Original concept of the Andorians

[Shintaek]

Was their depiction on Enterprise conceived by during the TOS era or the writers of this show?

Because I find it hard to believe that a millitaristic and space faring culture they had before being part of the UFP should have a lot of its citizens in Starfleet. Ok ok, I know, the cost of makeup would be tremendous but the question still stands.

 

[SFRabid]

I'm not sure I totally understand your question. Andorians were conceived in TOS and in the Federation during that show. The population or spread of empire is not as great as say the Klingons or Romulans which is the reason the less populated races need the Federation. There have never been a lot of aliens on the featured ships in any ST series. I think part of it is cost and time needed to get into costume. Another part is that humans most readily relate to humans and you need that bond to relate to the crew and feel concern during their adventures.

In a large part, how they are depicted in Enterprise was done by the current writers. The Andorians were an early but unexplored race which made them a good race to feature.

 

[JoeD80]

In the early books like the Starfleet Technical Manual published in 1975, the Andorians were one of the five worlds that founded the federation (Earth, Alpha Centauri, Andor, Tellar, Vulcan). They stuck to this in Enterprise (except for the Alpha Centauri thing, where there was a question on whether that was a separate race or just a human colony). So Enterprise had more development of Andorians than the other shows but it was consistent with previous sources.

 

[Shintaek]

In a large part, how they are depicted in Enterprise was done by the current writers. The Andorians were an early but unexplored race which made them a good race to feature.

Sorry if I didn't type it right but this was the answer.

 

[Peak]

So Enterprise had more development of Andorians than the other shows but it was consistent with previous sources.

Except the Ice Powers...

 

[KendraW]

they didnt strike me as being THAT militaristic. Really suspicious, paranoid and didnt like Vulcans, yeah!

That thing published in 1975 sounds cool, but it doesnt seem to make sense to me.

I haven't watched TOS that much but in the 'journey to bable' are the andorians in the federation? It didn't look like it! infact niether are the tellarites, are they not fighting to gain entry in that episode or something?

 

[JoeD80]

No, in that episode both the Andorians and Tellarites were Federation members going to a conference to decide whether to admit another planet (Coridan I think) because it had dilithium. They think Sarek is the killer in the episode.

The twist was

Spoiler: Journey to Babel

The Andorian was actually a spy and not an Andorian at all

 

[KendraW]

No, in that episode both the Andorians and Tellarites were Federation members going to a conference to decide whether to admit another planet (Coridan I think) because it had dilithium. They think Sarek is the killer in the episode.

The twist was

Spoiler: Journey to Babel

The Andorian was actually a spy and not an Andorian at all

Oh is THAT what was going on! I must have been day dreaming about Spock and/or Sarek.

 

[Unicron]

The Andorians were described originally (it might have been in JTB - I don't recall) as being a violent and passionate people, although they clearly were also civilized and could work with some species. That probably provided the basis for their militarism in ENT.

Personally, I found it quite refreshing to see how well they were handled. I wish ENT had done more of that.

 

[pookha]

So Enterprise had more development of Andorians than the other shows but it was consistent with previous sources.

Except the Ice Powers...

isnt that fanon.
i have liked the andorians since the time they appeared on tos and it was
really nice to see how they were handled on enterprise.
plus shran is a great character.

the andorians in tos were described yes as being very passionate but they honored family a lot.

 

[ria 75]

I have liked the andorians since the time they appeared on tos and it was
really nice to see how they were handled on enterprise.
plus shran is a great character.

Andorians are one of the best things in Enterprise, precisely because they hadn't been much developed before. And they indeed owe a lot to Jeffrey Combs, who plays Shran with as much talent as he'd played Weyoun - and other Trek characters. Makeup suits him!

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Check out the review of "Journey to Babel" at the first link in my sig. I think the reviewer, Mr. Tilotta, quotes D. C. Fontana's description of the Andorians directly from her script.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

I looked at the link, Sir Rhosis. Treasure trove! I will be spending many happy hours going through those "Unseen Elements" articles. I love learning about deleted scenes on episodes. And there are even pictures! Coooool! Thank you.

 

[Reanok]

Neat site look forward to reading more soon.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

^^^Thank you, both. It is a pleasure to hear that people enjoy them. I enjoy writing them very much. I am Dave E.

Another fine poster on these boards, alchemist is Dave T. He is the one with all the nifty photos.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Therin of Andor]

the andorians in tos were described yes as being very passionate but they honored family a lot.

The Andorian honour of family derives from a quote by Mr Thelin, also created by DC Fontana, but this time for Filmation's "Yesteryear" (TAS).

The original script pitch for ENT's "The Andorian Incident" was called "The Gorn Incident", but Brannon Braga realised that Kirk's Gorn meeting in "Arena" was the first contact with that race.

 

[Timo]

...Kirk's first contact, at any rate. He might not have been up to date with his studies, even if Starfleet had more knowledge of the Gorn than they did on the Ferengi or the Borg after Archer was done.

Really, "passionate, aggressive, argumentative, militant, family-minded"... One could be describing the Andorians, the Gorn, or the humans here equally well. The TOS and TAS statements wouldn't have set any true limitations on how ENT could have portrayed the Andorians, and certainly the prequel didn't outstep its boundaries in this respect.

Timo Saloniemi