If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or not?

[Argus Skyhawk]

If the Klingons show up in movies in the new timeline, would you want them to look like the smooth-foreheaded Klingons of TOS or the bumpy-headed ones of latter movies and series? I vote bumpy.

Incidentally, I've heard that Enterprise explained the discrepancy, but I never got around to watching much of that series so I don't know what the explanation is.

 

[Shazam!]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

A few weeks ago, I would've said 'No ridges!' but I'm past caring now. Let them do whatever they want. Give them 3 heads for all I care.

 

[ChristopherPike]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

Incidentally, I've heard that Enterprise explained the discrepancy, but I never got around to watching much of that series so I don't know what the explanation is.

The Klingon Empire got hold of some Augment biological samples (embryos left in cold storage since the Eugenics Wars). Fearing this was an Earth-Starfleet weapon (afterall enhanced humans had already overpowered a Klingon crew, killed them and stolen their Bird-of-Prey), they obviously wanted to even that advantage. Unfortunately their experiments unleashed a plague, disfiguring anyone who contracted the disease. See Borderland, Cold Station 12, The Auguments for the Augment backstory and then later in Season 4... the emergence of smooth-headed Klingons in Affliction & Divergence.

I recently had some thoughts on where to take the Klingons in the Abramsverse... I expect they'll create an entirely new look, maybe a different behaviour to the race too.

http://trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=3427669&postcount=30

Basically ENT left a percentage of their population with a disease. Dr. Phlox used blood from Archer to manufacture a cure. While those affected didn't seem to have increased strength, maybe they gained other Eugenics attributes, like that "Napoleon" gene (for want of a better word). Born to rule. Fast forward a few decades and those without ridges have gained control over the whole Empire and there's some class division going on between Imperial and Plebeian houses... such as Kor and Martok for example.

 

[USS Excelsior]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I wonder how the destruction of the Kelvin would be used to explain that, may as well create a new alien race altogether.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I vote for ridges. It's the most easily recognizable look, and the new movie's continuity should go for that. No need to pander to the "canon violation!" crowd.

 

[Mach5]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

Ridges / no ridges, doesn't matter really, since only a fraction of Klingon population got infected with that virus in "Divergence" anyway. As many as 50% of Klingons (if not more) could have still had ridges in TOS era, but since the show lasted only three seasons, we didn' get the chance to see them.

 

[LutherSloan]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I guess it's not Abramsverse canon since the scene was cut, but the cut sequence of Nero getting captured by the Klingons showed guards wearing helmets with ridges on them, indicating that they were designed to fit ridged Klingons.

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I guess it's not Abramsverse canon since the scene was cut, but the cut sequence of Nero getting captured by the Klingons showed guards wearing helmets with ridges on them, indicating that they were designed to fit ridged Klingons.

However, the fact that the helmets completely covered their heads made it look to me as though Abrams was deliberately avoiding the issue. People who wanted ridged Klingons could assume there were ridges under the helmets, while people wanted smooth-headed Klingons could assume the helmet ridges were just part of the helmet design. But as you said, the scene was cut anyway.

By the way, I should have added a poll to this thread, and I can't add one by editing my post. Could a moderator please add one, if possible?

 

[Elim Garak]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I actually liked the helmets. From what I saw, they went for more of a historic design instead of anything Star Wars-ish, which I thought was wise. For the life of me, I'm not sure what Rick Berman had against helmets. They serve a practical purpose. I'm not sure how much sense it would make for you to wear them while on the bridge of a ship, but if you're on an away team mission or are serving in a "hard hat area" of the ship, then wearing them is probably a good idea. It also means you can save money on makeup Doctor Who saved a bundle by showing the Sontaran "potato heads" conservatively and otherwise having them wear imposing looking helmets. For all those who believe helmets are cop-outs, or think they look goofy, remember that scene in X2, when Pyro tells Magneto that his helmet looks "dorky," and Magneto tells him the helmet will protect him while everyone else is getting their brains fried.

In any case, Klingon grunts could wear the helmets (with a different design for field commanders, e.g. the white crest on the Sontaran commander helmets) when seen on away missions. Also, if you look at some of the robes worn by council members, you'll notice some of them do, in fact, have hoods, which can be pulled up. I'd go a step further and introduce a specific armor for Da'Har masters (elite samurai usually had their own armor distinct from "regular" samurai), which would include an optional helmet.

So I say, a few uncovered rigid foreheads, then hoods and helmets on everyone else. But keep the teeth and facial hair patterns from modern Trek, TOS looked a bit to Fu Manchu-ish.

In the TOS era, the Klingon Empire had a Soviet Union parallel, but in this new continuity, I would suggest a Middle Eastern parallel. Historically, there have been warrior driven "death before dishoner" Arab groups (like the Saracens and Assassins) that believed they would automatically gain entrance to Paradise if they died in glorious battle, and I always saw the Yan-Isleth (Brotherhood of the Sword) as being potentially similar to the Assassins.

 

[The Fatman]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I always thought the way they handled the ridges/no-ridges was silly. Worf's line in Trials and Tribble-ations was funny at the time, but doesn't hold up to scrutiny, even after the Enterprise augment arc.

In retrospect, what I think they should have done in T&T is have Worf suddenly look like a 1960's Klingon...and have no one mention it, like he's looked like that the whole time.

back on topic... if JJ does Klingons I say they should have Ridges, or some updated revision thereof.

 

[Sabataage]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I always thought the way they handled the ridges/no-ridges was silly. Worf's line in Trials and Tribble-ations was funny at the time, but doesn't hold up to scrutiny, even after the Enterprise augment arc.

In retrospect, what I think they should have done in T&T is have Worf suddenly look like a 1960's Klingon...and have no one mention it, like he's looked like that the whole time.

That Worf idea just made me pee a little.

I'd want a little of both. Have the majority of Klingon crew be ridged-looking with the Captain of the ship be less severe (like Chang in Undiscovered Country). Add in line where he comments on it saying his 'deformity' forced him to excell and become the very best.

 

[caisson2delta]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I always thought the way they handled the ridges/no-ridges was silly. Worf's line in Trials and Tribble-ations was funny at the time, but doesn't hold up to scrutiny, even after the Enterprise augment arc.

In retrospect, what I think they should have done in T&T is have Worf suddenly look like a 1960's Klingon...and have no one mention it, like he's looked like that the whole time.

That Worf idea just made me pee a little.

I'd want a little of both. Have the majority of Klingon crew be ridged-looking with the Captain of the ship be less severe (like Chang in Undiscovered Country). Add in line where he comments on it saying his 'deformity' forced him to excell and become the very best.

Very good point and I agree totally. Why not show both, or some mixture there about. If they are an empire, why couldn't they have crews comprised of their subjects or hybrids from cross breeding?

 

[Kelso]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

The Klingons need another reinvention.

More of THIS, less of THIS.

 

[Red Ranger]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

Ridges would be preferable. But we'll see -- after all, they added tatoos to the Romulans this past go-round. Maybe they'll give Klingons horns! -- RR

 

[Davros]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

Real Klingons have no bumps. I think the bumpy headed ones are really Ogrons.

 

[davejames]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I don't really care if they have ridges or not. I just want to see a return to the more cunning and militaristic Klingons of TOS instead of those tiresome Native American Klingons who never stop talking about their damn honor.

 

[Peter the Younger]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I guess it's not Abramsverse canon since the scene was cut, but the cut sequence of Nero getting captured by the Klingons showed guards wearing helmets with ridges on them, indicating that they were designed to fit ridged Klingons.

However, the fact that the helmets completely covered their heads made it look to me as though Abrams was deliberately avoiding the issue. People who wanted ridged Klingons could assume there were ridges under the helmets, while people wanted smooth-headed Klingons could assume the helmet ridges were just part of the helmet design. But as you said, the scene was cut anyway.

By the way, I should have added a poll to this thread, and I can't add one by editing my post. Could a moderator please add one, if possible?

Yeah, I thought it was a clever dodge. For all we know, the helmets were issued so Klingon warriors could hide their "deformity."

The ENt explanation may be convoluted, but I have to hand it to them, it is an internally consistent explanation, for both the TOS Klingons' appearance and behavior.

Personally, I like the idea of mostly subtle ridged Klingons, but I'd have no objections if they threw in a couple extras in the background without ridges. I think a revision of their psychology is more important: Klingons have gotten steadily dumber and more honor-obsessed over the years, by the end of DS9 they were almost comically thuggish, and ENT didn't really fix it. What I wouldn't give to see a smart, lethal Klingon warrior again.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

I would like to see a mixture, but I want to see TOS style clothing. I liked Enterprises explonation

 

[urbandk]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

The Klingons need another reinvention.

More of THIS, less of THIS.

Yes!

 

[JarodRussell]

Re: If Klingons show up in Abramsverse films would you want ridges or

The Klingons need another reinvention.

More of THIS, less of THIS.

Yes!

Haha, dear Lord, no!