The Trouble With Tribbles

[Rek]

Theres something I've wondered about this ep. For those who are more well-versed in TOS etc do you know what "happend" to the klingons?

How they went from looking just like humans to looking like they do now in DS9/VOY/TNG? Or is it one of those things that just happend and didn't ever get explained?

 

[Cornholio]

it's explained in ENT, in the Augments trilogy.

 

[Rek]

it's explained in ENT, in the Augments trilogy.

Oh, well I never pay much attention to those eps. I guess I better do so.

Thanks.

 

[scotpens]

I assume you mean “Trials and Tribble-ations.”

“The Trouble with Tribbles” is the classic TOS episode that introduced the furry little suckers.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I prefer DS9 simply declaring it to be "a long story" than Enterprise's attempt to tell that story. It never needed an explanation, and any attempt to explain would never be convincing.

Enterprise did alright with their attempt to explain the smooth foreheads, but it was-- inevitably-- too contrived and too mired in silly fanwank.

 

[Rek]

I prefer DS9 simply declaring it to be "a long story" than Enterprise's attempt to tell that story. It never needed an explanation, and any attempt to explain would never be convincing.

Enterprise did alright with their attempt to explain the smooth foreheads, but it was-- inevitably-- too contrived and too mired in silly fanwank.

The eps never got my attention even after seeing it twice. It cant be that good.

 

[Cornholio]

I prefer DS9 simply declaring it to be "a long story" than Enterprise's attempt to tell that story. It never needed an explanation, and any attempt to explain would never be convincing.

Enterprise did alright with their attempt to explain the smooth foreheads, but it was-- inevitably-- too contrived and too mired in silly fanwank.

yeah, umm, I tend to agree. the only reason the forehead ridges appeared was 'cause they had more money in the budget for TMP, and the spin-offs just kept goin' with 'em.

we probably wouldn't have had the Augments trilogy if DS9 hadn't made the ratings grab that was 'Trials and Tribulations' and "opened the box" on screen.

but what the hell, we got what we got. TaT wasn't altogether bad, and it was nice to see the 1701 back on the screen lookin' better than ever, and like you said, ENT did alright with the story.

 

[PorthosShadow]

One of the making-of featuretts on the bonus disk for the DVD set Ronald Moore basically says there is no explanation for the change that isn't beyond preposterous. Basically, it was simply a make up change and it's as Worf says "It's a long story" which honestly is such a simple yet brilliant way of dealing with it.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

I'm not really convinced that Enterprise needed to "explain" the change in Klingon appearance. Why not explain the change in appearance of the Romulans, Andorians, Trills, Bajorans, Tellarites while you're at it?

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

The augment arc in ENt is not the end of it. if you want to know the FULL story you have to play Stat Trek Online which is not canon, but while ENT explains how the smooth heads came into being, the game does a really good job of offering an explanation for the revearsal to ridges and ties up a loose end from Voyager while their at it.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

/\ Actually, it's not the Augments arc that features the Klingon forehead issue, it's the two-parter Affliction/Divergence later in the season, although there is a connection.

 

[ClayHefner]

ENT's explanation, as usual, made matters worse.
It's already a stretch that O'Brien and Bashir wouldn't know that Klingons looked very different, even if it was for only a short period. I mean he knows about the MU incident, this would seem to be something many people would know.

ENT makes us believe the Klingons looked like this for well over 100 years, even while a major conflict with the Feds going on, and people simply forgot about it.

 

[Cornholio]

I'm not really convinced that Enterprise needed to "explain" the change in Klingon appearance. Why not explain the change in appearance of the Romulans, Andorians, Trills, Bajorans, Tellarites while you're at it?

I agree. there was no need to explain the change in Klingons. I think though, that the change in Klingon appearance was the first, and most notable change in alien appearance after the end of TOS. and the ridges themselves evolved from TMP through the movies and into the spin-offs.

the only difference I noticed in Andorians was the hairstyle, which could easily be explained.

/\ Actually, it's not the Augments arc that features the Klingon forehead issue, it's the two-parter Affliction/Divergence later in the season, although there is a connection.

I stand corrected and stuff. thanks for pointin' that out.

ENT's explanation, as usual, made matters worse.
It's already a stretch that O'Brien and Bashir wouldn't know that Klingons looked very different, even if it was for only a short period. I mean he knows about the MU incident, this would seem to be something many people would know.

excellent point. I guess the writers should get a smack on the back of the head for that one.

ENT makes us believe the Klingons looked like this for well over 100 years, even while a major conflict with the Feds going on, and people simply forgot about it.

I got the impression that only some Klingons lost the ridges.

 

[Ra'min]

In DS9 "trials and tribble ations" bashir, dax and the others are stunned to see ridgeless klingons.
Don't they have video recordings from TOS era ?

 

[G2309]

One of the making-of featuretts on the bonus disk for the DVD set Ronald Moore basically says there is no explanation for the change that isn't beyond preposterous. Basically, it was simply a make up change and it's as Worf says "It's a long story" which honestly is such a simple yet brilliant way of dealing with it.

RonaldD Moore a writer Star Trek sorely missed. If only he headed up star trek rather than B&B.
He knew any explanaition would be ridiculous and he was right

 

[scotpens]

Everyone knew that the Klingons in TMP needed more facial detail and more elaborate costumes because the old TOS Klingons, with their silver striped shirts, fake-looking beards and swarthy greasepaint, would have been laughed off the movie screen. Once the new look for Klingons was established, it became canon.

When Dick Sargent replaced Dick York in the role of Darrin on Bewitched, no explanation was given for the change in Darrin's appearance. None was necessary. It was a sitcom about a guy who's married to a WITCH, for chrissakes. I don't think an explanation for the change in the Klingons' appearance was necessary either. It would have been sufficient for Worf to say, “It's a long story -- we don't talk about it,” and to leave the reason for the change up to the viewer's imagination.

 

[TheGodBen]

RonaldD Moore a writer Star Trek sorely missed. If only he headed up star trek rather than B&B.
He knew any explanaition would be ridiculous and he was right

Indeed, and RDM has since gone on to make a career out of not giving explanations.

As for the B&B comment, they weren't responsible for the explanation of the Klingon ridges, by the final season of Enterprise they had handed over the head writer duties to Manny Coto, so he was the one responsible.

 

[PorthosShadow]

RonaldD Moore a writer Star Trek sorely missed. If only he headed up star trek rather than B&B.
He knew any explanaition would be ridiculous and he was right

Indeed, and RDM has since gone on to make a career out of not giving explanations.

As for the B&B comment, they weren't responsible for the explanation of the Klingon ridges, by the final season of Enterprise they had handed over the head writer duties to Manny Coto, so he was the one responsible.

While I don't think any explanation beyond the proverbial wink and a nod is or was nessessary I do admire Manny Cotto for at least trying to come up with something viable but it's still silly

 

[AdmiralGarak]

While I don't think any explanation beyond the proverbial wink and a nod is or was nessessary I do admire Manny Cotto for at least trying to come up with something viable but it's still silly

The problem is that Coto spent almost all of his time doing that. Sequels, prequels, homages, ripoffs, cameos, and continuity nods.

I don't admire explaining a thirty year old make-up change. What I would have admired was an attempt to make me care as much about Mayweather as the Captain's dog. If he had done that, then I would have been more receptive to devoting multiple episodes of the last ever season of televised Star Trek to explaining bumpy foreheads.

 

[Rek]

^ I agree whole heartedly. The huge lack of character development, well, more then that, the lack of creating the characters as round characters rather then flat ruined a lot of the show. I just refreshed myself with the Klingon explantion. It was ok, but I still found it rather dull. I think most of you guys are right, it would of been better left with "We don't talk about it".