into darkness klingons vs disco klingons

as part of our little anniversary celebration (or evisceration) of star trek into darkness, i’ve been thinking about those klingons.

i think the scene they're showcased in is the best sequence in the movie and the costumes, helmets, makeup and yeah even the piercings make the klingons look pretty badass:

neville page designed them as well as the klingons in star trek: discovery. they share a lot of traits, but the disco klingon is obviously more extreme, with elongated heads, extra nostrils and all sorts of other flourishes. the into darkness klingons are more restrained.

page did design even more ambitious klingons for into darkness before pulling it back to something simpler and easier to accomplish with prosthetics:

funnily enough, even the more ambitious klingon still isn't as extreme as the discovery version.

so what are your thoughts and preferences? i remember folks being upset by the portrayal of the klingons in the kelvin timeline, but in hindsight, they were pretty conservative compared to what we have now on CBS all access.

 

Except for in TOS, Klingons are dark-skinned, bumpy-headed creatures. They're all basically the same to me.

 

I loved the Klingon costumes and helmets in Into Darkness. IMHO its the best they've ever looked. I loved the bright blue eyes under the helmet.

And then he unmasked and I was, like, it's okay, I guess. I wish they'd pushed the look further like Discovery did.

The Klingon ships, the D7ish Warbird in '09 and D4 Bird of Prey in ID were awesome too. I loved how disruptor blasts were reimagined as Stargate Atlantis-style physical missiles during the chase on Kronos.

Discovery Klingons look okay. I loved T'Kuvma's look and the variation between clans and roles is a great change from a million perms and recycled TMP armour. But the makeup is very heavy and restricts facial movement somewhat.

 

I loved the Klingon costumes and helmets in Into Darkness. IMHO its the best they've ever looked. I loved the bright blue eyes under the helmet.

And then he unmasked and I was, like, it's okay, I guess. I wish they'd pushed the look further like Discovery did.

The Klingon ships, the D7ish Warbird in '09 and D4 Bird of Prey in ID were awesome too. I loved how disruptor blasts were reimagined as Stargate Atlantis-style physical missiles during the chase on Kronos.

Discovery Klingons look okay. I loved T'Kuvma's look and the variation between clans and roles is a great change from a million perms and recycled TMP armour. But the makeup is very heavy and restricts facial movement somewhat.

 

The Into Darkness Klingons are my favorite version of the modern look.

 

I like the designs! See partway down this old thread for more: https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/concept-art-and-set-photos.213325/page-9

Sufficiently alien while still looking admirable rather than hideous like the STD Klingons.

Kor

 

i don't think they're hideous, but definitely not as elegant as the STID klingons. i actually really love the look of kol and ujilli in discovery. the backs of those heads tho.

oh and let's not forget about the klingons cut from star trek 2009 in post production and (more interestingly) the one who was supposed to be on altamid in star trek beyond:

even here it's a slightly beefier, more aggressive design than into darkness, but still believably klingon.

 

The "never used Klingons" look quite a bit like the Disco Klingons, I think.

 

I liked the look of the STID Klingons. They looked badass and intimidating. Right up until Khan showed up and blew dozens of them or so away.

 

The STID Klingons looked far better than the ones in Discovery in my opinion, and are probably my favourite iteration of them, looks-wise.

 

The Klingons in Star Trek Into Darkness were fantastic. Not only were they badass looking they actually looked scary as hell and definitely not a group you want to encounter. Into Darkness made Klingons scary and intimidating again. They were Cold, silent and deadly.

Compared with Discovery Klingons who just like to talk your friggin ear off and looked pretty bad, especially those weird head shapes. The faces were so caked in prosthetics that all the actors sounded like they had stuffed noses.

Darn shame we never got to see more of the Into Darkness Klingons.

 

I get what they were going for, they wanted to make them look more 'alien' but their overall design (especially the godawful ships) just jarred too much for me. It's a shame because I think the look of a lot of the rest of the show is excellent, (some dubious FX choices notwithstanding) especially the Federation ships and their interiors.

The STID Klingons were different enough to be a successful update, but still respected what had came before, which is how it should be done.

 

if the klingons in discovery season 2 have the backs of their heads slimmed down like this, i wouldn't complain.

fixed it for you.

 

I already prefer that.

 

IMO the elongated, Xenomorphish head is the DISCO Klingons' only redeeming quality.

By the by -- I love the ID guys. I think they should become the new standard.

 

I can hardly wait to hear the bullsh*t reasons why the Klingons from DISCO looked that way. Augment Syndrome? Or Augment Measles??? H.R. Giger-itis???

 

Isn't that usually fatal?

 

Those are exactly my thoughts. To think I ragged on the Kelvin Klingons when they ended up looking even worse in Discovery. Be careful what you wish for Bring back Worf style Klingons and forget the new designs I say.

 

I like both the ST ID Klingons and the DSC Klingons so much more than any iteration before.

 

Agreed. I’m sick of the intergalactic biker gang look.