Klingon Behavior in Day of the Dove

[Spock's Barber]

Klingons are supposed to be nasty, vicious and aggressive. Yet when they are beamed aboard the Enterprise transporter room none of them puts up any fight. Later, in the crewmen's lounge, the Klingons have Kirk surrounded and outnumbered. They could easily just klonk Kirk on the head and pound the redshirts into the deck. Oh, well. Just another 3rd season anomaly???

 

[Emperor Norton]

It's all in the ridges.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Klingons are supposed to be nasty, vicious and aggressive. Yet when they are beamed aboard the Enterprise transporter room none of them puts up any fight. Later, in the crewmen's lounge, the Klingons have Kirk surrounded and outnumbered. They could easily just klonk Kirk on the head and pound the redshirts into the deck. Oh, well. Just another 3rd season anomaly???

I think Klingons in TOS were different than how they were portrayed once you get to TNG. TOS Klingons are certainly violent, but they were more devious and calculating. TNG Klingons are, as others have described them before, "Space Vikings." I didn't see their behavior as out of character given the time period.

 

[Vger23]

I think Klingons in TOS were different than how they were portrayed once you get to TNG. TOS Klingons are certainly violent, but they were more devious and calculating. TNG Klingons are, as others have described them before, "Space Vikings." I didn't see their behavior as out of character given the time period.

This

The behavior of Klingons through TOS was always very consistent. Klingons in Day of the Dove are no different.

It's not a "3rd Season anomaly" I'm not sure what that is.

 

[Emperor Norton]

As they originally conceived of it, the Klingons were deceptive, manipulative, mischievous and ruthless, while the Romulans were high minded and honorable even as enemies. That was reversed later to where TNG Klingons were all about honor and their codes, while the Romulans would lie six ways to Sunday and then smugly murder you.

 

[Mojochi]

As they originally conceived of it, the Klingons were deceptive, manipulative, mischievous and ruthless, while the Romulans were high minded and honorable even as enemies. That was reversed later to where TNG Klingons were all about honor and their codes, while the Romulans would lie six ways to Sunday and then smugly murder you.

& yet, ironically, almost all the Klingon stories in TNG involved some kind of duplicitous motive, underhanded plot, or allegiance with the Romulans themselves, in some cases stemming right up to the council itself

 

[Emperor Norton]

& yet, ironically, almost all the Klingon stories in TNG involved some kind of duplicitous motive, underhanded plot, or allegiance with the Romulans themselves, in some cases stemming right up to the council itself

In the form of the Duras family and their allies.

 

[Mojochi]

In the form of the Duras family and their allies.

Or the saboteur in The Drumhead, or the cloned Kahless conspiracy. I can only think of 3 Klingon TNG episodes that don't have some shady dealings going on, & all were in the 1st two seasons

Edit: Oh Wait. Time traveling Alexander. I guess that counts too. lol

 

[BillJ]

Klingons are supposed to be nasty, vicious and aggressive. Yet when they are beamed aboard the Enterprise transporter room none of them puts up any fight. Later, in the crewmen's lounge, the Klingons have Kirk surrounded and outnumbered. They could easily just klonk Kirk on the head and pound the redshirts into the deck. Oh, well. Just another 3rd season anomaly???

They would've just been sealed in then. There was nothing to gain by attacking Kirk and the Red Shirts at either point. Ruthless doesn't equate to being stupid.

 

[Nerys Myk]

As they originally conceived of it, the Klingons were deceptive, manipulative, mischievous and ruthless, while the Romulans were high minded and honorable even as enemies. That was reversed later to where TNG Klingons were all about honor and their codes, while the Romulans would lie six ways to Sunday and then smugly murder you.

Nope. The Romulan Commander might have been high minded and honorable, but that was not shown to be true of all Romulans or Romulan society.

SPOCK:Earth believes the Romulans to be warlike, cruel, treacherous, and only the Romulans know what they think of Earth.

They must have done something to earn that rep.

The Romulan Commander isn't typical. He's seen too much

COMMANDER: Obedience. Duty. Death and more death. Soon even enough for the Praetor's taste. Centurion, I find myself wishing for destruction before we can return. Worry not. Like you, I am too well-trained in my duty to permit it. Continue evasive manoeuvres. Now, back to the first course.

Younger Romulans are different

COMMANDER: A message was dispatched. You've broken the rule of silence.
DECIUS: Only in code, Commander. To inform our Praetor of this glorious mission.
COMMANDER: Your carelessness might have ended this glorious mission. You're reduced two steps in rank. Return to post.
CENTURION: Take care, Commander. He has friends, and friends of his kind mean power. And power is danger.

And let's remember the Romulan ship crossed the Neutral Zone in direct violation of the treaty and launched an unprovoked attack on the Earth Outposts to test a new weapon. So honor and high mindedness aren't exactly in their wheel house.

 

[Spock's Barber]

They would've just been sealed in then. There was nothing to gain by attacking Kirk and the Red Shirts at either point. Ruthless doesn't equate to being stupid.

I'd rather see 'Bonk, bonk!'

 

[UnknownSample]

Klingons are supposed to be nasty, vicious and aggressive. Yet when they are beamed aboard the Enterprise transporter room none of them puts up any fight. Later, in the crewmen's lounge, the Klingons have Kirk surrounded and outnumbered. They could easily just klonk Kirk on the head and pound the redshirts into the deck. Oh, well. Just another 3rd season anomaly???

They are nasty, vicious and aggressive, but with some smarts and impulse control. They aren't supposed to be exaggerated, simplistic clichés. Being violent doesn't mean their only thought is kill, kill, kill. They're perfectly ready to kill if it suits their purposes. Sometimes it doesn't.

 

[johnnybear]

Klingons are supposed to be nasty, vicious and aggressive. Yet when they are beamed aboard the Enterprise transporter room none of them puts up any fight. Later, in the crewmen's lounge, the Klingons have Kirk surrounded and outnumbered. They could easily just klonk Kirk on the head and pound the redshirts into the deck. Oh, well. Just another 3rd season anomaly???

Who says Klingons were supposed to all be nasty and vicious? Commander Kor was civil with Kirk despite his blowing up their dump! Koloth was cordial with Kirk even if his crew were spoiling for a fight! Krell wasn't exactly spitting and shouting at his Hill people allies either! Kras was a cowardly Klingon and killed one of Maab's tribesmen for no good reason and The Klingon commander in Elaan of Troyius although quite aggressive in his attack upon The Enterprise was more calculating and cunning than full blown nasty! Kang was probably more aggressive than any other Klingon we had seen up until that time by striking Kirk across the face and like all good Captains was versed in the arts of fighting but was willing to listen to Kirk in the end...
JB

 

[Spock's Barber]

Who says Klingons were supposed to all be nasty and vicious? Commander Kor was civil with Kirk despite his blowing up their dump! Koloth was cordial with Kirk even if his crew were spoiling for a fight! Krell wasn't exactly spitting and shouting at his Hill people allies either! Kras was a cowardly Klingon and killed one of Maab's tribesmen for no good reason and The Klingon commander in Elaan of Troyius although quite aggressive in his attack upon The Enterprise was more calculating and cunning than full blown nasty! Kang was probably more aggressive than any other Klingon we had seen up until that time by striking Kirk across the face and like all good Captains was versed in the arts of fighting but was willing to listen to Kirk in the end...
JB

But, but, but......Klingons aggresively attacked the Enterprise in 'Errand' and 'Elaan'. The point is that Kang was a nasty little bugger before he was captured and then he and his crew kind of laid down until the little beasty alien gave them swords.

 

[a thousand-yard stare]

Nope. The Romulan Commander might have been high minded and honorable, but that was not shown to be true of all Romulans or Romulan society.
They must have done something to earn that rep.

The Romulan Commander isn't typical. He's seen too much

Younger Romulans are different

And let's remember the Romulan ship crossed the Neutral Zone in direct violation of the treaty and launched an unprovoked attack on the Earth Outposts to test a new weapon. So honor and high mindedness aren't exactly in their wheel house.

The characteristics of the Romulans seems like a holdover from the original screenplay for the movie "The Enemy Below". I think the screenwriters wanted to differentiate 'thug' Nazis from 'honourable' Kriegsmarine and this got moved across to 'Trek' when they swiped the story. :-)

 

[johnnybear]

But, but, but......Klingons aggresively attacked the Enterprise in 'Errand' and 'Elaan'. The point is that Kang was a nasty little bugger before he was captured and then he and his crew kind of laid down until the little beasty alien gave them swords.

They did attack The Enterprise without mercy but there had been a lot of ill will between the powers at that time! (Not that we saw or heard any of it) But they did seem a bit more honourable in TOS than the savages they were to become in TNG and the other spinoffs!
JB

 

[Spock's Barber]

I remember David Gerrold wrote something to the effect in The World of Star Trek that Klingons were so ill tempered because they had no toilets in their battle cruisers.

 

[Shawnster]

The Klingon proverb "Only a fool fights in a burning house" comes from Day of the Dove.

Interestingly, I thought about this proverb during Star Trek 3 when Kirk and Kruge are fighting as the Genesis planet disintegrates all around them. Kruge was a fool fighting in a burning house (well, planet).

 

[FormerLurker]

While Kruge was not a true Klingon, he was a real Klingon. By that I mean, he talked the talk about Klingon honor (though without using that exact term, preferring to merely boast "We are Klingons!"), but he didn't walk the walk, at least not all the way. He was far too concerned with his own personal glory to have any interest in whether he would live long enough to enjoy it.

 

[Paradise City]

Kruge is the template as to what Klingons came to be. A guy that worships death and fighting above all else. Live for the moment...

"Today is a good today to die". Kruge may never have spoken that line on-screen but he's the embodiment of that phrase nevertheless.