioned before, Star Trek never explicitly referenced The Big Bang Theory, which makes sense. After all, the franchise can get away with characters referencing literary giants like Shakespeare and even re-enacting the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It would be significantly more of a stretch, however, to portray characters as far into the future as the 32nd century as fans of a 21st-century sitcom.</p>

Frequent Star Trek Guests In The Big Bang Theory

Over the years, Star Trek became a more prominent part of The Big Bang Theory episodes, with characters doing everything from debating which Enterprise captain was better to frequently dressing up as Starfleet characters and even playing Boggle in the Klingon language. Star Trek stars frequently made guest appearances on the show, including LeVar Burton and George Takei. By far the most frequent guest star is Wil Wheaton, who (despite some bumps along the way) becomes a good friend to Sheldon and the other characters.

As we mentioned before, Star Trek never explicitly referenced The Big Bang Theory, which makes sense. After all, the franchise can get away with characters referencing literary giants like Shakespeare and even re-enacting the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It would be significantly more of a stretch, however, to portray characters as far into the future as the 32nd century as fans of a 21st-century sitcom.

<p>Interestingly, though, Star Trek: Discovery included a sly homage to The Big Bang Theory, one subtle enough to go over most fans’ heads. In the episode “Choose Your Pain,” Rainn Wilson plays Harry Mudd, a character first portrayed in The Original Series. He is stuck onboard a Klingon prison ship along with Discovery officers Ash Tyler and Captain Lorca, and Mudd has a trained insect friend that fetches him food and (thanks to a listening device) spies on others.</p>

Star Trek: Discovery Returns The Favor (Kind Of)

Interestingly, though, Star Trek: Discovery included a sly homage to The Big Bang Theory, one subtle enough to go over most fans’ heads. In the episode “Choose Your Pain,” Rainn Wilson plays Harry Mudd, a character first portrayed in The Original Series. He is stuck onboard a Klingon prison ship along with Discovery officers Ash Tyler and Captain Lorca, and Mudd has a trained insect friend that fetches him food and (thanks to a listening device) spies on others.

<p>Originally, this Star Trek script gave the creature the imaginative name “Bugsy,” but co-executive producer Ted Sullivan (apparently a big fan of The Big Bang Theory) gave the critter a new name. You guessed it: he was renamed “Stuart” explicitly as an homage to Stuart Bloom. It’s a neat connection between the two shows, though we’re not sure how Kevin Sussman would feel knowing that a producer looked at a tiny annoying insect and immediately thought of his Big Bang character.</p>

Does Kevin Sussman Approve?

Originally, this Star Trek script gave the creature the imaginative name “Bugsy,” but co-executive producer Ted Sullivan (apparently a big fan of The Big Bang Theory) gave the critter a new name. You guessed it: he was renamed “Stuart” explicitly as an homage to Stuart Bloom. It’s a neat connection between the two shows, though we’re not sure how Kevin Sussman would feel knowing that a producer looked at a tiny annoying insect and immediately thought of his Big Bang character.

<p>Certainly, Star Trek referencing someone from The Big Bang Theory would make the characters of the latter show happy. Considering that both Leonard and Sheldon prefer The Original Series over The Next Generation, we can’t help but wonder how they would have felt about Discovery as a TOS prequel. Of course, if we ever get that previously announced Big Bang revival show on Max, we might just get Sheldon’s thoughts on NuTrek, one cringe-inducing “bazinga!” at a time.</p>

Waiting For Sheldon To Weigh In

Certainly, Star Trek referencing someone from The Big Bang Theory would make the characters of the latter show happy. Considering that both Leonard and Sheldon prefer The Original Series over The Next Generation, we can’t help but wonder how they would have felt about Discovery as a TOS prequel. Of course, if we ever get that previously announced Big Bang revival show on Max, we might just get Sheldon’s thoughts on NuTrek, one cringe-inducing “bazinga!” at a time.

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COMMENTS

Klingon
Klingon. The Klingons ( / ˈklɪŋ ( ɡ) ɒn / KLING- (g)on; [2] Klingon: tlhIngan [ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn]) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise Star Trek . Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original Star Trek ( TOS) series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids characterized by prideful ruthlessness and brutality.
Klingon
Klingon patrol officers. By 2259 in the alternate reality, after Starfleet's first contact with the Empire, the Klingons had conquered and occupied two planets known to the Federation and fired on Starfleet ships half a dozen times. Tensions between the two powers were high and an all-out war was considered inevitable. During that year, before surrendering to the Federation, Khan Noonien Singh ...
Every Version Of The Klingons In Star Trek
The Klingons first appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 26, "Errand of Mercy".Actor John Collicos, who played Kor in the episode, was the first TOS Klingon, and is largely responsible for their look, and the depiction of them as conquerors.Collicos took inspiration from Genghis Khan, which made the Klingons a more universal foe than the communist analogs they were ...
All 5 Versions Of Star Trek's Klingons Explained
Star Trek: Discovery kicked off a new era of Star Trek shows in 2017, and Discovery's 1st season heavily featured the Klingons. However, the species underwent another dramatic redesign like they had in the TOS movies. The new design made the Klingons look even more alien, taking away their hair and giving them a larger head and more pronounced forehead ridges that extended up the entirety of ...
A Complete History of Star Trek's Klingons in The Original Series Era
Despite being created on a whim for Star Trek: The Original Series, the history of Klingons is one of the most fully realized in the universe. Even though much of it was defined after that first show, how the Klingon Empire took shape is important. The Klingons were created by Gene L. Coon as a surrogate power for the Soviets to the Federation ...
Everything You Need to Know About the Klingons, Star Trek's Ever
In the Klingon belief system, the body after death is an empty shell. The soul of a fallen Klingon goes to one of two places. If they lived an honorable life and fell in battle, they go to Sto ...
Klingons explained
The origins of the Klingons explained. Klingons are a technologically advanced warrior species that come from the planet Qo'noS in the Beta Quadrant. Best known for their fierceness and respect for honor, the Klingon Empire is one of the most formidable and powerful forces in the galaxy and carries a brutal reputation.
Worf
Worf, son of Mogh is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise, portrayed by actor Michael Dorn.He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), seasons four through seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), and the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard, as well as the feature films Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek ...
Speaking "Star Trek": Meet the Man Who Made Up the Klingon Language
The Klingons made their first appearance during "Star Trek's" first season, in a 1967 episode titled "Errands of Mercy." They appeared in low-budget (and perhaps racially insensitive) makeup, and ...
How Star Trek Created The Klingon Language (& Why)
Klingons appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series, but there they mostly spoke English - with a few guttural-sounding words thrown in that had been created by James Doohan (the actor who played chief engineer Scotty).The Klingons got a visual makeover for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and this time the production team wanted them to speak a "real" alien language.
How Klingon Became a Real Language
At this point, Klingon is a developing constructed language that's cemented its place in society outside of Star Trek. Okrand realizes it's much larger than he ever intended, telling a ...
A history of Klingon, the language.
A history of the gruff but surprisingly sophisticated invented language and the people who speak it. There's something missing from J.J. Abrams' reboot of the moribund Star Trek franchise, and ...
Creating the Klingons
For the aborted Star Trek television series Phase II, John Meredyth Lucas wrote a two-part episode "Kitumba" that would have radically changed Klingon culture and society. Lucas, who had produced half of the second season of The Original Series, borrowed from Japan give the Klingons a god-like ceremonial head of state, called the Kitumba ...
Klingon language
The Klingon language (Klingon: tlhIngan Hol, pIqaD: , pronounced [ˈt͡ɬɪ.ŋɑn xol]) is the constructed language spoken by a fictional alien race called the Klingons, in the Star Trek universe. Described in the 1985 book The Klingon Dictionary by Marc Okrand and deliberately designed to sound "alien", it has a number of typologically ...
The Klingon Language is Star Trek's Secret Empathetic Weapon
Premiering in 1966, Star Trek is universally beloved and often regarded as the most famous science fiction television series and franchise of all time. And while some might point to the far-flung adventures, bold-but-beloved captains, or wacky holodeck romps when trying to explain the show's universal entertainment value, I've always pointed towards one particular aspect of the show ...
Cleon
Cleon was a star system, located somewhere in the space of the galaxy's Alpha or Beta Quadrants, in proximity to the Phoenix Cluster. In the year 2368, the Federation starship USS Endeavour was in this system. When the Ktarians used a game to hypnotize the crew of the Enterprise-D, the next step in their plan to take over Starfleet was to have Enterprise personnel travel to Cleon and board the ...
Klingon
A Klingon's honor means more to him than his life!Kurn Klingons are a spacefaring humanoid species from the planet Qo'noS (pronounced Kronos), and masters of the Klingon Empire, which controls a vast territory of space, bordering the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire. Known for their proud warlike mentality and adherence to a code of honor, Klingons have been one of the ...
"Star Trek" Elaan of Troyius (TV Episode 1968)
Elaan of Troyius: Directed by John Meredyth Lucas. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, France Nuyen. While transporting an arrogant, demanding princess for a political marriage, Captain Kirk must cope both with her biochemical ability to force him to love her, as well as sabotage on his ship.
Who Actually Created The Klingon Language In Star Trek?
The most surprising thing about the Klingon language might just be that its original creator was actually one of the original cast members, James Doohan, who played Scotty. According to StarTrek ...
"Star Trek" The Empath (TV Episode 1968)
The Empath: Directed by John Erman. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Kathryn Hays. Trapped in an alien laboratory, Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet an empath and are involved in a series of experiments.
Star Trek: Discovery Actor Explains Controversial Klingons Were "An
Mary Chieffo, who played Chancellor L'Rell, explains why Star Trek: Discovery's controversial Klingons were different from the prior iterations of the warrior race. Star Trek: Discovery's Klingons were widely disliked during seasons 1 and 2, as the prequel reinvented the Klingons' design to be bald, more alien, and animalistic, setting the stage for the Klingon War with the United Federation ...
Star Trek: Klingon (Video Game 1996)
Star Trek: Klingon (Video Game 1996) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows.
Klingon starships
In the Star Trek franchise, the Klingon Empire makes use of several classes of starships.As the Klingons are portrayed as a warrior culture, driven by the pursuit of honor and glory, the Empire is shown to use warships almost exclusively and even their support ships, such as troop transports and colony ships, are armed for battle. This contrasts with the exploration and research vessels used ...
With 100 jobs to fill, start-up seeks Klingon speakers
4. Star Trek Klingon character Lieutenant Worf (Courtesy) Israeli financial technology start-up Zooz is looking for a few good Klingons - or geeks who speak the alien tongue popularized on the ...
As my Star Trek character commanded the weight of a starship, I was
Patrick Kwok-Choon found himself in the captain's chair on set during a shoot for Star Trek: Discovery. But as his character was having a big moment, the actor was having an even bigger one off ...
Star Trek's Hidden Connection To The Big Bang Theory
Originally, this Star Trek script gave the creature the imaginative name "Bugsy," but co-executive producer Ted Sullivan (apparently a big fan of The Big Bang Theory) gave the critter a new name.

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A Complete History of Star Trek's Klingons in The Original Series Era

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The Planned Opening for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Was a Disaster

Star Trek: Discovery's Klingons Were More Accurate Than the TNG-Era

Why Uhura Speaks Klingon in Strange New Worlds, but Not Star Trek VI

What Made Worf a Better Klingon Warrior on Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Everything You Need to Know About the Klingons, Star Trek 's Ever-Changing Space Warriors

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Klingon Culture

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A history of Klingon, the language.

Creating the Klingons

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The Klingon Language is Star Trek's Secret Empathetic Weapon

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Who Actually Created The Klingon Language In Star Trek?

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Why It Took Star Trek Almost 24 Years To Visit The Klingon Home World

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