At least the ENT Gorn was far closer to Wah Chang's design than the (thankfully) unused concept intended for the '09 movie. That creature looked something more akin to a scaly orc, complete with "under-bit" tusks. It did not have the extended jaw of a reptile. As a concept unto itself, a unique species, it was interesting, but that movie creature was certainly no Gorn.
My only "beef" with the "Enterprise" Gorn was the lack of the iconic, insectoid compound eyes. Without them, it's just another crocodilian or gatoroid or raptor man. But it seems just about every interpretation since the original series and TAS wants to ignore that feature, Enterprise, Trek Online, the '09 movie, possibly others.
I wonder who decided to employ the bug eye motif, when and why? Was it Chang himself at the beginning, opting for something distinctively "alien". Was it the episode's director? Or, was that decision made later? There are some photos that show the Gorn costume pieces sitting upon atable located outdoors. Another shows them being worn, but without the tunic designed to hide the gaping seam at the neck and the coin sized ventilation holes punched into the torso. In both instances we see some differences from the costume depicted in the aired episode. First, the hands have fully separate fingers. The finished design appears to have five digits as well, but the index and middle fingers seem to be glueds together as well as the ring and pinky fingers, as iff to suggest a hand with three digits. But far more noticeable is the lack of sequins adhered to the "eyes". They appear to be a translucent, deep umber. Was the faceted eye concept a last minute change? If so, was it just to be "different" or did it result from the failure to create "realistic" reptilian eyes?
Does anyone know?
Sincerely,
Bill
