So, I'm creating this poll to find out who were the coolest villains in ST. history, as in who do you think were the coolest.
What were the coolest ST villains
- Thread starter borgfan8of5
- Start date
Romulans.
Klingon were fun to watch, but they never were so interesting as adversary. They just crave the attention. Borg were scary, but they were overused. There is just so many times that you can face an machine-like, emotionless enemy before you start yawning. Cardassians were interesting and well developed, but they only worked in DS9. Same for the Dominion.
Romulans were different. Being an off-shot of Vulcans, for them it was personal.
Klingon were fun to watch, but they never were so interesting as adversary. They just crave the attention. Borg were scary, but they were overused. There is just so many times that you can face an machine-like, emotionless enemy before you start yawning. Cardassians were interesting and well developed, but they only worked in DS9. Same for the Dominion.
Romulans were different. Being an off-shot of Vulcans, for them it was personal.
I hope none of my Romulan friends see this (
), but I think the Cardassians were the coolest and – more importantly – most interesting foes of the Federation. They are portrayed as a very complex, diverse and realistic people, which makes them perfect villains for Star Trek. Plus, Marc Alaimo is a great actor. 
), but I think the Cardassians were the coolest and – more importantly – most interesting foes of the Federation. They are portrayed as a very complex, diverse and realistic people, which makes them perfect villains for Star Trek. Plus, Marc Alaimo is a great actor. 
I went with the opressive Dominion. Always unnerved me, they had a race bred for just war, occupation and conquest. Utterly devoted to their Founders who they saw as Gods. Highly trained and their level of tech was higher (for a change) than the Feds.
I loved how in the beginning of the war, the Fed/klingon shields could not stop the Dominion Weaponry.
Plus the Vorta were wonderfully slimey
Vons
I loved how in the beginning of the war, the Fed/klingon shields could not stop the Dominion Weaponry.
Plus the Vorta were wonderfully slimey
Vons
Need you ask?
And a Genocidal persecution complex just ain't cool so the Dominion's definitely out of contention IMHO.
And a Genocidal persecution complex just ain't cool so the Dominion's definitely out of contention IMHO.
Cardassians-I can't remember who used the distinction between villains and antagonists on this board, but I think it's important to make it for these guys. As Lateralus says, the race is to well developed and its individuals so varied, that somehow the simple label villain doesnt really work for me.
Klingons-While these are one of the more 'fun' and interesting races, they didn't seem to stand out for me as bad guys.
Borg-While originally scary, with their implacable nature, Voyager kind of reduced their scare/intimidation factor for me.
So I went with the Dominion. Unquestioning, drug-addicted, vat-grown super soldiers? Check. Uncompromising approach in taking control of any new racial, territorial or political entity? Check. Willingness to enact atrocities to eliminate inconveniences, even against unarmed civilians? Check. Has such a disposable attitude to life, that cloning those that just happen to be useful is perfectly logical? Check. Willing to kill themselves to prove a point? Check.
The fact they had the Federation and the Klingons on the run with the help of the Cardassians also makes them intimidating.
Klingons-While these are one of the more 'fun' and interesting races, they didn't seem to stand out for me as bad guys.
Borg-While originally scary, with their implacable nature, Voyager kind of reduced their scare/intimidation factor for me.
So I went with the Dominion. Unquestioning, drug-addicted, vat-grown super soldiers? Check. Uncompromising approach in taking control of any new racial, territorial or political entity? Check. Willingness to enact atrocities to eliminate inconveniences, even against unarmed civilians? Check. Has such a disposable attitude to life, that cloning those that just happen to be useful is perfectly logical? Check. Willing to kill themselves to prove a point? Check.
The fact they had the Federation and the Klingons on the run with the help of the Cardassians also makes them intimidating.
these people
these people
The fact that they had Mr Katsulas on side makes them just that bit better.
Agreed. They were bad (in a good way) before Voyager. After them I'd go with the Dominion.
For an individual I'd go with Khan.
The Dominion, as an assembly of species with a religious zeal for imposing order and control on others, struck me as the truest "anti-Federation." But that's just 1 reason I think they're the coolest villains.
Their superior technology made them, like the Borg, an enemy to be withstood rather than defeated. They also were thoroughly explored as characters through 5 seasons of Deep Space Nine.
The Romulans are a close second for me. Combining a martial (yet honorable in its way) outlook with a strategy of testing their enemies in episodes like "Balance of Terror" and "The Defector" made them very dangerous. And they're a little scary just because they're militant Vulcanoids.
I rate them second, though, because I think Star Trek's various writers left a lot more potential on the table with the Romulans than with the other major villains.
Speaking of scary, the Borg were Star Trek's 1 genuinely bloodcurdling enemy, and possibly the ones we're most likely to turn into, minus the space travel. But as a force of nature rather than an interstellar political unit, they could be used only a few times before they got mundane (see: "Dark Frontier").
The Cardassians are fascinating antagonists, I agree, with a rich history of exploiting colonial conquests, just like humans. Unlike the Romulans, they were brilliantly explored through characters such as Dukat and Garak. Their only weakness: With a technology level clearly below that of the Federation, they could never be the No. 1 enemy.
The Klingons were fun, but since most of them outside of Worf were primarily bullies, you always figured that after "Errand of Mercy" they had to get defeated, in order to satisfy not only their dramatic purpose, but also the demands of realism.
Quark saved the Ferengi, who deserve to be listed as a major antagonist as well. Throw out their sexism, and their generally nonviolent acquisitiveness makes them an interesting counterpoint to the Federation.
I'd also like to give the Vidiians a quick mention here as intelligent, and intelligently written, antagonists with a unique motivation compared with Star Trek's usual "evil empire" villain.
Their superior technology made them, like the Borg, an enemy to be withstood rather than defeated. They also were thoroughly explored as characters through 5 seasons of Deep Space Nine.
The Romulans are a close second for me. Combining a martial (yet honorable in its way) outlook with a strategy of testing their enemies in episodes like "Balance of Terror" and "The Defector" made them very dangerous. And they're a little scary just because they're militant Vulcanoids.
I rate them second, though, because I think Star Trek's various writers left a lot more potential on the table with the Romulans than with the other major villains.
Speaking of scary, the Borg were Star Trek's 1 genuinely bloodcurdling enemy, and possibly the ones we're most likely to turn into, minus the space travel. But as a force of nature rather than an interstellar political unit, they could be used only a few times before they got mundane (see: "Dark Frontier").
The Cardassians are fascinating antagonists, I agree, with a rich history of exploiting colonial conquests, just like humans. Unlike the Romulans, they were brilliantly explored through characters such as Dukat and Garak. Their only weakness: With a technology level clearly below that of the Federation, they could never be the No. 1 enemy.
The Klingons were fun, but since most of them outside of Worf were primarily bullies, you always figured that after "Errand of Mercy" they had to get defeated, in order to satisfy not only their dramatic purpose, but also the demands of realism.
Quark saved the Ferengi, who deserve to be listed as a major antagonist as well. Throw out their sexism, and their generally nonviolent acquisitiveness makes them an interesting counterpoint to the Federation.
I'd also like to give the Vidiians a quick mention here as intelligent, and intelligently written, antagonists with a unique motivation compared with Star Trek's usual "evil empire" villain.
The borg for sure, even though at times they were over used they were still an intersesting concept.
You are gotta be kidding me! You think Borg were really good and scary in Descent?
Voyager never did anything so ridiculous with The Borg like that. Never. Voyager did overuse them, I give you that.
It's the original Borg before Voyager and the Queen Bee showed up. Everything about them was spooky and daunting. Their ships were so different from the linear, engines in back, view screen in front, ships we had always seen in Trek. Something unnerving about an opponent that just ignores you completely.
The Dominion deserved special credit for the intense psychological warfare they were able to inflict upon their enemies. At times the writers ability to create subterfuge by them was so good I thought the solutions came across as way to easy.
Surprised so many people love the Romulans. They were good in TOS, but I could just never take them seriously in TNG. A bunch of Moe's in garish Zoot suits.
The Dominion deserved special credit for the intense psychological warfare they were able to inflict upon their enemies. At times the writers ability to create subterfuge by them was so good I thought the solutions came across as way to easy.
Surprised so many people love the Romulans. They were good in TOS, but I could just never take them seriously in TNG. A bunch of Moe's in garish Zoot suits.
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