How would you change or redeem them? If they would show up in the JJverse of course. I would personally make the Pakled superstrong slave warriors of a more inteligent species, who are somewhat resistant against blasters like the Brikar. They would still be dumb but at least they would not be a bunch retards. They would have new more bada... look of course.
Bolians. I just want to see more Bolians. They've been seen here and there, but they really haven't gotten very much attention.
I like Pakleds the way they are. Just because it's an alternate reality doesn't mean you can go and change the very nature of the species. I'd like to see what the alternate Federation's relationship with Cardassia and/or Bajor is. I'd also like to see more Bolians, Betazoids, Andorians, Tellarites, Zakdorn... I'd like to see a Starfleet that demographically represents the Federation, and isn't just a "homo sapiens only club."
Ekosians: Not all of them may be Space Nazis. Melkot: Floating heads in a foggy haze that send you on a trip. Malurians: Four billion imperfections sterilized by a hot bald chick looking for a Kirk. Excalbians: Living rocks who enjoy forcing others to perform amateur theatricals. Talosians: You thought their little men with big heads were creepy? Wait'll you see their women.
^^ Ekos and Zeon. Do you suppose John Gill didn't make it there in the new timeline? Talosians: That was their women. At least their leader anyway.
^ No, they were played by women who were playing men, with dubbed male voices. Despite the higher pitch of the Keeper's voice, all sources indicate it was dubbed by Malachi Throne. Now if we JJ-ize that, the women would be played by men with dubbed female voices.
Which doesn't make it right. Really, if you're just going to change a race to such a radical degree, why not just create an enitrely new race? "Pakled" doesn't really carry any actual name recognition in Star Trek anyway.
With all the stories of augments, I think you can get away with a chimp first officer on some less prominent ship.
The Klingons desperately need an injection of badass. They haven't been fearsome in as long as I can remember. In the TNG/DS9/VOY/ENT era they became an honour-obsessed, bloodwine-guzzling joke bordering on embarrassing. JJ Abrams to the rescue!
The Breen. The Breen are one of the most mysterious and apparently powerful of the Trek species that we know little about. In terms of overall redemption - isn't it obvious, The Q
There are three defining characteristics of the Pakleds: 1) They look like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum 2) They steal things 3) WE ARE NOT SMART They're comic relief. I don't see how you can possibly make them "badass," and reconcile that with what we already know. The way the Gorn appear onscreen has changed, but that's due to improved animation effects. The nature of the Gorn, the way the Gorn appear in-universe, have not changed.
How about the symbiotic life-form (snot monster) from "Vox Sola"? Give it some actual lines, this time - maybe a little character arc.