I think that Klingons should've stayed as they were in TOS.

[FormerLurker]

I recall saying B'Elanna was never a lizard, so why are you arguing that?

As for the rest of this... I have absolutely no idea where it's coming from.

I just have a problem with the notion that a mammal and reptile can mate and produce viable offspring. If you have any links that say otherwise, please post them.

1) Lizards are reptiles. But not all reptiles are lizards.
2) We have no idea whether the reptilian species on another planet would or will reproduce the same way they do on Earth.
3) The whole point is that Star Trek establishes that such reproduction is possible. We may not accept the viability of such IRL, but we have no business objecting to it on the show. That's just saying the writers got it wrong when the writers came up with the idea. Which is nonsense.

 

[JasonJ]

1) Lizards are reptiles. But not all reptiles are lizards.
2) We have no idea whether the reptilian species on another planet would or will reproduce the same way they do on Earth.
3) The whole point is that Star Trek establishes that such reproduction is possible. We may not accept the viability of such IRL, but we have no business objecting to it on the show. That's just saying the writers got it wrong when the writers came up with the idea. Which is nonsense.

I don't recall ever having seen any Klingon breastfeeding a newborn .. not that they'd show that.. but I can't recall it ever being implied. Live birth, fine, lots of non-mammalian species do that... have fur or hair? Same thing. Just because Lursa and B'Etor have large bosoms doesn't mean they produce milk to nourish their young. Given the thick skull plates and redundant skeletal features of a Klingon, they very well could be some alien variety between what we would call a mammal and something else, doesn't have to be a reptile.

Bolians are blue.. they look mammalian, but really, are probably more closely related to horseshoe crabs than apes. The default thinking that any species that humans can reproduce with in the 24th century after who knows how much genetic finagling or evolution is a mammal just because we are, is not automatically a correct assumption.

 

[Timo]

Yup... I don't quite see why humanoids from an alien world would, should or even could be related to a terrestrial form of lower life.

Klingons aren't likely to be lizards, insects or marsupials - but they are probably closely related to proluts, nacombants and tuddlebeeds, with biological characteristics to match. That said, though, "The Chase" establishes that a devious biotechnological contraption inside the Klingon DNA has perverted natural evolution on the Klingon world of origin into producing a bipedal, sapient form of life. This was done because ancient bipedal sapients wanted to have kids - and they even made sure their kids can have kids, so that a half-Klingon, half-Romulan child in fact is a viable addition to the galactic family.

It then more or less directly follows that Klingon females need breasts. Not for the strictly biological part of procreation, but as sexual lures, because they need to look attractive to Vulcanoid and Humanoid and Andorianoid males, that is, they need to look similar to Vulcanoid and Humanoid and Andorianoid females. Does it follow that Klingons can or will breast-feed? Not necessarily - the breasts could be purely for show.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Nyotarules]

I don't think there is anything wrong with thinking that aliens are monstrous beasts, when they look like monstrous beasts.

Avoid first contact at all costs with any sentient being that does not look exactly like yourself. Do humanity a favour.

 

[JasonJ]

Avoid first contact at all costs with any sentient being that does not look exactly like yourself. Do humanity a favour.

Could you imagine the outcry and terrible fear some would have if we do have first contact with an extra-terrestrial species and they turn out to be insectoid or silicon based intelligent blobs?

 

[Nyotarules]

Could you imagine the outcry and terrible fear some would have if we do have first contact with an extra-terrestrial species and they turn out to be insectoid or silicon based intelligent blobs?

Yeah, the way humans act towards other humans comes to mind..we have such a fantastic track record when it comes to people who are different even when they are the same species but in a different skin tone or have a different belief system.

 

[Timo]

Surely it would be more frightening if they were a competing form of humanity, rather than interesting animals on the far side of the uncanny valley?

I mean, humanity has had a century to mentally prepare for bug-eyed monsters from outer space, and we're taking it well, indeed expecting it. But what if we get the folks from Childhood's End instead? Or Klaatu's master? Odd animals are fine and well - near-humans must be a devious plot indeed.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Nyotarules]

Surely it would be more frightening if they were a competing form of humanity, rather than interesting animals on the far side of the uncanny valley?

I mean, humanity has had a century to mentally prepare for bug-eyed monsters from outer space, and we're taking it well, indeed expecting it. But what if we get the folks from Childhood's End instead? Or Klaatu's master? Odd animals are fine and well - near-humans must be a devious plot indeed.

Timo Saloniemi

So when the Vulcans arrive we will definitely shoot em up! 46 years to go folks!

 

[JasonJ]

Surely it would be more frightening if they were a competing form of humanity, rather than interesting animals on the far side of the uncanny valley?

I mean, humanity has had a century to mentally prepare for bug-eyed monsters from outer space, and we're taking it well, indeed expecting it. But what if we get the folks from Childhood's End instead? Or Klaatu's master? Odd animals are fine and well - near-humans must be a devious plot indeed.

Timo Saloniemi

That would be a greater threat as perceived by those who would not be accepting of an ET species... if they look a lot like us, or look enough like us as to make people question who is Terran and who is ET... not knowing when you encounter someone (anyone?) .. that'll be the most disruptive scenario.

Personally, I think we're more likely to encounter an aquatic species living in the deep oceans of Ganymede, or similar.

 

[1001001]

The Aquatics were the best Xindi.

 

[The Wormhole]

The Aquatics were the best Xindi.

Avians forever!

 

[Timo]

Let's not undersell the Feline Xindi - they at least managed to wage four wars with mankind when the Aquatics called it quits after one halfhearted round.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Arpy]

I think Klingons should have integrated into the Federation by TNG's end. Worf was there for a reason, and those Federation/Klingon insignias were behind that captain for a reason. I got to really dislike seeing them half the time by the end of DS9. Even Worf. ...bikers..."honor"...get back to the Cardassians...

A lot of good episodes out of them, but they needed to do a better job coming up with new aliens -- alien forms and identities.

I enjoyed the Peacekeepers on Farscape too (even before we learned we were related), but I wouldn't want to have too many human-looking aliens all over the place. This isn't 1966 and we can do more. Additionally, the original Klingons were a little racist: I mean, dark skin and Asian mustaches...John Colicos chewing the scenery as he warns humans he'll dissect them or whatever it was... It was great, but come on.